George McDonald Fraser, 75 at the time of this letter, served with the British Army 1943-47, including in Burma, was later a journalist and author, and is author of the Flashman novels.

Mr Fraser appears to think that the drive to obtain front-line positions for women soldiers is some sort of attempt to "undermine morale and efficiency" rather than just promote women's rights. It is not clear who, or why anyone, would wish to damage the British Army, and why they would use women's rights for this purpose.

Acknowledgement : from The Telegraph letters 30 December 2000.