A suspected impostor dressed as a high-ranking naval officer has provoked anger among military veterans after he was accused of wearing a chest full of dubious medals and participating in a Remembrance Sunday ceremony in Llandudno, North Wales.
The Suspicious Ceremony Participation
The man, whose identity remains unknown, is believed to have deceitfully secured a position to lay a wreath alongside a senior army officer during the poignant event honouring Britain's war dead. After saluting, the suspected fake admiral then proceeded to march alongside VIPs, including the town's mayor, taking a place of honour reserved for genuine dignitaries.
He was attired in the full uniform of a Rear Admiral, but it was the array of medals on his jacket that first raised eyebrows. Among them was the Distinguished Service Order (DSO), the second-highest award for military gallantry, only surpassed by the Victoria Cross. He also prominently wore the Queen's Voluntary Reserves Medal, an honour exclusively given to military reservists.
Online Sleuths Uncover the Discrepancy
The simultaneous display of these two specific medals is what ultimately led online investigators to question his legitimacy. Experts from the Walter Mitty Hunters Club, a group dedicated to exposing cases of 'stolen valour', stated that their records indicate no single serviceperson has ever been awarded both prestigious honours. Commentators on social media described the individual as 'the highest ranking Walt' and dubbed the incident 'a belter'.
When questioned by the parade marshal at the event, the man claimed to be representing the Lord Lieutenant of Clwyd. However, this story quickly unravelled. Both the Lord Lieutenant's office and the local council confirmed they had no knowledge of the man and that he was not on their official guest list.
Lord Lieutenant Harry Fetherstonhaugh explicitly told The Sun that he had never seen the man before in his life. A Llandudno council spokesperson echoed this, confirming they had sent a photograph of the man to the Lord Lieutenant's office, where nobody recognised him.
Official Condemnation and Ongoing Investigation
The response from official bodies has been swift and unequivocal. A Royal Navy spokesperson issued a strong statement, saying, "Impersonating a Naval officer is insulting to anyone connected to the service and could be considered a criminal offence." They emphasised that nothing should detract from the sombre importance of Remembrance Sunday.
Meanwhile, a navy source told the press they were "99.9 per cent certain" the man was a fake. Both the council and the Lord Lieutenant's office have confirmed that the matter is now under active investigation as authorities attempt to identify the individual responsible for this act of stolen valour.
