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4 months ago
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An Army major facing allegations of 'inappropriate' remarks directed at female soldiers has previously faced the heat with superiors over an affair with a married female captain during the fall of Kabul.
Major John Baileff played a leading role in the State Opening of Parliament on Wednesday, but was suspended just hours later over an alleged 'inappropriate' remark.
The 35-year-old led soldiers as they fired a 41-gun salute in Green Park at the start of King Charles III's address.
But later when he returned to Woolwich barracks, Major Baileff - who served as the Commanding Officer of the prestigious King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery - was informed he was the subject of a complaint.
He was told that a younger, more junior member of the female personnel had reported him over inappropriate remarks.
Major John Baileff (pictured) was suspended on Wednesday after a junior female reported him for inappropriate remarks
It has now emerged that Major Baileff (pictured from behind) has previously been questioned by Army bosses over an affair with a married female captain in Afghanistan in 2021
Major Baileff has been placed on a six-week leave of absence while the Army conducts an internal investigation.
It has since emerged that Major Baileff previously faced questions over an affair with a female captain he met while serving in Afghanistan in 2021, The Sun reports, though no wrongdoing was found.
Both were working for the Army's 104 Theatre Sustainment Brigade at the time.
It is understood that the affair - which took place when his marriage had ended - did not result in any action by the Army, as the woman was not in Major Baileff's chain of command.
The King's Troop has a high percentage of female soldiers compared to other units.
According to a description appearing on The King's Troop profile on Facebook, around half of all soldiers are female.
One post said: 'We are unit of 50/50 male and female soldiers, the only in the British Army, and we are immensely proud of our diversity and all the good work our female soldiers do!'
Major Baileff led soldiers as they fired a 41-gun salute at Green Park for the State Opening of Parliament
Major Baileff joined the Army in 2011 and was awarded an MBE in the 2023 New Year's Honours List.
A keen triathlete and skier, he previously served as the King's Troop adjutant.
More than 1,100 members of the Armed Forces and almost 200 horses took part in the ceremonies for the State Opening of Parliament in central London which were watched by millions of people around the world.
Major Baileff and the married female captain were both working for the Army's 104 Theatre Sustainment Brigade at the time of their affair
It is understood that the affair - which took place when his marriage had ended - did not result in any action by the Army, as the woman was not in Major Baileff's chain of command
More than 1,100 members of the Armed Forces and almost 200 horses took part in the ceremonies for the State Opening of Parliament in central London which were watched by millions of people around the world.
With the immaculately tended horses and their First World War-era 13-pounder Quick Firing guns, King's Troop are a familiar sight on state occasions.
Recent appearances by the Troop have included the state funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
The guns have also been used at the funeral parades for Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, Sir Winston Churchill and George VI.
An Army spokesman said: 'Soldiers at all levels of the British Army are held to the highest standards.
'If any individual is believed to have failed to meet those standards, we will investigate, and will take appropriate action where necessary.
'We won't comment on individual cases.'
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