Misfits, Dad's Army Types et al...

[wildcat45]

Vaud said:

I think we are remarkably tolerant of "stolen valour" as it is known in the US. Over there they see it as comparable to impersonating police, etc and it's a crime:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stolen_Valor_Act_of_...

Whilst I think the Walt Hunters have a fairly unprofessional tone... I think it's good that they do it. I would prefer to see a law similar to the US that focuses on some of the more extreme Walts who claim to have medals...

Yes some form of legislation so anything serious could be investigated properly by police or whoever rather than well meaning - or not - Walt hunters.

I'm wondering if some of these Walt hunters have something similar going in deep down. Not telling lies but craving some sort of authority. Being part of an organization with a purpose.

From my very limited experience some service personnel have huge issues when they retire from service. I had an uncle who had been a career solder Pre WW II and post war,. He left the army as an RSM - a man whose word was law. I am told he had huge problems as a civvy (1950s) because he'd just become an ordinary guy. He ended up in a role where he managed a warehouse and employed ex-military staff. The place was apparently run very well by him as a mini-version of an army depot - instead of munitions and tanks he was in charge of bricks and plumbing supplies.

He loved it and worked well past retirement.

[4x4Tyke]

Crossflow Kid said:

The SAS have Hobnobs though.

I'm reliably informed that hobnobbing is frowned upon in the SAS.

[anonymous-user]

Vaud said:

Crossflow Kid said:

The wearing of any military award, medal, decoration, emblem or insignia without the correct authority is a criminal offence under the Army Act 2006.
"The correct authority" is usually MoD.

The covers "persons subject to service law". Not civilians?

I understood aspects of it did apply across the board. Might be wrong
(Just realised too, it became the Armed Forces Act 2006 which superseded the Army Act 1955)

[Vocal Minority]

Vaud said:

I think we are remarkably tolerant of "stolen valour" as it is known in the US. Over there they see it as comparable to impersonating police, etc and it's a crime:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stolen_Valor_Act_of_...

Whilst I think the Walt Hunters have a fairly unprofessional tone... I think it's good that they do it. I would prefer to see a law similar to the US that focuses on some of the more extreme Walts who claim to have medals...

I find it a difficult one to call this. I guess it depends on the degree of what they do. You hear stories of 'walt hunters' who go like a vigilante almost - like they are hunting a local nonce or similar.

I agree there are 1 or 2 who probably use the lie for de-frauding people, winning trust etc - but the majority are surely, just delusional, lonely people. They could really do with bit of help to get on their feet and get a bit of self esteem behind them rather than hunting down and villifying.

All that does is confirm their view of themselves that lead them into the world of fantasy/self delusion they inhabit. So you just make more Walts or make the current ones worse.

Just my tuppence worth.

[Vaud]

Crossflow Kid said:

I understood aspects of it did apply across the board. Might be wrong
(Just realised too, it became the Armed Forces Act 2006 which superseded the Army Act 1955)

The Uniform Act of 1894 seems to be in effect covering Uniforms... though unclear on medals:

https://www.arrse.co.uk/wiki/Uniforms_Act_1894

My non-legal understanding is that you could (as a civilian in the UK) wear whatever medals you like, providing it is not to perpetrate a fraud (i.e. gain money/other honours, etc as a benefit)?

[anonymous-user]

Vaud said:

My non-legal understanding is that you could (as a civilian in the UK) wear whatever medals you like, providing it is not to perpetrate a fraud (i.e. gain money/other honours, etc as a benefit)?

I think you're right.
There is a well documented case of a pretend SAS geezer who was done under the AFA2006, although it appears he did a few weeks in his youth as a Junior Leader, hence covered under the Act.

[jdw100]

Vocal Minority said:

I find it a difficult one to call this. I guess it depends on the degree of what they do. You hear stories of 'walt hunters' who go like a vigilante almost - like they are hunting a local nonce or similar.

I agree there are 1 or 2 who probably use the lie for de-frauding people, winning trust etc - but the majority are surely, just delusional, lonely people. They could really do with bit of help to get on their feet and get a bit of self esteem behind them rather than hunting down and villifying.

All that does is confirm their view of themselves that lead them into the world of fantasy/self delusion they inhabit. So you just make more Walts or make the current ones worse.

Just my tuppence worth.

I'm with you on this. There are a lot worse crimes out there.

Also I find the USA almost fetishistic in their hero worship of ex-members of their armed services. Not very English.....

[DonkeyApple]

4x4Tyke said:

Crossflow Kid said:

The SAS have Hobnobs though.

I'm reliably informed that hobnobbing is frowned upon in the SAS.

That's another club that attracts mentalists by the dozen. Over the years I have done a lot of competition shooting in most disciplines. What I recall most clearly from my time pistol shooting was that the majority of shooters who favoured large calibre, military style handguns were in the SAS and were operating covertly using the brilliant cover of living at home with their mother and being fking odd.

[98elise]

jdw100 said:

Vocal Minority said:

I find it a difficult one to call this. I guess it depends on the degree of what they do. You hear stories of 'walt hunters' who go like a vigilante almost - like they are hunting a local nonce or similar.

I agree there are 1 or 2 who probably use the lie for de-frauding people, winning trust etc - but the majority are surely, just delusional, lonely people. They could really do with bit of help to get on their feet and get a bit of self esteem behind them rather than hunting down and villifying.

All that does is confirm their view of themselves that lead them into the world of fantasy/self delusion they inhabit. So you just make more Walts or make the current ones worse.

Just my tuppence worth.

I'm with you on this. There are a lot worse crimes out there.

Also I find the USA almost fetishistic in their hero worship of ex-members of their armed services. Not very English.....

I agree. In florida we were at a show in one of the theme parks, and they asked for all serving and ex members of the armed forces to stand up (not just American). They then asked for a round of appause. I'm glad I remained seated.

It was nice getting 25% off in Deneys though. The waitress mentioned a forces discount and I jokingly said does being ex Royal Navy count, and she said yes

[Vaud]

It can get to an extreme, but I quite like the respect that the forces are shown in the US.

[anonymous-user]

DonkeyApple said:

4x4Tyke said:

Crossflow Kid said:

The SAS have Hobnobs though.

I'm reliably informed that hobnobbing is frowned upon in the SAS.

That's another club that attracts mentalists by the dozen. Over the years I have done a lot of competition shooting in most disciplines. What I recall most clearly from my time pistol shooting was that the majority of shooters who favoured large calibre, military style handguns were in the SAS and were operating covertly using the brilliant cover of living at home with their mother and being fking odd.

Look, that balcony is MUCH bigger than it looked on TV, ok?

[DonkeyApple]

Crossflow Kid said:

DonkeyApple said:

4x4Tyke said:

Crossflow Kid said:

The SAS have Hobnobs though.

I'm reliably informed that hobnobbing is frowned upon in the SAS.

That's another club that attracts mentalists by the dozen. Over the years I have done a lot of competition shooting in most disciplines. What I recall most clearly from my time pistol shooting was that the majority of shooters who favoured large calibre, military style handguns were in the SAS and were operating covertly using the brilliant cover of living at home with their mother and being fking odd.

Look, that balcony is MUCH bigger than it looked on TV, ok?

The ones you saw were all actors and part of the cover while 78,000 elite troops snuck in the back, unnoticed, disguised as sad, fat loners.

[Justayellowbadge]

98elise said:

I agree. In florida we were at a show in one of the theme parks, and they asked for all serving and ex members of the armed forces to stand up (not just American). They then asked for a round of appause. I'm glad I remained seated.

It was nice getting 25% off in Deneys though. The waitress mentioned a forces discount and I jokingly said does being ex Royal Navy count, and she said yes

I hope you said 'Thank you for serving'

[wildcat45]

I wonder if Walting is a recent thing.

Most of us will have grown up with parents orandoarents and others who servrd. It was the norm because of national service. I'm 45 and had teachers who served. All my parents generation did with older relatives in WW2 II. A family friend was shot down in Holland while flying a Misquito. Another chap I knew was a Canadian who flew Lancasters. A family friend saw Busmarck sink.

The attitude I picked up growing up that none of it was really a big deal. At least that's the way the people I knew portrayed it. Quite matter of fact.

I wonder if back in the 1960s or 70s if some Walt started telling stories what would have happened. Would the WWII generation have got angry? 'So you were in XXX chum. Big deal. Don't care, not impressed.'

Are there any of that generation posting here who care to give their view?

Edited by wildcat45 on Monday 23 May 15:13

[DMN]

DonkeyApple said:

4x4Tyke said:

Crossflow Kid said:

The SAS have Hobnobs though.

I'm reliably informed that hobnobbing is frowned upon in the SAS.

That's another club that attracts mentalists by the dozen. Over the years I have done a lot of competition shooting in most disciplines. What I recall most clearly from my time pistol shooting was that the majority of shooters who favoured large calibre, military style handguns were in the SAS and were operating covertly using the brilliant cover of living at home with their mother and being fking odd.

You missed off the toppest of top tips for any Andy McNabs working under deep cover: tell anybody who will listen.

[Vaud]

wildcat45 said:

Are there any of that generation posting here who care to give their view?

My grandad was in a reserved occupation and so only did local stuff. From some of his stories, you would have though that he was the only one in all of Birmingham, fighting off spies and Nazis at every turn.

[DonkeyApple]

wildcat45 said:

I'm 45 and had teachers who served. All my parents generation did with older relatives in WW2 II. A family friend was st down in Holland while flying a Misquito. Another chap I knew was a Canadian who flew Lancasters. A family friend saw Busmarck sink.

So they all told you.

When it comes to human behaviour, nothing is new. These types have existed for as long as man has and even before then there would have been apes that pretended they were super important.

[shakotan]

66mpg said:

4x4Tyke said:

Crossflow Kid said:

First rule of rescue: try not end up needing rescuing yourself.....

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4utwPM-2oeI

... or use a kinetic rope for towing.

Or use the right tool for the job: a tractor would have made short work of pulling the cars out without faffing about "double towing"

Nobody else going to point out that neither of those 'recovery' vehicles appear to be in 4WD?

[mph1977]

shakotan said:

66mpg said:

4x4Tyke said:

Crossflow Kid said:

First rule of rescue: try not end up needing rescuing yourself.....

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4utwPM-2oeI

... or use a kinetic rope for towing.

Or use the right tool for the job: a tractor would have made short work of pulling the cars out without faffing about "double towing"

Nobody else going to point out that neither of those 'recovery' vehicles appear to be in 4WD?

always a giggle when a 'stuck' part time 4 wheel drive vehicle or a ft 4wd with centre locker disengaged is miraculously unstuck by someone who drops it in the 4 wd / pulls the centre locker on ... even more fun if it's a girl and a boy got it stuck

[Trevor450]

shakotan said:

Nobody else going to point out that neither of those 'recovery' vehicles appear to be in 4WD?

The axle differentials will be open so if the grip is non-existent on one side, only one wheel on an axle will turn. This is why people install air lockers or limited slip diffs front and back if they are going to do anything more extreme.