A 64-year-old man has been arrested in North Wales following a disturbing incident where an individual allegedly impersonated a senior naval officer during a solemn Remembrance Sunday ceremony.
The Suspicious Ceremony
The incident unfolded on 9 November in the coastal town of Llandudno, Clwyd, where a man reportedly arrived unannounced at the war memorial wearing the full dress uniform of a Royal Navy rear admiral.
According to witnesses, the individual's uniform featured an array of medals including the prestigious Distinguished Service Order (DSO), which represents the second-highest military award for gallantry. Photographs from the event show the man taking his place alongside genuine senior officers and laying a wreath at the memorial before stepping back to salute.
Investigation and Arrest
Concerns about the man's authenticity emerged after the service when Llandudno town council and the lord lieutenant for Clwyd confirmed they believed him to be an impostor. A council spokesperson revealed that their parade marshal had approached the man, who claimed to be from the Lord Lieutenant's office.
On Friday, North Wales police announced they had arrested a 64-year-old man from Harlech on suspicion of offences relating to the unlawful use of military uniforms. Chief Inspector Trystan Bevan confirmed that during a search of the suspect's address, officers recovered a naval uniform and a selection of medals.
Ongoing Inquiries
Police have stated that inquiries are continuing into the matter. "We can confirm that, during a search of the male's address earlier today, a naval uniform and a selection of medals were recovered from within," said Ch Insp Bevan.
The council spokesperson had earlier noted that while the man "was not somebody we were aware of in advance" and they "weren't told that he would be attending," he had conducted himself respectfully during the ceremony before leaving the premises.
Authorities are now investigating how the individual managed to infiltrate the formal remembrance event and what motives might have driven him to assume such a prestigious military identity during such a significant national occasion.
