Criticism of Bermuda Regiment made by a former Sgt. Major this week is a "total embarrassment" to every woman to have served, according to another ex-soldier.

Ursula Dunlop told The Royal Gazette she was upset by claims from Marilyn Steede that the latter was demeaned, disrespected and made to feel "like a cockroach" at Warwick Camp, as reported in yesterday's newspaper.

Ms Steede served as a volunteer for 11 years with the Regiment and worked at Warwick Camp twice as chief clerk.

Having resigned from her post in April, she has now come out in support of Bermudians Against the Draft (BAD), agreeing with the campaign group's claim that soldiers are subjected to excessive swearing.

Ms Dunlop, who served as a Regiment volunteer for 15 years and worked as a clerical assistant to the Regiment, said Ms Steede ought to have been able to handle profanity among soldiers.

"It's not what your country can do for you, it's what you can do for your country," said the former Corporal. "She reaped the benefits all those years and now she's crying foul. Get over it."

Ms Dunlop called the Shirley Dill talk radio show on VSB at lunchtime yesterday to demand a retraction from Ms Steede.

"I'm speaking on behalf of the servicewomen that I served with," she claimed. "It's a sad day in this Country. I am an embarrassed servicewoman. This is a total embarrassment to every woman who served [in the Regiment] from 1979."

She added that she hoped Ms Steede would give all the Regiment pay she earned over the years to BAD founder Larry Marshall to fight his anti-conscription battle.

Speaking directly to Ms Steede, Ms Dunlop warned: "You give a retraction or I'll make your life a living..."

At that point, show host Ms Dill interjected to say that wasn't fair.

Ms Steede said last night: "I'm not retracting anything."