Man suspected of being fake admiral at remembrance event investigated

Officials are looking into whether a man who took part in a Remembrance Sunday ceremony dressed as a high-ranking navy officer was a fake.

The man was involved in the wreath laying in Llandudno, Conwy county on Sunday, and saluted the war memorial before marching away with a colleague.

Serving and former service personnel became suspicious when they saw him dressed as a Rear Admiral and wearing the rare Distinguished Service Order medal.

The Ministry of Defence said it was taking the matter very seriously, adding that impersonating a naval officer can be considered a criminal offence.

Hundreds of people were on the seafront in Llandudno last weekend for the traditional period of silence and laying of poppy wreaths to mark Remembrance Sunday.

But members of the town’s Royal Naval Association spotted a man wearing a rare uniform among the ranks of serving and former servicemen and women.

The man was wearing the epaulettes and sleeve lace of a Rear Admiral, a two-star position that is one of the highest ranks in the Royal Navy.

He also wore an array of medals on his chest, including the Distinguished Service Order (DSO), which is awarded for highly successful command and leadership during active operations, and which very few personnel have been awarded since 1979.

Rear Admiral Dr Chris Parry, who held the position between 2005 and 2008, told the BBC “only 3% of people who join the navy get to Rear Admiral”.

“You’re eight ranks up and two down from the head of the navy, and you never lose the rank,” he said, adding a serviceman must perform “very well” in order to obtain the ranking.

He added the presence of the DSO medal on the man’s chest was an “easy spot” because it is such an exceptional award.

“It’s one down from the Victoria Cross,” he said.

Several veterans and serving officers have expressed their concerns on social media that that the man at the wreath-laying ceremony in Llandudno last weekend may not have been a Rear Admiral – and may not have earned all the medals he was wearing.

Llandudno Town Council, which organised the event, confirmed that no-one of that rank had been due to attend the ceremony.

Greg Robbins, chair of the council’s civic sub-committee, said: “The man was challenged by the parade marshal, but stated that he was of a certain rank, and that he was representing the Lord Lieutenant’s office.

“The parade marshal was left with little choice but to accommodate him in the wreath-laying ceremony.

“The most important thing with Remembrance Sunday ceremonies is that they are suitably dignified, as this one was.

“This individual did not disrupt the ceremony, but we are keen to know who he was, and will be working with the Ministry of Defence on its investigation.”

The man was seen walking in formation to the war memorial with a colleague, dressed in a khaki uniform.

The colleague laid a wreath, before the pair saluted and walked away together.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence said: “Impersonating a Naval officer is insulting to anyone connected to the service and can be considered a criminal offence.

“Nothing should detract from the poignancy of Remembrance Sunday, which can be a sombre time for members of the Royal Navy family, and an opportunity for people in communities across the country to pay their respects to people who have, or are, serving their countr.”

BBC