14 DAY TRIAL // In 2008, while stationed in Canada, trooper James Wharton, an openly gay military man, was threatened with a severe “battering” by six men from a rival regiment. Fearing for his life, he went to his commander, Prince Harry, and unburdened himself to him.
The entire thing is detailed in a new book by Wharton on his 10-year experience as a gay man in the army. He calls Prince Harry a real hero for the way he acted in this particular instance, perhaps even saving his life.
Speaking with the Daily Mail, Wharton says that he went to Harry, a Troop Commander in the Blues and Royals, immediately after his life was threatened.
“I told him, ‘I think I’m going to be murdered by the infantry.’ I climbed into the turret and talked Harry through exactly what had happened. He had a complete look of bewilderment on his face,” Wharton recalls.
“I couldn’t stop the tears from welling up in my eyes. He said, ‘Right I’m going to sort this [expletive] out once and for all’,” the ex-army reveals.
And this is precisely what Harry did: he got out of the tank and went straight for the 6 soldiers who had confronted Wharton.
He let them know that he was aware of their behavior and threats, and warned them that they would see stern punishment if they carried them out.
According to Wharton, Prince Harry also reported the incident to his superiors.
“I will always be grateful to Harry and I will never forget what happened. Until he went over and dealt with everything I was on track for a battering,” the former soldier says.
The book in which he offers more details about Prince Harry, and not just in relation to this incident, is called “Out in the Army” and is available for order. The Daily Mail has more excerpts.