Stolen Valour

A significant reason convincing imposters to falsely claim military service in the Australian and New Zealand Defence Forces, is to gain employment positions and undeserved monetary benefits over other applicants..

Malcolm Perry is a typical example of an outright military fraud, who gained the position of General Manager at a highly respectable Youth Development Organisation, that develops young Australians in a positive manner, in order that they gain self confidence in every aspect of leadership, team and character building.

The organisation has been acclaimed in various Government and Business circles for the development of these personal skills of Australia’s youth. The organisation pride themselves on the honesty and integrity of their staff, who have had successful military careers in the Australian Defence Force, and bring those qualities and skills to the program.

The program contains a military aspect with field craft, drill, physical training, uniform and kit maintenance and other barracks orientated self discipline being taught.. The current Director of this organisation has requested that we not disclose their name.

In 2017, Malcolm Perry, who was born on the 29 April, 1972, of Brisbane, Queensland, applied for the vacant position of General Manager of this organisation.

His curriculum vitae stated that he was a former member of the Royal Australian Navy as a qualified Clearance Diver, however, he later stated that he “blew out his eardrums whilst diving” and was re-assigned to other duties. He was appointed to the General Manager position above other applicants, due to his claimed exceptional military service.

He was just what the organisation wanted. A former highly experienced special operations serviceman, who would be respected by all levels of the organisation, including the young attendees, for his accomplishments in the military.

Following his appointment to the Executive position, cracks started to appear in his responses to his service, following questions asked by other employees. It appeared that other long serving RAN Clearance Divers had never heard of him.

We have obtained signed statements from witnesses who state that he claims-;
"That he was deployed to Iraq on operational service to defuse sea mines, but does not wear his medals, as he feels he is not entitled to it.” He then falsely claimed that, he left the Navy and joined the Australian Army Reserves.”

When further questioned about his Australian Defence Force service, and asked to provide written proof of his claims, he stated, “I have nothing to prove to you, the last time I was in Perth, I went and visited the team there”. Perry is no doubt alluding to the false pretence, that he visited the “Special Australian Air Service Army team”. (SASR), who are based at Swanbourne in Western Australia

Perry has never been a member of the Australian Defence Force, whether it be in the Royal Australian Navy as a Clearance Diver, the SASR, or the Australian Army Reserve. He has never laced up a military boot.

All of his Defence Force claims have now been exposed as lies, and he has been subsequently dismissed from the position of General Manager of the Youth Development Organisation.

Perry was contacted by ANZMI, and given an opportunity to explain his version of events. He declined to respond.

He has also committed an offence against the Federal Defence Act Legislation in claiming that he is a returned serviceman. He has also committed an offence against the Queensland State Legislation in obtaining a benefit by deception.

The relevant authorities have been notified.

He can now add this exposure to his false resume for future employment, and he will remain on this site for some time to come.

Case notes:

This is Petty Officer Deakon LEWIS.  He is s current member of the Australian Defence Force and joins a growing list of serving members who wear medals they have not been awarded and have no entitlement to wear.

In recent times, ANZMI has had cause to expose the actions of several serving members who, for reasons only known to them have decided to make a fool of themselves by wearing medals and awards they have no entitlement to.  See our other serving cheats:  

Ritchie           http://www.anzmi.net/index.php/cheats-thieves/valour-thieves/483-ritchie

Ferrie            https://anzmi.net/index.php/cheats-thieves/103-ferrie

Cokanauto     https://www.anzmi.net/index.php/cheats-thieves/valour-thieves/449-cokanauto

Slingsby        http://www.anzmi.net/index.php/cheats-thieves/388-slingsby

Bellingham    https://www.anzmi.net/index.php/cheats-thieves/508-bellingham

Petty Officer LEWIS now joins this illustrious group because of a stupid decision he made to wear the Operational Service Medal (Border Protection).  

This decision is even more surprising when we learn that LEWIS is already a highly decorated sailor.   He is the recipient of the Conspicuous Service Medal and also has a genuine entitlement to the Operational Service Medal (Greater Middle East Operation), yet for reasons only known to him, he decided he needed more credibility.

LEWIS has an entitlement to the following:                      

Conspicuous Service Medal (CSM)

Australian Operational Service Medal – ME Ops (AOSMGMEOPS)

Defence Long Service Medal (DLSM)

Australian Defence Medal (ADM)

We understand that his superiors became aware of this ‘indiscretion’ by LEWIS who allegedly claimed that it was ‘an error on his service record’.   We have certainly heard that one before.

The ‘I didn’t know’ defence might work for a junior sailor, but LEWIS is not a simple ‘Jack Tar’.   He is a Petty Officer, and a Recruit Instructor as indicated by the badge he wears in the photographs.  He also holds the CSM, so you would expect someone in his position to be able to understand that if ‘he didn’t do the time, he didn’t earn the gong’.

Apparently, the Navy didn’t believe LEWIS either and he was dealt with formally for his ‘indiscretion’.

Despite Navy finalising the matter, the fact that he is a decorated Senior Sailor, and a onetime recruit instructor who should have known better.   He wore the medal knowing he had no entitlement to it and did nothing to confirm his actual entitlement before ‘putting it up’.   He must have known the medal was a copy and not officially issued.  

This is not a case of administrative error, or confusion on behalf of the member.   It is a simple case of fraudulently wearing a medal which he had no entitlement to.

He continues to serve.

Welcome to our website Deakon LEWIS.

Rohan John Barlow was born on the 25 May, 1977. Barlow is a military fraud. He has confused being a Fork Lift Driver with a Clearance Diver.

Barlow enlisted in the Australian Army in May, 1995. He was 18 years of age. Following Recruit Training he was posted to the Royal Australian Ordnance Corps, where he qualified as a fork lift driver and storeman.

In January, 1998, he transferred to 2 Royal Australian Regiment (RAR) as a Private Rifleman. After 17 months, he resigned and took his discharge on the 29 May, 1999. His rank on discharge was a private soldier.

During the 4 years Barlow served in the Australian Army, he had no overseas deployments. He served his entire enlistment period in Australia. He has no awards.

Following Barlow’s discharge, he has fabricated his military service on numerous occasions, to impress ladies and others to gain favour and other benefits, including board and lodgings.

ANZMI have received signed statements of fact, indicating the stories that Barlow has told to others, that are just outright lies.

His statements include -;

1. He was a Royal Australian Navy Clearance Diver, from 1995 to 1999, and as a Trainee, was best in his class.
2. He then served in the Australian Army Special Air Service Regiment (SASR) for a period of 8 years.
3. He fought in Iraq and Afghanistan and had to kill people.
4. He struggles with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) “due to his SASR service with what he was made to do.”
5. He was not allowed to drink alcohol for 7 days prior to his SASR ops.
6. He faced real action in SASR.
7. He worked in small covert teams in SASR, but did not want to talk about it.
8. He jumped out of planes higher than 15000 feet.
9. He stated that his PTSD is so severe, that he could never dive again, and that he gets anxious just looking at the ocean.

Barlow is an aggressive and arrogant military fraud. When questioned by others about his alleged SASR military service, he claims, like all other SASR imposters who appear on this site, that he cannot talk of his experiences, due to his severe PTSD.

He then ascertains telephone numbers of those who question his service and he leaves grossly indecent and defamatory remarks on answering services and in text messages..

We have advised our informants that the intervention of police action is absolutely necessary to prevent the continuation of this illegal behaviour by Barlow.

Barlow is a liar who, over the years, has duped a lot of people. He will no doubt surface again.

Case notes:

How do you know when a wannabe is lying?   Usually when they can’t even tell you basic information on their service in the Australian Defence Force.

Meet David FLOOD from Katherine in the Northern Territory.   Here we see a gonged-up David FLOOD relaxing with a hard-earned beer after participating in an ANZAC Day Ceremony.   Nothing wrong with that, unless you are a complete fraud and didn’t earn any of the Medals and Awards shown in the photograph.

We first became alerted to FLOOD when this photograph was sent to us and it was noted that while he wears the Australian Active Service Medal (AASM), he does not wear any campaign medal which might be expected.

We did some checking and found no records of FLOOD ever having served in the ADF.   WE contacted him and asked if he could explain this apparent anomaly but after numerous emails we were still left in the dark until we received an email apologising for his actions.

It is an offence to wear medals and awards you are not entitled too.   This is a simple case of a wannabe, fraudster who was happy to have everyone believe he was a returned serviceman.   But not just an ex-serviceman, but rather, he portrayed himself as being just that little bit special.

Directorate of Special Forces?   Oh, why can’t these wannabes just be a plain old cook, a rifleman or a tanky?   No, it is always ‘Special Forces’ because they believe their stories of daring-do cannot be checked.   

David FLOOD is a fraud, he is committing offences against the Defence Act Defence Act 1903, where he is in breach of Part VII Sections 80A and 80B, which state there is a maximum penalty of $3,300 fine and six months imprisonment or both for:

80A. Falsely representing to be returned soldier, sailor or airman
80B. Improper use of service decorations

DEFENCE ACT 1903 - SECT 80A

Falsely representing to be returned soldier, sailor or airman

(1) A person is guilty of an offence if:

(a) the person represents himself or herself to be a returned soldier, sailor or airman; and

(b) the representation is false.

Penalty: 30 penalty units or imprisonment for 6 months, or both.

(2) For the purposes of this section:

(a) returned soldier means a person who has served abroad during any war as a member of any Military Force raised in Australia or in any other part of the British Empire, or as a member of the Military Forces of any Ally of Great Britain;

(b) returned sailor means a person who has served abroad during any war as a member of any Naval Force raised in Australia or in any other part of the British Empire, or as a member of the Naval Forces of any Ally of Great Britain; and

(c) returned airman means a person who has served abroad during any war as a member of any Air Force, air service or flying corps raised in Australia or in any other part of the British Empire or as a member of the air forces of any Ally of Great Britain

DEFENCE ACT 1903 - SECT 80B

Improper use of service decorations

(1) A person is guilty of an offence if:

(a) the person wears a service decoration; and

(b) the person is not the person on whom the decoration was conferred.

Penalty: 30 penalty units or imprisonment for 6 months, or both.

(2) Where the person upon whom a service decoration was conferred has died, it is not an offence against subsection (1) for a member of the family of that person to wear the service decoration if the member of the family does not represent himself as being the person upon whom the decoration was conferred.

Note: The defendant bears an evidential burden in relation to the matter in subsection (2). See subsection 13.3(3) of the Criminal Code.

(3) It is not an offence against subsection (1) for a person to wear a service decoration in the course of a dramatic or other visual representation (including such a representation to be televised) or in the making of a cinematograph film.

Note: The defendant bears an evidential burden in relation to the matter in subsection (3). See subsection 13.3(3) of the Criminal Code.

(4) A person shall not falsely represent himself as being the person upon whom a service decoration has been conferred.

Penalty: 30 penalty units or imprisonment for 6 months, or both.

(5) A person shall not deface or destroy, by melting or otherwise, a service decoration.

Penalty: 60 penalty units or imprisonment for 12 months, or both.

Welcome to the real-world David Flood. 

Case notes:

Meet Peter KELLY, former soldier, current author, councillor, political advisor and one-time professor at the now-defunct, Poseidon International University of Panama.  He is also reported to hold a doctorate in international business which was awarded to him by La Ruggerno University in Rome.

That’s not all.   Peter KELLY claims to hold a hereditary title from the Sultan of Sulu (no Scotty, not that Sulu), is a member of the Norman Academy and an honorary life member of the European Bioethics Centre in Rome.

Peter is the author of a couple of books of daring-do which some say are based loosely on himself.   However, that is not for us to say and nor do we wish to give his work any further publicity.   He is a current serving Councillor with the Ku-ring Gai Council and reportedly, an advisor to Senator Brian Burston (One Nation) on Veterans matters.

What has Mr KELLY done to earn a place on our website?

Here is an image of KELLY wearing an impressive rack of medals.  In this image, he appears to be doing everything right.   His own entitlement can be seen on his left breast, while on his right breast, he wears the medals of his brother.

What could possibly be wrong?  What has Mr KELLY done to deserve the ire of ANZMI? the reader asks. 

To answer that, here is a comment made by KELLY about the medals he wears on his right side.   KELLY uses the social media name ‘Peter James’

Here lies the problem for KELLY.   The medals he wears on right side which recognise the Vietnam service of his brother is a lie.   The medals he wears are those of Private William Nalder who we believe is KELLY’s cousin.

2412151 Private W. L. Nalder of the 1^st Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment died of wounds on 8^th July 1965.   Lest We Forget.

The policy of the Department of Defence and echoed by the Returned and Services League on the wearing the medals of a deceased Veteran is very clear.   Only the direct descendant of the Veteran is entitled to wear the decorations.   Cousins are not direct descendants.

If it were simply the case that he was wearing his cousin’s medals, that would be that.   Against the policy of the Governor General yes, but not a hanging offence.

Unfortunately, KELLY claimed that they are his brother’s medals and by doing so, received the support and sympathy of many people who believed KELLY had lost his sibling in Vietnam.   That was a lie, he is a valour thief of the worst kind  

ANZMI has noted an alarming trend developing over the past few years as more and more Medal Cheats, Wannabe’s and frauds are appearing on the political scene as ‘Advisors on Veterans Matters’.   All with what seem to be good intentions, but in truth have axes to grind or are seeking to by-pass accepted protocols or medal entitlements for their own gain.

No doubt KELLY and Senator Burston’s other ‘advisor’ Mary Ann Martinek, who is now known as Mary-Ann Oaten (see ANZMI Home Page, will launch yet another tirade against ANZMI. However, we trust that Senator Burston will take the time to read our recent reports on those, who have surrounded him as advisors, or on the advice he has been given on other wannabe cases and reflect upon the validity of the counsel he is receiving.

Senator Burston needs to be made aware that ANZMI is not on a witch hunt, but rather reflects the wider views of the majority of genuine Veterans who have had enough of wannabes and frauds ingratiating themselves in our political system for their own means. 

Let us hope that the wider community views these people for what they really are, self promoting individuals who are only out to feather their own nests.   They are unable to manage their own affairs, let alone the wider Veterans community.   Perhaps the politicians they work for will take notice, that is, assuming they have a genuine interest in genuine Veterans.

Case Notes:

“Sleep tight tonight, your Air Force is awake”, well the real one is anyway.   The Air Force that Dieter Fakautoki (aka Schaaf) belongs to, only exists in his head.

Dieter Fakautoki, the ‘flying barber’ from Melbourne and formerly from Brisbane is the owner and operator of Lion Fortress & Man Cave, a barber shop in Melbourne.   When he is not giving his customers a trim, he would like us to believe he is a Veteran RAAF Pilot and he has the photographs to prove it.

You have to admit, he’s a pretty handsome looking rooster, at least that’s the image he is trying to convey to the ladies via his Facebook and Instagram accounts.   Unfortunately for him, the one thing that Dieter has forgotten is that he is not actually a Pilot in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), nor has he seen military service in Afghanistan, Iraq or for that matter, Australia.

The above image, posed by Dieter on Australia Day 2018 just about sums him up.   As you can see, he is wearing both the Australian Afghanistan Campaign Medal and the Iraq Campaign Medal.   He is not however wearing them on the right breast as a mark of respect for a relative but rather simply because he just doesn’t know anything about honours and awards.   You will note that on his left breast he wears a ribbon bar, albeit in this image it is upside down as opposed to other images we have.   He is also adorned with RAAF Pilot Wings for which he has no entitlement whatsoever.

Note his comments on this image, particularly the last three lines.   It seems after all his experience in the RAAF, he still doesn’t understand the rank structure if the Air Force nor does he understand the difference between Groups, Wings and Squadrons.   Given however that he is a fraud, that is understandable.

Dieter seems to have pulled of quiet a coup.   In this image he appears to be a Sergeant Pilot.   Given that the RAAF has not had Non-Commissioned Pilots for over 50 years he seems to have done well for himself.   He certainly holds his age well.

Dieter seems to have access to a range of RAAF uniforms, but just can’t seem to get things right.

Not one to be a shy violet, Dieter is quite prepared to help the Australian Defence Force recruit new members with some timely advice on social media.

The one thing we have noticed about Dieter is that when he is actually in a position to be photographed near a genuine Air Force asset, he wears civilian clothes, we wonder why?

The truth is, Dieter SCHAAF (Dieter FAKAUTOK as he is more widely known) is a fraud and a wannabe.

He wears the Australian Afghanistan Medal and the Australian Iraq Medal, both of which he has no entitlement too.   He also wears the Australian Defence Force Medal (ADM) but has no entitlement to that award either.   In fact, we can find no evidence that he ever served in the Australian Defence Force.  

Unfortunately, he has also failed to realise that he should have the Australian Active Service Medal (AASM) to accompany the awards he is wearing, but given he has no entitlement to any of them, it doesn’t really matter.

What does matter is that he is committing offences against the Defence Act Defence Act 1903, where he is in breach of Part VII Sections 80A and 80B, which state there is a maximum penalty of $3,300 fine and six months imprisonment or both for:

80A. Falsely representing to be returned soldier, sailor or airman
80B. Improper use of service decorations

DEFENCE ACT 1903 - SECT 80A

Falsely representing to be returned soldier, sailor or airman

(1) A person is guilty of an offence if:

(a) the person represents himself or herself to be a returned soldier, sailor or airman; and

(b) the representation is false.

Penalty: 30 penalty units or imprisonment for 6 months, or both.

(2) For the purposes of this section:

(a) returned soldier means a person who has served abroad during any war as a member of any Military Force raised in Australia or in any other part of the British Empire, or as a member of the Military Forces of any Ally of Great Britain;

(b) returned sailor means a person who has served abroad during any war as a member of any Naval Force raised in Australia or in any other part of the British Empire, or as a member of the Naval Forces of any Ally of Great Britain; and

(c) returned airman means a person who has served abroad during any war as a member of any Air Force, air service or flying corps raised in Australia or in any other part of the British Empire or as a member of the air forces of any Ally of Great Britain

DEFENCE ACT 1903 - SECT 80B

Improper use of service decorations

(1) A person is guilty of an offence if:

(a) the person wears a service decoration; and

(b) the person is not the person on whom the decoration was conferred.

Penalty: 30 penalty units or imprisonment for 6 months, or both.

(2) Where the person upon whom a service decoration was conferred has died, it is not an offence against subsection (1) for a member of the family of that person to wear the service decoration if the member of the family does not represent himself as being the person upon whom the decoration was conferred.

Note: The defendant bears an evidential burden in relation to the matter in subsection (2). See subsection 13.3(3) of the Criminal Code.

(3) It is not an offence against subsection (1) for a person to wear a service decoration in the course of a dramatic or other visual representation (including such a representation to be televised) or in the making of a cinematograph film.

Note: The defendant bears an evidential burden in relation to the matter in subsection (3). See subsection 13.3(3) of the Criminal Code.

(4) A person shall not falsely represent himself as being the person upon whom a service decoration has been conferred.

Penalty: 30 penalty units or imprisonment for 6 months, or both.

(5) A person shall not deface or destroy, by melting or otherwise, a service decoration.

Penalty: 60 penalty units or imprisonment for 12 months, or both.

He also wears RAAF Pilots wings, again without any idea of the dedication, perseverance and demands placed upon those genuine men and women who earn them after years of study and training.

There is no doubt here, no grey areas, just plain lies and deceit.   What is concerning is the fact that Dieter’s access to various forms of RAAF uniform, thankfully his lack of understanding has made it easy to spot this fake, but to the untrained eye he could pass himself off as the genuine article.  

Let us hope that the appropriate agencies take an interest in this wannabe and take appropriate action against him.  

The next time you are in Melbourne looking for a trim, drop in to the Lion Fortress & Man Cave and say hello to Dieter, the flying barber and ask him to recount his acts of daring-do as an ‘Air Mobility Pilot’ in the RAAF.   With ANZAC Day on the horizon, perhaps our flying ace might make an appearance.   Keep your eyes open.