Two women now in their 50s say the British Ministry of Defence has refused to take responsibility for sexual abuse they suffered as children at a military school in Bünde, Germany.
Anne and Jane, whose names have been changed, were both 10 years old when a staff member at the school allegedly singled them out and sexually abused them. They say the alleged abuser coerced them into silence by threatening that their fathers would lose their jobs and be expelled from the army if they told anyone.
"Being two young 10-year-old girls who basically followed their fathers around the world, their jobs were our lives," Jane said of why she kept quiet.
For decades, the two women discussed their experiences only with each other. Now they are seeking accountability from the MoD for what happened to them at the school.
The case raises questions about duty of care for children in military institutions abroad and the accountability mechanisms available to abuse survivors decades after incidents occur.
The Guardian reported the story but did not provide additional details about the MoD's specific response, ongoing investigations, or legal proceedings.