charlie962 Posted 9 November , 2019 Share Posted 9 November , 2019 (edited) I've seen threads previously on the forum about men wearing bogus gallantry awards. not sure if this one has been posted before ? Courtesy FindmyPast: Illustrated Police News Dec 1917 Tapping in 'Bogus medals' or 'bogus hero' into FindmyPast Newspapers brings up a fascinating variety of stories across the country, before, during and after the Great War. Edited 9 November , 2019 by charlie962 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marilyne Posted 10 November , 2019 Share Posted 10 November , 2019 an early Walter Mitty…. it's the time of year when they will be coming out again… nice find! M. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waddell Posted 10 November , 2019 Share Posted 10 November , 2019 (edited) I came across a similar character whilst researching my book several years ago. Frederick John Betcke, a New Zealand Boer War veteran, who posed as General or Brigadier- General. He was charged for wearing a Victoria Cross and Distinguished Conduct Medal at times. He would attend recruiting musters and at one stage employed a discharged soldier (wounded at Gallipoli) as his aide-de-campe. When Betcke was arrested one newspaper quoted the Gallipoli veteran as saying "Well I'm jiggered. I got a big enough shock at Gallipoli when a shell buried me, but this is a bigger shock!" A strange character. Scott Edited 10 November , 2019 by Waddell Spelling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie962 Posted 10 November , 2019 Author Share Posted 10 November , 2019 3 hours ago, Waddell said: A strange character. So a bump on the head from falling off his horse turned him to 'silly masquarading'. I cannot imagine the sentence stopped him ? But those that were clearly for personal financial gain were clearly in the majority. museumtom previously posted a good one here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith_history_buff Posted 10 November , 2019 Share Posted 10 November , 2019 This was an offence in Great Britain under the Defence Of the Realm Act. I was looking into this, with regard to the Admiralty earlier this year Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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