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Police have arrested a man after a suspected fraudster attended Remembrance Sunday wreath laying ceremony And dressed as a senior naval officer with glittering medals, he saluted the war memorial.
North Wales Police said Independent A 64-year-old man from the Harlech area of Gwynedd was arrested on Friday for an offense relating to the unlawful use of military uniform following the incident in Llandudno.
Chief Inspector Tristan Bevan said: “We can confirm that during a search of the male’s address this morning, a naval uniform and a number of medals were recovered.”
as hundreds of people gathered mark remembrance sunday by participating in a last week two minutes silence And while watching poppy wreaths being laid in Llandudno, members of the Welsh town’s Royal Naval Association reportedly noticed some unusual elements in a soldier’s uniform.
Photographs taken last weekend show a man wearing the uniform including the epaulettes and sleeve laces of a rear admiral – a two-star rank and one of the most senior positions in the Royal Navy.
His 12 decorations include the Distinguished Service Order (DSO), awarded for “highly successful command and leadership” during active operations, and the Queen’s Volunteer Reserves Medal – which can only be awarded to Reservist – civilians who take up a part-time role in the military.
The combination of these two medals raised eyebrows as no individual soldier is known to have received both decorations. He also wore an MBE and a non-regulation shirt with a cutaway collar which naval officers did not wear.
The alleged forgery was picked up by an online group called the Walter Mitty Hunters Club, named after the fictional character whose tragic delusional fantasies rob him of his own dignity. The group aims to expose those who “seek to exploit the honors of our HM Forces for their own personal gain or glorification”.
Royal Navy spokesperson said Independent: “Impersonating a Naval officer is an insult to any person connected with the service and may be considered a criminal offence.
“Nothing should diminish the poignancy of Remembrance Sunday, which can be a sad time for members of the Royal Navy family and an opportunity for people in communities across the United Kingdom to pay their respects to those who have served or are serving their country.”