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Entries with Surname (Title)s starting with 'F'
Ford
Christopher Leslie Ford is the epitome of the reason we exist. He claims to be a returned Veteran and he is not. He wears six Defence Medals he did not earn. He wears numerous badges he did not earn. He has marched on ANZAC Day as if he were a genuine Veteran. He has dressed in Army uniform portraying himself as a much decorated Special Air Service (SASR) Warrant Officer Class Two.
The photograph was taken at the Huskisson Returned Services League (RSL) Club in the Jervis Bay area of New South Wales on ANZAC Day 2011. A major Royal Australian Navy unit and the Defence Parachute Training School are all located in this area. At the
RSL Ford was quickly approached by RSL members and he was seen scurrying off. Here is a report of that encounter from erudite members of the Huskisson RSL.
"Another was primarily dressed in Army uniform 2A for a SASR WO2, but
with the fol anomalies; brown T-shirt visible under shirt, no infantry
red sash, Regt lanyard on right/incorrect shoulder, WW2 medals over
right breast pocket, and over the left breast pocket a combination of
current ADF medals & ribbon bars for same incl unit citations; & SASR
para wings & beret.
It is understood that the person described wearing uniform is / maybe,
Chris Ford.
It is also understood that he has claimed to have served in 3RAR & SASR
in the MEAO.
This person was particularly apparent to all ADF pers present at the RSL
luncheon for his unusual and inappropriate form of dress. He was
questioned by two members of PTS after which he left the RSL function.
SGT XXX has since questioned current SASR pers
WRT this person who have no knowledge of a Chris Ford in SASR.
It is apparent that this person is illegally presenting himself as an
SASR mbr with operational experience, wearing uniforms and awards to
which he is / may not be entitled".
Ford is a pitiful man with a history of "fleecing" money from vulnerable people. He fakes Defence caused Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as part of his method of operation.
He also claims to have been shot through the left shoulder during his "war service" . We guarantee he has no Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) file where such matters as PTSD and war caused injuries are dealt with.
At various times he has claimed to have served in the following locations:
Rwanda
East Timor
Cambodia
Iraq
Afghanistan
Somalia
Swanbourne (Barracks of Special Air Service Regiment (SASR) )
Townsville
Canungra
The medals and badges he wears on his left breast in the photographs are:
Infantry Combat Badge
Australian Active Service Medal
AfghanistanMedal
IraqMedal
Australian Service Medal
Australian Defence Medal
United Nations Special Service Medal
On his right breast he wears:
Medals purporting to be those of a direct relative
Unit Citation for Gallantry
Meritorious Unit Citation
Army Individual Readiness Notification Badge (Steyr Rifle)
On his right sleeve:
SASR Parachute wings
He also wears a Lanyard on the wrong shoulder.
On his left sleeve
Skill at Arms Badge 'S' (Indicating he is a qualified Sniper).
All of the medals and badges are fake and for wearing them he can be charged by State Police under the Defence Act 1903 Part VII Sections 80A and 80B
80A. Falsely representing to be returned soldier
80B. Improper use of service decorations
His fake PTSD allows him to bludge on those who take him in and provide him with the necessities of life.
This man is the enemy of all those in the Veteran and ex Service community. He is the worst kind of malingering, lying, fraudulent wannabe and excuse for a human being.
If you see him report him to us and we will ensure that establishments in his area are appraised of his presence
We are probably the only organisation in Australian and New Zealand to proudly welcome him to be featured a star performer on a web site.
Freedman
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David Freedman first came to light when he sent an e-mail to Mr XXXXXXX in 2005 raising issues in relation to the VVMC and signed his e-mail "SARGE" (this is a patch name of a real member of the Veterans Motor Cycle Club in Western Australia). This e-mail was forwarded on to a senior member of the VVMC, who happened to be an ex member of the Australian Special Air Service and honorary member of the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam, NT Branch. |
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A number of e-mails were exchanged between the two over a period of time. It soon became apparent that "SARGE" was not who he claimed to be. The information he was supplying came from literature about the Australian SAS. He later signed off his e-mails with the initials "DWS" and in brackets "SARGE". The stat dec below show this information
The service profile and initials he provided only matched one person who served in both the SAS and AATTV, David W Scheele DCM. During the exchange of these e-mails, Freedman claimed; 1. he served with the Australian SAS and the AATTV in South Vietnam; 2. he served with the SAS in Cambodia; 3. he was "Wounded in Action" while serving on operations with the SAS; 4. he received the Distinguished Conduct Medal while serving with the AATTV; and 5. he founded the Vietnam Veterans' Motor Cycle Club. In 2006 further information was received from a person in Western Australia who actually met David Freedman at a Motor Cycle Shop in Rockingham around July or August 2005.
Freedman introduced himself using his correct name and at the time was wearing a number of ribbons which included the Vietnam Medal and the South Vietnam Campaign Medal as well as a SAS badge. He claimed that he was a member of SAS in the UK and that he served with the Australian SAS in Vietnam under the name of David Scheele and not under his real name of David Freedman.
Did David Freedman serve in Vietnam? A search of official records found that only one David Freedman served in Vietnam and he was with 9 Sqn RAAF. This ex-serviceman has since passed away and is therefore not the David Freedman who claims he served under the name David Scheele. David Freedman was born in the UK on the 11th December, 1940 and flew out to Australia with his wife, son and daughter departing the UK on the 9th December 1968 under the Assisted Passage Migration Scheme. Is this information important? Please read on!!
David Freedman claims he served in Vietnam and Cambodia with the Australian SAS and AATTV. The real David W Scheele DCM served his first tour in Vietnam with the Australian SAS starting on the 26th February, 1968, during that tour he was wounded in action and completed his tour of duty on the 24th February, 1969. He returned to Vietnam for his second tour with the AATTV starting the 26th March, 1969 and completed that tour on the 24th September, 1969. During the tour he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. He did a third tour in Vietnam with the SAS in 1971. So how can David Freedman explain that he served in Vietnam as David Scheele with the Australian SAS in February, 1968 when he hadn't even arrived in Australia till December 1968. Does David Freedman have a twin? I think not as David Freedman is an Englishman and the real David Scheele is of Dutch decent.
As you can see from a photograph of the real David Scheele DCM he looks nothing like the impostor claiming to be him. The use of this photograph authorised by the real Dave Scheele Freedman claims he served with the British SAS. Enquiries were carried out and information obtained from Statutory Declarations, NAA files and official sources. The result of the enquiries revealed that Freedman had never served with the British SAS and is not known by them. No records of service could be found showing that this David Freedman has ever served with either the British or Australian Armed Forces. Our informant contacted another ex member of the Australian SAS who spoke to Freedman via telephone. Freedman repeated the same claims as he had previously. Freedman was reported to the Australian Federal Police by the ex SAS member in Western Australia. As we have come to expect no action was taken by the Federal police.
David Freedman, for a person whom we cannot find any record of you ever having served with any military force anywhere at any time, let alone elite units like the SAS and the AATTV. You are a despicable person to make these claims to impersonate, and steal the honour of a very professional and well respected decorated soldier, who gave honourable service as an elite soldier in extremely dangerous circumstances. David Scheele is a man well liked and respected by the ex-servicemen that he served with in Vietnam and here in Australia. Freedman has also conned the Ulysses motorcycle club. He has a web page as shown here
David Freedman be warned, you have nowhere to hide, for your lies are now exposed for all the world to see.
This is published in the public interest, particularly that of the Vietnam Veteran Community. All information presented here is fact and the truth. Reports from private citizens are supported by statements of fact and statutory declarations. |
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Freeman
David Freeman is a Lieutenant Colonel retired from the Australian Army Legal Corps. He wears nine medals, seven are legitimate and two are illegal worthless junk.
The last two medals worn by Freeman are the offenders, they are medals from a bogus Order of St John and he does not have permission to wear them.
There are dozens of schisms of the Order of St John. Department of Honours and Awards recognises only the Order of St John that is headed by our Sovereign Queen Elizabeth 11. It is named:
The most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem
There are dozens of "copy cat" organisation, who for a range of reasons create a Chivalrous hierarchy and bestow titles, medals and honours on themselves. It really is just big kids playing dress up.
Freeman is a member of, and wears the medals of a bogus group named: Order of St John of Jerusalem Knights Hospitaller . Here is their logo:
Note their Grand Master HRH Prince Karl Vladimir Karadjordjevic of Yugoslavia CCSJ is a defunct Prince from a defunct Yugoslavia monarchy
Freeman's second last medal is a White Maltese Cross which is the Knight Order of St Johns with a red ribbon. The legitimate Knight Orders of St John always have black ribbons and with permission from the Governor General, Knight Orders from the British based organisation can be worn as a Necklet or bow, not added to Federal medals.
Freeman will be one or the other of the bogus "Knights" listed below. Note the instructions for wearing the White Maltese Cross with red ribbon.
The last medal that Freeman is wearing is a 50th Anniversary of the defunct Yugoslavia Royal households involvement of their bogus version of the Order of St John.
To exacerbate the situation Freeman is a member of the Board of the Currumbin RSL on the Gold Coast of Queensland. It is also noted that the President of that RSL is Ron Workman who also appears on our web site for wearing unauthorised medals. See here:
http://www.anzmi.net/index.php/stolen-valour?pid=62&sid=370:Workman
The Gold Coast region is a "hotbed" for frauds, liars and wannabes and part of the reason is that many of them have been RSL Sub Branch executives.
One would think that a retired Lieutenant Colonel from the Army Legal Corp would have the "nous" to work out medals entitlement and protocols.
We have many completed cases where we have received threats from legal firms about people we have correctly exposed. We live with the expectation of receiving such a threat from Lieutenant Colonel Freeman, however because we know that what we have said is true and correct Freeman will stay firmly lodged on our web site for a very long time,
UPDATE 4 MAY 2016
Ex Army Legal Officer Lieutenant Colonel (Rtd) David Freeman has chosen to defend the indefensible.
Here is the full report from the Gold Coast Bulletin:
www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/news/gold-c...4a8740da5d36f1f2b746
Here are excerpts, of what he said to the Gold Coast Bulletin Newspaper, on 21 April 2016, together with our responses:
We iterate, that the last two medals, worn by Freeman, are "Dress up Junk".
What a load of codswallop the Governor Generals Directive was not introduced in "March this year". It has been around for many years, and the current issue, was updated in Oct 2012. However, in the update there were no variations in policy from previous issues. See here:
www.gg.gov.au/sites/default/files/files/...ingForeignAwards.pdf
The two medals are far from legitimate. They are "trash tin", presented by a defunct Yugoslavia monarch, Grand Master HRH Prince Karl Vladimir Karadjordjevic, of Yugoslavia CCSJ. The medals are not, and never will be, approved to be attached to an Australian medals rack. Freeman claims there were no clear protocols at the time. That is pure bovine excreta. As previously stated, the protocols have been in place for many years. The Gold Coast Bulletin trimmed the fake medals from their report.
Here, again, are the two medals attached to Freeman's rack:
We encourage Freeman's legal team to report the matter, to the Queensland Police, detailing that Freeman is wearing medals, that were not conferred upon him, by the Governor General. Perhaps he has committed an offence under the Defence Act, Part VII, section 80B. However, the charges won't stick, because the "tin", he is wearing, were conferred by a defunct Yugoslav Prince and could not, under any circumstances, be defined as "Service Medals". The only service they would have seen, is the pseudo services and ceremonies, conducted by "grown ups" playing Knights and Dames, to a deceased foreign Prince.
He claims that he was directed, to wear the medals, by his superiors. No superiors, from the Australian Defence Force, would give such a direction. In the context, of wearing the medals on the Military Uniform of a Lieutenant Colonel, one can assume the mentioned "Superior" is an appropriate member of the Australian Defence Force.
As shown above, he appears to believe that he was given permission, to wear the medal, by a superior, named Colonel George Kearney (Rtd)
Colonel George Kearney (Rtd), is the Queensland Prior of the Yugoslav Order of St John. Kearney, was also an eminent Defence Medical Officer. However, he is not (yet) the Governor General, and cannot confer "tin" medals on his acolytes and minions. Below is a photograph of Prior Chevalier George Kearney AM GCSJ RFD ED, Prior of Queensland.
Photo TBA
Freeman introduces another medals fanangler, R&SL Currumbin, Sub-Branch President, Mr Ron Workman, to support his plea. Workman is a good ally for Freeman, also being a blatant medals cheat.
See here: www.anzmi.net/index.php/cheats-thieves/370-workman. We noticed, on ANZAC Day, this year, that Workman has removed the offending medals.
Despite Freeman's service, as a Legal officer he, apparently, knows three fifths of five eighths of very little, about traditions and protocols, or he chooses to 'enhance' his image, by ignoring those traditions and protocols. His arguments are shallow, inaccurate and without substance.
By reporting this matter to the public, in the Gold Coast Bulletin, Freeman has brought further discredit upon himself. Genuine Australian and New Zealand Veterans, will see him as a Retired Army Legal Officer, who was given his rank, because of his legal qualifications. He does not possess the honour and integrity, that is ingrained into the fibre of a career Officer, who has earned his rank through soldiering.
We would suggest that Freeman shut up and stop making a further fool of himself.
French
2794442 Maurice Bede French was born on the 22 October, 1946. On the 28 January, 1970, he was conscripted into the Australian Army as a National Serviceman. He served in RAEME (Royal Australian Electrical Mechanical Engineers) for two years from April, 1970 until his discharge in January, 1972, when he joined the CMF for a further two years.
On the 24 December, 1970 he was posted to the Republic of South Vietnam with RAEME, 102 Field Workshop as a welder. He served in country for 10 months until he returned to Australia on the 9 October,1971.r
According to the Nominal Roll of Vietnam Veterans, Craftsman (Private) Maurice Bede French had one normal tour of Vietnam from 24 December, 1970 to 9 October, 1971. He was stationed at Vung Tau and also spent time with 3 Cavalry Regiment, Nui Dat as a RAEME Boilermaker/welder.
However, Craftsman French has embellished his service by relating untruths regarding his operational Vietnam Service. According to French, he was no ordinary craftsman welder in RAEME. He was an Armourer and a highly specialised trained individual whose deeds and skills were unheard of by anyone in the Australian Army in Vietnam or for that matter Australia. Particularly some members of his former unit and colleagues at a Narellan Social Group that he is an active member of.
We have statutory declarations from deponents that French has told them that during his service in Vietnam that -:
(i) He arrived in Vietnam two days before Christmas 1967.
(ii) He was at the American Base at Khe Sanh just before they closed the base/airport down due to the heavy North Vietnamese artillery bombardments.
(iii) In his first deployment from December 1967 until November 1968, he was attached to a special operational section in RAEME during his time in Vietnam and he was assigned to working with the Americans.
(iv) During this time he and his specially selected colleagues manufactured bullets with porcelain tips with "drops of mercury behind the porcelain", whilst working out of a mobile unit.
(v) The porcelain bullets were manufactured and used because, “they made a bigger hole in you.” and the shrapnel spread to other parts of the body.
(vi) He personally delivered the porcelain bullets to American bases including Khe Sanh, Hue, and other major trouble spots for use by the Americans against the enemy.
(vii) He flew to the Island of Guam from South Vietnam and obtained the ingredients for the porcelain bullets and returned them to Vietnam as personal luggage.
(viii) He witnessed a person shot in the shoulder by one of his porcelain bullets and some of the shrapnel travelled in his body and was located in his liver.
(ix) At the completion of his first tour, he signed on for a further five years.
(x) His second tour was from December, 1970 until October, 1971.
(xi) He was discharged as a Sergeant in 1972.
French has told colleagues that he was first conscripted in the January, 1967 intake, and was at Khe Sanh in late December, 1967, virtually hours after his arrival and just before they closed the Base Airstrip down due to North Vietnamese artillery bombardments.
Well this really is a riveting success story of a covert RAEME Craftsman operative on secret operations that will make good reading in the eventual publication of his personal memoirs.
However, an ANZMI investigation into the above claims has concluded that Craftsman Maurice Bede French has surprisingly stretched the truth somewhat.
A check with his Army records and the Australian War Memorial Vietnam Roll, indicated that French had one tour of Vietnam from 24 December 1970 until 9 October, 1971, almost three years after the Khe Sanh onslaught had finished.
He did arrive a few days before Christmas, but he is out by three years.
He actually arrived on the 24 December 1970 and not 1967 as he claims. He served at Vung Tau and Nui Dat carrying out vital duties for the entire period as a boilermaker and general RAEME necessary requirements. He was discharged as a Craftsman/Private from the Australian Army following completion of his two years National Service and his one tour of Vietnam. He subsequently joined the part time CMF (Citizens Military Forces) as a Sapper/Private in 108 Plant Squadron, RAE.(Royal Australian Engineers) for two years. He discharged as a Sapper.
Porcelain bullets with mercury tips were never manufactured by Australian or any other allied Defence Force personnel in Vietnam. In fact, this would be in contravention of the United Nations Charter and the Geneva Convention. It is also a figment of the imagination of French to gain attention as a “frontline wannabee”.
Try finding “porcelain bullets”, being used by the Military in 1970 or 1971 on the internet. Not there? “Must have been really top secret.” Could you possibly imagine an Australian Private Craftsman soldier engaged in highly secret and illegal activities with American Army personnel manufacturing these so called porcelain/mercury bullets.
Maurice Bede French, National Serviceman, RAEME, is a genuine Veteran of the Vietnam War. He has embellished his service to impress others that he was more than what his records disclose.
He should be satisfied with the fact that he served as a RAEME craftsman in Vietnam and leave the heroics to Sylvester Stallone and his ilk.
If his stories get any bigger, he could end up giving evidence at a War Crimes Commission in Hanoi.
French
Michael French was born in Hobart on the 15 September, 1948. He is a resident of Circular Head, a small town in North West Tasmania. French is a Medals Cheat.
In the above photograph, taken in August, 2016, French is wearing the following medals -;
1. Australian Active Service Medal 1945 – 1975, (AASM 45-75) clasp Vietnam. Entitled.
2. Vietnam Medal. (VM) Entitled.
3. Australian Defence Medal. (ADM) Entitled.
4. Vietnam Campaign Medal. (VCM) Entitled.
5. Regular Force Service Medal. Tin junk medal, purchased.
6. Army Service Medal. Tin junk medal, purchased.
French enlisted in the Australian Army as a regular soldier in 1968. Following completion of his recruit training he was posted to the Royal Australian Corps of Signals. Following Corps training, French was posted to the Republic of South Vietnam on the 9 July, 1970 with 104 Signals Squadron. He returned to Australia on the 1 May, 1971.
As a result of his service, he was appropriately awarded the above AASM 45-75 clasp Vietnam, VM, ADM and VCM. The same as everyone else who served for six months or more in Vietnam.
However, French, for his own egotistical reasons, has decided to purchase two extra medals and have them court mounted with his original medals. The court mounting would have also cost French about $200.00.
The last two medals are tin worthless trinkets that should not be worn on the left side with genuine awarded medals. They are purchased adornments that have no standing whatsoever for military service in the Australian Defence Force.
They are -;
1. Regular Force Service Medal. Purchase price. $70.00. (RSM Awards)
2. Army Service Medal. Purchase Price $140.00.(English Tie and Medal Company)
These Medal Manufacturers make a lot of money plying their trade and selling tin medals to gullible and vain Australians who like to increase their rack for no other reason than to impress people.
Non ex-service individuals would have no idea that French wears two tin purchased medals on his impressive rack.
We say to Mr. French, you have been amply rewarded for your respected military service. Get rid of the tin.
Freshfield
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Robert Michael Freshfield is a wannabe and a typical show pony used to draw potential members into Veteran's organisations in the struggle for membership numbers, public recognition, and funds. Many ex-service organisations harbour these individuals knowing full well that their tales of brave or spectacular war service are nothing more than lies. In one way these wannabes are like the Vietnam War protestors as described by Hanoi, "useful idiots"
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His freely published address block is: Mr Bob Freshfield. Jnr Vice President Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia.
NSW Branch Inc. EMail: vvfagran@bigpond.net.au At time of publication the executive members of the VVFA Granville were , according to their website.
National President: Tim McCombe OAM In emails to six State VVFA Secretaries we asked if Freshfield had ever been seen to wear the Infantry Combat Badge, there were only two replies. One, from Nev Woodward, said that he has never seen him wear it, another said our representative should "get a life" Freshfield's 3 1/2 months of service with 1 Australian Reinforcement Unit (1ARU) at Nui Dat and his 6 months with AFV Amenities and Welfare Unit, 1 Australian Logistic Support Group (1ALSG), Vung Tau, are well documented and these records deny any claims he has made of being a bush soldier with two Battalions and a semi-autonomous Infantry Platoon. We base this exposure on information supplied by Veterans who sent us copies of emails written by Freshfield and a message that was posted by him in an online Infantry Battalion newsletter. The Veterans supplied statements as to the authenticity of the emails. We have been informed that he denies ever having sent his Vietnam service details over the internet, "someone else sent them after they hacked his password." If this was the case, this "hacker" sent emails using Freshfield's name and e-mail address from late 2001 to mid 2004, before the impersonation was discovered and the password changed. Imagine that. From our standpoint we firmly believe that the emails were written and sent by Freshfield. Perhaps we could agree with him in one way in that he did not send his Vietnam service details over the internet, what he sent was a pack of lies and had little to do with his actual service. In a total of three emails and a Battalion website newsletter entry, he made claims of war service with two Infantry Battalions and D&E Platoon Nui Dat. The Infantry Battalions he says he served with on operations are 3RAR and 4RAR, the operations took place from 6 March to 2 October 1971. In one ridiculous claim he said that he was in the bush on operations with both Battalions continuously from 18 June to 17 September with no break back at Nui Dat although there was a five day gap between two of them. The names of operations are available on the internet as are the dates, he obviously didn't take note of the dates. In one email he went too far and angered some Veterans when he wrote; "I was with Bravo Company 3RAR during Overlord. as [sic] nearly wiped out in the APC ambush on 12th June. Lost 5 mates, and 2 others a few days later" He also wrote. "Served in reinforcement as well as D&E Nui Dat from February to September" In September 2002 this message was posted on a 3rd Battalion Association website. (Please bookmark us before going to the site below as it will take you away from our site) Scroll down the above page to "WEBSITE CONTACTS" and you will find this entry Bob Freshfield <bobsup@ozemail.com.au> is the webmaster for the Vietnam Veterans Federation www.vvfagranvile.org.au. He writes " I checked out your site and found it a worthwhile place to browse. I was a 'Nasho" doing time at 1ARU during 1971. I got sent to, but not posted, 3RAR during "Briar Patch", "Overlord", "Iron Fox", then to 4RAR (not posted) for "Hermit Park", "North Ward" and "Ivanhoe". Shifted around among 3RAR BCoy and 4RAR CCoy and the Kiwi Coy as well. A lot of forward scout work too! - I will put a link on our site, as soon as time permits" Fact. Infantry Privates were not "seconded to", "sent to" or "shafted off to" other units as Freshfield stated in his emails. They were posted or detached to other units with the required paperwork being raised. For you old Infantrymen, can you picture a reinforcement from 1ARU joining you for a few days on an operation and he's given forward scout duties? Never happen. This was a particularly stupid claim to make. "I was with Bravo Company 3RAR during Overlord. as [sic] nearly wiped out in the APC ambush on 12th June. Lost 5 mates, and 2 others a few days later" ">>>> the ambush was on 3 APC's taking D&E and Reo's back to The Dat after Overlord finished, and 3RAR didn't want us anymore. Well, not for a few weeks." Here's why. There are some well-worn myths about this factual Armoured Personnel Carrier ambush and Freshfield only retells these myths, not the facts, clearly displaying that he was nowhere near the incident. We would like to publish the facts of this ambush but there are too many wannabes who would like to use them. There is another traumatised wannabe on our books who thought he was there on the day as well, his tale mirrors Freshfield's and the myths but is actually more gruesome. To review Freshfield's claims in brief. Served on operations with 3RAR and 4RAR, 6 March to 2 October, forward scout....Denied. Served in Vietnam beginning February 1971....Denied Served at Nui Dat from February to October 1971....Denied. "Seconded" to Battalions for operational duties....Denied Served with D&E Platoon, HQ Coy, 1ATF, Nui Dat....Denied. Was present when an Armoured Personnel Carrier was ambushed causing loss of life....Denied. His records show he arrived in Vietnam on 25 March, this date is correct according to other Military records and a letter he wrote to the Central Army Records Office, (CARO) Two sets of records also show he did indeed leave Nui Dat for Vung Tau on 7 July. We could find nothing in the way of records or supplied information that could give truth to his lies about serving with 3RAR, 4RAR and D&E Platoon, Nui Dat. We did, however, find plenty of information to show that he was never even near these units. His actual Vietnam service was: 1 Australian Reinforcement Unit, Nui Dat. From 25 March to 7 July 1971 with a seven day detachment to another unit which we believe to be AFV Amenities and Welfare Unit, 1ALSG, Vung Tau. He took a two day leave from 1ARU on 2 -3 July prior to finally being posted to AFV Amenities on 7 July, returning to Australia on 2 December 1971. People not connected to CPMH had questioned Freshfield on these claims, his replies varied and are shown in time order. All communications were by e-mail, they were sent to, and replies received from, Bob Freshfield bobsup@ozemail.com.au November 2001. His reply was not recorded after being challenged by a Veteran but the Veteran's memory says it was something like this. "He more or less said he didn't care as he knew what he did and I didn't" 16 June 2004. "I don't care anymore about what I did or didn't do in Vietnam. I won't discuss it anymore over the internet. Get a life." In answer to the same questions from CPMH his reply changed from dismissive to outright denial, a new defence. 11 September 2005. "The claims made in your email were NOT made by me. I have no idea about any email supposedly to be have been sent by me [sic] as I have NEVER made such claims on the internet. I will stand by whatever records the Army have of me. I have no idea what claims you are referring to. This will be the last response from me on this matter" His reply to an e-mail from a concerned person who questioned his post on the 3RAR Association website. 22 September 2005. "I have NEVER put my Vietnam Service details over the internet. Mischievous beings who had access to my emails through Mymail.com.au over the internet sent out a lot of crap until I changed my password, and it stopped." A review of two replies. 11 September 2005. "I have no idea what claims you are referring to" Why didn't he tell us the "hacker" story he used in his next reply? 22 September 2005. "Mischievous beings who had access to my emails >>>sent out a lot of crap until I changed my password, and it stopped" Did he finally discover this impersonation sometime between 11 and 22 September 2005 after it had been going on since November 2001? This seems highly unlikely. A Veteran who served with D&E Platoon at the time of the APC ambush and who actually lost mates on that day, sent this email to Freshfield on the 33rd anniversary of the incident. ----- Original Message ----- From: xxxxxxxxxxxxx Cc: (many VVFA officers) Sent: Saturday, June 12, 2004 11:40 PM Subject: Bulls**t Bob Freshfield.. Today was a special day for me and I have to reply for you. Today, at xxxx hrs, 12 June 2004, I observed and commemorated the deaths of xxxx of my Platoon mates, the deaths of xxxx 3 Cav mates and the severe wounding of xxxx Platoon mates that occurred during Operation Overlord, 12 June 1971. You were not there on that day, even though you allude that you were. Since your mails to me showing an attempt to have been a bush soldier I have done some checks on your Vietnam service. It appears you were not a bush soldier at all. Your roll call records appear below the garbage that you wrote to me. (records deleted) It would appear that you are some kind of wanker who wishes to expand his war service in the interest of gaining higher personal recognition and or maybe higher membership numbers for your veterans group. In either case, I find that you are a person who could not be trusted to tell the truth in any way shape or form. You are a disgrace to the memory of fallen comrades. I strongly object to you presenting yourself as a person who was with my mates on the day they died and or were wounded requiring their evacuation to Australia. I have a feeling that someone like you would have been rejected by D&E members as unfit to walk the weeds with us. I trust that you do not wear the ICB. I have sent CCs of this mail to every VVFA organisation I could find on the internet in way of protest against wankers like you having the affront to misrepresent your war service whilst a senior member of this organisation. I have also copied the President and Secretary of the VVAA, National Council, NSW Branch. This Veteran received only limited replies to this email. One from Freshfield telling him to "get a life", a few from Freshfield's VVFA State President at the time, a man who completely lost the plot and promptly abandoned him, and from the President of the VVAA, National Council, NSW Branch. Due to Freshfield's reply to our questions we have not sent him our usual formal letter asking for his explanation of the allegations made against him, he said it all with, "I have no idea what claims you are referring to. This will be the last response from me on this matter" Fair enough, but he may have to discuss what he did and didn't do in Vietnam with the DVA Fraud Control Unit, as may his friend from 104 Signals Squadron who also claims to have been involved in the 12 June '71 APC incident, a former VVFA Sub-Branch President and pensions officer. Pensions officers. We have the names, ranks and Corps of every person who was involved in this 12 June 1971 APC incident. Should you wish to verify any claims of personnel being present on the day, please contact us at information@anzmi.net This is published in the public interest, particularly that of the Vietnam Veteran Community. All information presented here is fact and the truth. Reports from private citizens are supported by statements of fact and statutory declarations. |
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