Stolen Valour
Stolen Valour
Wright
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Dr. Barry Owen Wright first came to our attention in late December 2003 but it took until April 2005 to actually find him and ask some questions, initially we were only determined to deny his claims to the US Air Medal, Infantry Combat Badge and pilots wings. He could not, or would not, adequately or truthfully answer questions posed by us in a letter and e-mails. He would have been actually better off by admitting he'd been caught out and apologising to the relevant people when we first contacted him because his responses caused us to dig even further into his Military career. Many times we thought we were ready to publish our findings but as word of our investigations got out, more and more damning evidence was uncovered. This prompted further research into previously unthought-of records and we discovered that this individual did a lot more than spin some yarns at the club bar and pin on a few un-entitled medals and badges. |
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You will be astounded by what we found.
During our communications with Dr. Barry Wright, he stated.
"I have always said I have had two tours - what I said is that I have had two tours in SE Asia both of which were on active service, one in the RANand one in the Army."
"I am a Veteran with honourable Naval service. Serving in the FESR"
Comments from former Army Officers who knew Barry Wright.
"Wright was a knownliar, everywhere"
"He was a lazy incompetent"
"He is a pathological liar"
"Barry Wright over many years had told so many lies and fabricated so many stories that he would have no idea what is truth and what is fantasy"
We asked yet another former Army Officer to comment on Dr. Barry Wright's lies and deceit. He wrote;
"The tragedy is, that he was not stopped earlier in his miserable life"
Three more comments for good measure.
"he was raving about how he went back to the NAM (post 1971) and was doing something in helicopters down in the Delta and I thought in your dreams mate"..............
"When he was here (Kuranda) he ran a "scam" for people to acquire PhDs from a university in Kentucky. All of the people he signed up passed the course and were given PhDs"
"Iunderstand that he is currently (December 05) playing the invalid with some malady related to his time as a world class gymnast"
Perhaps the attitudes of Wright's superior officers toward him may be reflected in the date this teacher was posted to Vietnam, 24 December 70, and the method of his transport back to Australia to attend to urgent domestic matters.
He was sent home on a ship, a nine day voyage with two or three more days to get from Townsville to Sydney instead of a twelve hour Saigon-Sydney flight. Apparently Barry didn't hold much sway within the officer ranks even then; a Private Soldier would have been afforded much better treatment under the same circumstances.
Barry Wright wrote; "You were supplied with a photo of me in the presence of the G-G wearing what I claim and believe are my proper entitlements. At no time have I undertaken to falsely present or wear decorations that I have no entitlement to" (here's the photo)
We apologise to His Excellency Major General Michael Jeffery AC CVO MC, (Ret), Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, for masking his face but we felt it inappropriate to reproduce full photos of himin the company of thelikes of Barry Wright.
"At no time have I undertaken to falsely present or wear decorations that I have no entitlement to" In this photoWright is wearingminiatures of the Australian Active Service Medal, the Vietnam Medal, the Australian Service Medal, the Defence Force Service Medal, the National Medal, theUS Air Medal and the Vietnamese Campaign Medal.
He is not entitled to the last two and his records indicate he had no Navy operational service so should not be recognised for the Australian Service Medal.
Wright has also been seen to illegally wear the Infantry Combat Badge and pilot's wings while in Kuranda, North Queensland.
These wereand are his post nominals. Only the AM is in question here, for now.
1988. AM, BA(Hons), GradDipAbSt, MScSoc, PhD, TC, FRAI, AAIM. (AMis "Member of the Order of Australia")
June 2005. BA(Hons), T Cert, MSc Soc, GradDipAbSt,PhD, DSc, Cert WTA, FRAI. What happened to the AM?There are 5 university degrees listed here in bold font but he recently claimed to have 7.We have confirmed all but the DSC, Doctor of Science.
What we present in this exposure is in the face of threatened formal legal action brought by Dr. Barry Wright. He has termed this action, "criminal proceedings"and will have us charged under the "Apprehended Violence provisions of the Crimes Act"for electronic stalking, harassment, threat and intimidation. Once the appropriate authorities are alerted to the actions of this disgraceful person, it will be him in the defendant's seat, not us.
Read more of this Army Education Corps Officer who, during his three tours in Vietnam, worked for the CIA, ASIS, flew helicopters in combat, commanded an Infantry company, was decorated for bravery when wounded in action and still has shrapnel in his body after all these years, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel.
Oh, he was a medical doctor, a Government employed assassin and an Olympic gymnast too.
Remember"Pilot" "Doctor" "Assassin", his reasons for these claims may be explained at the end of the main story.
Dr. BARRY OWEN WRIGHT EXPOSED.
ARMY. Service number 216720
"I served with honour and distinction"
Distinction? Hardly, his service was much less than distinctive, it was even less than ordinary, he is only remembered for his laziness, incompetence, and his lying ways.
Dr. Barry Wright's biography as presented in this bookthat he claims to have co-authored, not co-edited.
"WAR Australia & Vietnam Edited by Kenneth Maddock and Barry Wright" (1987)ISBN: 0-06-312099-2
"Barry Wright is a senior lecturer in the School of Humanities and Applied Social Sciences at Nepean College of Advanced Education, Sydney. Prior to starting a new career in academia in 1974 he served in both the Royal Australian Navy and Australian Regular Army as an Officer. He saw service in various areas of South-east Asia, Papua New Guinea and as a Captain in South Vietnam. On retiring from the regular Army in 1974 he continued to serve as an Infantry Major in the Army Reserve until 1982"
This bio plays games with the English language; we'll discuss this belowin detail.
Senior Lecturer.
This Nepean College is part of the University of Western Sydney. Wright had told people he was an Emeritus Professor at the University, which he was not; also that he has a doctorate in Applied Psychology.
He told us that our question to him on being a Doctor of Applied Psychology was not valid because there is no such degree.Fair enough, we can only work with information supplied but he didn't address our question on his Emeritus Professor claim, he totally ignored itand didn't bother to broach the subject of his DSc, our information wasn't far out.
Wright seems to have done quite a lot of academic work while allegedly being in receipt of a DVA compensation payment for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. He did some off campus work for the University in 2001 and was an academic at the Nepean Collegefor a number of years prior to 1988.
We were told that he left the college in 1988 due to medical problems arising from injuries received during the Vietnam War
">>>he served in both the Royal Australian Navy and Australian Regular Army as an Officer. He saw service in various areas of South-east Asia, Papua New Guinea and as a Captain in South Vietnam"
Officer.
He was not an Officer in the Navy; this is one of his many tales about histime in the Defence Forces.
Yes, he was an Army Captain in South Vietnam with the Education Corps.Any young Soldiers wishing to discuss further education after their return to Australia could find Capt. Wright in his air-conditioned library. He was attached to the logistic support group in Vung Tau, Vietnam, for 5 1/2 months with the Army and that's all. See more in the Navy section on this. Papua New Guinea. His records show that he was going to be posted there in 1973 buthe developed a skin condition which prevented his deployment to tropical areas. There is no other reference to this country; apparently he never went near New Guinea during his Army or Navy service. ">>>On retiring from the regular Army in 1974 he continued to serve as an Infantry Major in the Army Reserve until 1982"
Retired. In an official letter from 2 Field Survey Squadron dated 4/12/1973 and headed, "Resignation of Commission, 216720 Captain B. Wright - RA Survey", Major E. J. Laker wrote;
1...Attached herewith find resignation submitted by the above officer on 3 Dec '73. BA.(Sc). Bachelor of Applied Science. Doubts have been expressed as to the validity of this degree. His BA Honours wasgained from Macquarie University in 1975 as a result of his thesis on the geography of diphtheria in New South Wales. On reading Major Laker's letter and noting other information supplied, we gathered that Wright didn't "retire" from the Regular Army, he was askedor told to resign due to his inability to cope with coursesin his new posting to RA Survey Regiment. 1987 biographyagain. ">>>On retiring from the regular Army in 1974 he continued to serve as an Infantry Major in the Army Reserve until 1982" June 2005, in a letter to CPMH. "I served in the Royal Australian Infantry from 1976 till I resigned in 1985" Yes, a Temporary Major with the Army Reserve, not the Regular Army. Why do the years vary? 1974 or '76 to 1982 or '85. It's very difficult to understand what is, and what isn't the truth about this man. Records tell us that he went directly from the Regular Army to the Reserves in January 1974, but he now tells us he joined in 1976. We don't know exactly when he resigned, or whatever, but it wasn't as late as 1985. Perhaps Dr. Wright could confirm or deny this information we received as to this Reserve service. His service wasn't continuous, there was a break of nearly two years during the period and he was discharged sometime in 1983 as a Temporary Major. AWARDS
There are four awards that he falsely lays claim to. The first has two divisions which could be either military or civil. They are, Member of the Order of Australia (AM), the US Air Medal, the Vietnamese Campaign Medal, and the Vietnamese Civil "Affairs" Medal.
From the Nepean College of Advanced Education.
"I have checked the Nepean 1988 Calendar and Barry's qualifications, which would have been verified by Human Resources, are listed as follows: AM, BA(Hons) (Macq), GradDipAbSt(SACAE), MScSoc(NSW), PhD(NSW), TC(STC), FRAI, AAIM" AM. "Member of the Order of Australia" Not to be confused with the lesser OAM. It's not known exactly when he began this deception and to use the post nominal AM when not entitled is a serious offence.
From a Section within the Prime Minister's Department;
"We have no record on our internal Australian Honours List database of a Barry Wright regarding the award of the Order of Australia" One report from Queensland stated that Wright had retired from the ArmyReserve as a Major and had been seen on Anzac Days wearing what seemed to be inappropriate decorations and awards for a person who served only one short tour with HQ Australian Forces Vietnam. These were the Infantry Combat Badge(ICB), pilot's wings and the US Air Medal. See more on this under "Claims". Vietnamese Campaign Medal. Dr. Wright wrote, "You question my right of entitlement of the South Vietnamese Medal. I enclose a copy of my AB83 page that states I am awarded the above medal and I received the above medal from the issuing authority with my Regimental number and name engraved on it. I have always been of the opinion that I am entitled to wear this medal. In your letter you raise the issue of me having no such entitlement. If that is so I am and have been unaware of that. I will contact Army records to ascertain if I am entitled to the medal"
This page bears no Routine Order numbers, dates,rank of the officer who signed it and no unit noted. We sincerely doubt the authenticity of this document. Yes, Dr Wright, you should contact Army records because this document above has nothing to do with the award of the Vietnamese Campaign Medal. If this is a true page from your AAB83, it shows that you were approved to wear the "Ribbon of the Vietnamese Campaign Medal subject to verification by CARO". Army and other Defence Forces personnel who had actually spent enough time in Vietnam to be entitled to the award required this notation in their AAB83s to lawfully wear the "Ribbon" on their ribbon bar when returning to Australia. His B103, a record of service prior to 1974, does not note the Vietnamese Campaign Medal. It only shows the award of the Vietnam Medal which merely says that the man was posted to a unit on active service in Vietnam for one day or longer. Surely his full medal entitlement would have been recorded and issued before he left the Army in January 1974, we believe it was. If Wright produces anything that says he is entitled to this award, then there is something drastically wrong, there is absolutely nothing of a legitimate nature that he could provide to show any entitlement. His Special Service, Vietnam Southern Zone, is shown in records as 24 December 1970 to 1 June 1971 and this is regarded as his "Operational Service". These dates include the day his plane landed in Saigon and the day he disembarked from a ship back in Australia. A total of 181 days of recognised operational service was required for the awarding of the Vietnamese Campaign Medal and his total of 159 days including travel time didn't allow for this award to be made. We know of people who were refused the medal because they were just a few days short of the minimum days required, let alone three weeks. Wright spent 149 days on Vietnamese soil.
Due to the Privacy Act 1988 we can't access entitlement to any awards made after 1973 so here's the email address for you to do it Dr. Wright, kindly pass us the reply. Please provide detailed information such as the name of the Officer whose signature appears above, his rank and unit. The dates that the stamps were applied would also be required along with all information you provided to CARO when requesting the award. dpe.honoursandawards@defence.gov.au Barry Wright, correspondence received 26 & 29 July '05. "The central issue seems to be my being awarded the US "Air Medal". As I have told you I have always acted in good faith and have always believed that I am entitled to this award. I still do" "Since it is in question I will or you can write to Department of Defense[sic] Honors[sic] and Awards where I will ascertain if their[sic] is a record of my being recognised for this award. I will ask if I have an entitlement to wear it as I belive[sic] I do. If their response is in the negative then I will right[sic] to the US Airforce[sic] and ascertain if they have such a record. I do have the medal and it was presented in an official US medal box which you cannot buy" "The paper work you request from me was sent to Army HQ"
In other correspondence he used words such as "boarding" instead of "bordering, also "Owardwellian" for "Orwellian", "council" for "counsel" twice, and "rediculous"He has gift for flowery language but no idea of how to spell the words he uses. This seems odd for a man who is an experienced teacher and holds Degrees and Doctorates.
Following Wright's suggestion that we contact Honours and Awards, here is their answer, August 2005, "According to our records, Mr. Wright has not applied for formal approval to accept this award, and we have no other records of Mr. Wright being offered this award. Wright was posted to the Eastern Command Personnel Depot at the time this letter was dated and signed, supposedly by CAPT Cosgrove.
1 216720 Capt. B. WRIGHT RAAEC was awarded the United States Air Medal on 27 May 71 ? 2 The medal and evidence of presentation have been sighted and verified ?
Wright made the mistake of thinking his approved Special Service or Operational Service dates, 23 Dec 70 to 1 June 71, referred to his time on Vietnamese soil and this would have allowed for the presentation of the medal to be made by Captain Mitchell on 27 May '71.
On 27 May 1971 Wright was on the high seas onboard HMAS Sydney returning to Australia from Vietnam.
The shipleft Vung Tau Harbour at 1330 hours, 23 May, arriving at Townsville on 1 June.
He told us that his "logged flight hours" were as a passenger. When we checked the the criteria governing this award, they distinctly prohibit passengers from being considered.
A senior member of the former CPMH emailed Wright and amongst other questions, put this to him;
"How did a "Chalkie" Captain who was posted to HQAFV from 24 Dec 70 to 23 May 71 (actual time in-country) find himself inthe air with the 5th Avn Det Vung Tau accumulating 50 hours of flight time??
Look at that second date, 23 May 71, this would have been the first indication Wright received that the wrong date was used on this allegedly forged letter.
How did he react? Any wannabe who would never admit to fraud such as this would ignore the question and carry on regardless, but what did Wright do? Prior to 21 October 05 he removed the US Air Medal from the row of medals he wears. This can only suggest that he knew damn well he'd been caught out in his lies and has no legitimate defence. This removal constitutes an admission of fraud and forgery of a Military document.You can now remove the Vietnamese Campaign Medal as well, Dr. Barry Wright PhD etc.
We sincerely hope that someone in authority will investigate this "Notification of Foreign Award".Perhaps Captain Cosgrove's son could enlighten us as to the validity of the signature on this document. This son is General Peter Cosgrove AC, MC,former Chief of the Australian Defence Force.
Vietnamese "Civil Affairs" Medal
Wright told us he was awarded this medal and that they were handed out liberally. Not so, this award was earned by working with the civilian population in various productive fields and was substantiated by citations issued by the South Vietnamese Govt. We hold copies of citations from the period Wright was in Vietnam and his copy should be in his records file, it's not. Not only did he misname this medal, the relevant Australian authority has no knowledge of him applying for recognition of the award.
What he erroneously calls the "Civil Affairs" Medal is actually called the "Civil Actions" Medal. If he had the citation he would know this.
Wright moved back to Sydney in late 1999 and continued with his war stories. Many people regarded him as a former Infantry Officerwho retired as a Lt. Colonel.
CLAIMS Barry Wright. "I have always said I have had two tours - what I said is that I have had two tours in SE Asia both of which were on active service, one in the RAN and one in the Army" When he was the Secretary of Kuranda (Cairns) RSL, many members heard these claims and more.
Here's one of Wright's stories that was passed on to us.
"While serving on HMAS VOYAGER about 1962 (not 100% sure), a Lieutenant Commander approached him and ordered him to pack and depart the ship. Wright said he was sent to Swan Island and after some training, a Brigadier told him things were hotting up in Vietnam, he was dispatched to join Operation Phoenix - and that was only his first tour"
He was a Sailor onboard HMAS VOYAGER from 7/11/61 to the date of his discharge, 31/1/63.
He attended a full time civilian teacher training course in '63-'64and another education course in '65, enlisting in the Army in December '65. Not much time there for spook training or a trip to Vietnamto work with the CIA in a program that had yet to come into existence. The NAVY section of our story reveals the real reason he departed the ship in January '63.
More Barry Wright talesprovided by people who know him well. "He was the Skipper of a helicopter". He actually had a pilot's helmet in his house and told visitors that it was the helmet he wore when he was a pilot. The rear of the helmet had a peace symbol painted on it. "His second tour was as a helicopter pilot". Wright had paraded an American citizen, "Cecil", to all at KurandaRSL, later he said Cecil is a Veteran who had flown with himin Vietnam. Cecil was actually a helicopter pilot in Vietnam. During our investigations, one person said he had,"Never heard Wright make claims of operating on secret missions with the CIA but had heard from him that he was involved in intelligence work in Vietnam" This same person had also heard his tales of being involved in combat while an Infantry Company Commander. Many people have heard him tell many different stories of his war time exploits. Here are four more ridiculous examples. 1...."Barry Owen Wright has told me the following stories about his involvement during his two tours of Vietnamand his return to Australiaworking with a very secret unit." 2...."Wright made claim that he and a number of other people in the secret unit being responsible for despatching 'The Jackal' many years ago. I and a number of other people have been told how a section of the Hume Highwaywas sealed off and that he and at least one other person shot and killed The Jackal with silenced pistols. The section involved then had a big party at his house (Wrights house) somewhere in Sydney" 3...."He claimed also that when he was a company commander in Vietnamhis company had just settled in for an evening meal. He noticed that there was an extra person in the group. He asked who was on guard and one of his soldiers stated that Nigel was. He recounts that he could not remember any of his diggers named Nigel. His CSM took him to one of the guard points and there they had 'Nigel the Nog' with a bayonet thru his throat and into a coconut tree which held his head upright - and stated that Nigel the Nog was on guard duty" 4....Also "He and Cecil Johnson were both helicopter pilots came over a rise of some kind, saw a number of VC and fired on them and wasted the lot" This "very secret unit" business doesn't require much thought or investigation, here's why. "The Jackal", who could only be the killer "Carlos", was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1997, he's in a French prison today. Hereare some "snippets" from another person who heard Wrights tall tales.
"Barry told me many stories of his exploits in Vietnam. He stated that his first tour was one with the CIA in Operation Phoenix and also at some stage he flew helicopters with CWO Cecil Johnston Jnr. US Army"........"I visited Barry at his home, I did see an olive green flying helmet"........."Barry had an impressive array of medals on his chest on Anzac Days and also wore the Infantry Combat Badge" (ICB)
There is absolutely no possibility that an Education Corps Captaincould have accumulated 90 days as an Infantryman in warlike operations to be eligiblefor the ICB.
And from another person who knew Wright in Vietnam and Australia. "Anyway as the years passed I think I may have spoken to him once more in xxxxxxx and he was raving about how he went back to the NAM (post 1971) and was doing something in helicopters down in the Delta and I thought in your dreams mate, but didn't challenge him on it" ">>> "he started raving about how his war service had ruined his life"
This conversation took place in the 1990s, with Barry Wright claiming a third tour in Vietnam.
On 20 June 2005, Wright wrote;
"I spent many hours moving around much of Vietnam visiting AATTV personnel and units as well as the other RAAF units in SVN"
"Other RAAF units" ???? We have no idea what this refers to.
We firmly believe thatWright took stories such as this from a book that includes the fantasies of another Education Corps Officer who dreamt he was the paymaster for far flung AATTV outposts and personnel. This officer, now deceased, adopted the duties of the only real Education Corps Officer who was posted to AATTV.
So, we have the factual Ed Corps officer whose duty early 1968 was to visit AATTV personnel in the field, then we have the second Ed Corps officer who thought he did this in 1967-68, but didn't, and now we have another Ed Corps officer who is trying to place himself in a similar situation in 1971.
Like most wannabe's b/s we encounter, Wright's is highly unoriginal, except for the "Jackal" story of course. That little bit of theatre earns him our award for the second most stupid wannabe of 2005, James Alwyn Montgomery being the ultimate fool.
"I am a foundation member of the VVAA attending the original meetings in 1979" We contacted one person who was at these meetings and he doesn't remember Wright being in attendance.
Onemore statement regarding Wrightand his dreams. "In xxxxxxx in my presence he has claimed to be a Medical Doctor, a military helicopter pilot decorated for rescuing wounded soldiers from a mine field, a gymnast who represented Australia at the Tokyo Olympic Games and a Royal Australian Naval Officer" ">>>> his family all believe that he was a helicopter pilot in Vietnam, where he was wounded and decorated for bravery in the minefield incident referred to"
Wright informed us of his Army Reserve postings and duties.
"I served as a field rank officer" A Captain who was elevated to the rank of Temporary Major in 1975. "Field rank" begins at full or substantive Major.
Officer Commanding Basic Training Wing.
GSOI Systems Training Officer HQ Training Command. This seems odd in that this duty would have been undertaken by a Regular Army Lieutenant Colonel, not a Reserve Officer and not a Captain/Temporary Major.
Officer Commanding A Coy 4RNSWR.We're checking on this now.
Battalion Training Officer 4RNSWR.Was this posting in existence during his time? We're checking.
Instructor TAC5 course. We believe that one had to be at least a Lt. Colonel to instruct TAC 5. Majors instructed lower courses. (TAC, Tactical Arms Course)
Without telling us exactly what rank he held during his Reserve postings, the above allude to him holding the rank of Lt Colonel which iswhat he told some people in Sydney.The full story on Wright's Army Reserve service will be available soon.
NAVY
RAN, service number R42100, 31/12/57 to 30/1/63 also RAN Reserve, number S12247, 30/12/63 to 30/1/65.
Quote. "I am a Veteran with honourable Naval service. Serving in the FESR"
"Honourable Naval service" ? A Navy apprentice, a boy of 16 who signed up for 12 years to learn a trade and was discharged after only 5 years.
Discharged for either an inability to complete courses or personal problems. One of these is the reason for him leaving HMAS Voyagerand the Navy in December 1963, not hisfantasy as shown in our Claims section.
"Serving in the FESR" The Far Eastern Strategic Reserve. No mention of this in his records under "Service in Special Areas and Operational Service" although he was posted to HMAS Voyager when the ship undertook an uneventful 17 day escort duty to SE Asian waters. This was the only operational service for the ship during his 342 days onboard and is what he now claims as a "tour in South East Asia"
He makes quite a deal out of being in the SEATO Strategic Reserve for five months as well, he didn't go anywhere or do anything so we don't understand what this is all about.
When applying for a Short Service Commission with the Army Education Corps in 1965 he offered some false information. Without going into great detail, the following information was mixed with fact and appears in his records.
"Ships Schoolmaster on HMAS VOYAGER from 20/2/62 to 31/1/63"
We have been informed that there were no Instructing Officers on ships the size of Voyager, a destroyer. He may have assisted some other young sailors in his spare time but "Ships Schoolmaster" was going too far.
"Qualified for promotion to Engineer Sub Lieutenant (Educationally) in Royal Navy" Qualified is the wrong word, it should be Eligible, and even then only after many interviews and assessments.
There is nothing in his records to suggest that his education standard was anything better than fair. He averaged 68 in his educational tests based on a 5th year of High School standard, Geography and History being his best subjects.
"Qualified Ordnance Artificer 1st class RAN" He was not qualified and never rose above Ordnance Artificer 4th Class (machinist, fitter and turner) in the RAN and only rose to OA 2nd class in the Reserve.
"Discharged F" According to the Naval Records Historical Unit, this type of discharge could mean that he continually failed to pass a course and his services were no longer required or domestic problems prevented him from continuing his service.
"Have completed 12 months in RAN Reserve OTC 14" Records note that he served at HMAS Watson 30/12/1963 - 26/1/1964, at HMAS Kuttabul 17/8/1964 - 6/9/1964 and again at Kuttabul from 20/12/1964-30/1/1965. In the “Remarks” field it states “Approve 13 days WATSON”, “Approve 21 days KUTTABUL” and “Approve 42 days KUTTABUL" He completed 76 days of active Reserve service at these shore based facilities.
There is no mention of OTC 14 (Officer Training Course) in his records.
"Teacher's Certificate - Sydney Teacher's College. Received Dec. 1964" Wright did complete a two year teacher's training course but Sydney Teacher's College did not issue certificates, they were issued by the NSW Department of Education once teachers had completed their training and entered the teaching service. We can't access further information as to his accreditation as a teacher but according to him, he attended a technical college pre diploma course for the entire period of 1965 for the study of Maths, Physics and Chemistry. He doesn't appear to have passed this course or have gone any further with his teacher training because he hasn't added DipEd (Diploma of Education) to his list of post nominals.
Wright applied for Army enlistment in June 1965, was discharged from the Naval Reserve at own request on 16/12/65, and was in the Army four days later.
Were the claims of higher education, training, and teaching experience the reasons for Wright being accepted into the Army Education Corps as an Officer, a Lieutenant? There's nothing else in his history that would impress senior Army Officers sufficiently to allow this.
FINAL
Dr. Barry Wright told us that he never wears medals or attends commemorative days, more lies.
The last two medals on the right hand side are the US Air Medal and the Vietnamese Campaign Medal.
He wore these medals on Anzac Day 1991 and every commemorative occasion at Kuranda until 1999 . After moving back to Sydney he attended parades wearing them but when questioned on his entitlement to some, he began attending parades in Canberra, once again wearing his un-entitled medals.
Barry Wright again. Are there errors Dr Wright? Wright may have to do more than just apologise if he has used phoney war stories to gain the Special Rate of disability compensation (TPI) from the Department of Veteran's Affairsbecause the DVA Fraud Control Unit may be interested in reviewing his claims of Army service. According to Wright,he sits on committees that decide whether children of Veterans receive tertiary study bursaries or not, the Long Tan Bursary is one of them and it is now funded by the Dept of Veteran's Affairs.Further information tells us that he is an assessor for the AVCAT (education bursary) scheme as well. This person, who; Has a limited grasp of the English language. Offered false information when applying for an Army Officer's commission. Allegedly forged Military documents. Is a fraud and one of the most blatant wannabes we have ever dealt with, makes decisions on the educational futures of Veteran's children. What's wrong with this picture?
A recent Wright grab for Veteran attention and acclaim was to arrange for his name to appear in the credits on the cover of the James Blundell DVD "Postcards from Saigon"
We have been informed that he had absolutely nothing to do with the production, his name shouldn't be there and it will be removed from any further releases.
On our opening page we asked you to remember these Barry Wright claims,"Pilot" "Doctor" "Assassin" He is a real life version of James Thurber's fictional character"Walter Mitty", a meek, mild man with a vivid fantasy life who imagines himself to be a wartime pilot, an emergency-room surgeon and a devil-may-care killer. We feel that to regard Wright as just a commonplace, unadventurous person who seeks escape from reality through daydreaming would be a mistake. The affable "Mitty" kept his daydreams to himself, Wright made his public knowledge for career and further personal gain. Should Dr. Barry Wright offer a rebuttal to our exposure of his lies, it will be included in an update. Please use this area for any comments on this matter. information@anzmi.net Should you wish to contact the Vietnam Veteran's Association of Australia NSW Branch Inc. affiliated with the Vietnam Veteran's Federation of Australia (VVFA), their website is at www.vvfagranville.org.au Any replies you may receive should be from Mr Bob Freshfield, Jnr Vice President, VietnamVeterans Association of Australia, NSW Branch Inc. who is also the webmaster of the VVFA National Association website. Later you can scroll down our Cases page and read Robert (Bob) Freshfield's pack of lies as well. If you want a sensible reply from this organisation, contact the VVFA National Secretary, Nev Woodward. nevwoodward@hotmail.com
As mentioned in our story above, Dr. Barry Wright has indeed removed the US Air Medal from his bar therefore constituting, in our minds, an admission of fraud and forgery of Army documents. These photos were taken on ANZAC Day 2006 in Burnie Tasmania.
As you can see, he has retained the Vietnam Campaign Medal (last on his left) to which he is not entitled. Remove this medal too Dr. Wright or show good reason why we should not make this demand.
You might also provide us with documentation proving your entitlement to the Australian Service Medal because there is nothing in your service records to indicate your entitlement to it. It should have a clasp on the riband too.
This is published in the public interest, particularly that of the Vietnam Veteran community. All information presented is fact and the truth. Information was sourced from communicationsfrom Wright, Military records, and reports received from private citizens. These reports are supported by statements of fact and statutory declarations. |
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7 May 2006 Front page of the Cairns Post 25 April 2005
Schmidt
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Newton
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Reginald Bruce Newton claims to be a hero of the "Cold War" who joined British Intelligence, aged 20 years, became a Commissioned Officer in the British Army, gaining the rank of Major in three years and winning an MC and Bar as well as seeing covert service in Europe, Laos, Mongolia and Korea. He was medically discharged as a Major MC and Bar aged 23 years. |
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Hard core Wannabes put a lot of planning into their activities ; they weave a web of deceit and then fine-tune their stories by relating anecdotes to give them a human touch. Reginald Bruce Newton is a hard core Wannabe, who has spent many years crafting the fiction of his brief but action filled career in the British Army .
Of course, he was a "Secret Agent" and cannot divulge his regimental details, or written proof of his service to Colonial Ex Service Organisations. He does however relate tales of incredible feats of "Cold War derring-do" and likes to have his photo taken wearing "his" medals.
Reginald Newton rubs shoulders with State Governors, Generals, and the upper crust of New South Wales. He can be seen above standing beside Warrant Officer Class One Wally Thompson, OAM, the first RSM to become RSM (A). (Regimental Sergeant Major of the Army). A very prestigious position to hold. One General, when asked about Reginald said "Oh you mean Major Reginald Newton MC and Bar who served with distinction during the cold war". Read on and learn about Reginald, the consummate "Cold War Major" who, we are sure, will now be the consummate "Cold Shoulder Major" of NSW.
Pictured below is a photo of Reginald Newton and a female family member. The lady is included because she is wearing miniatures of her Newton's "Medals" on her right side (top row). She is also wearing the medals (bottom row) of another Newton family member. Although the medals are in black and white and not very clear we are reliably informed that they include MC and Bar, British General Service Medal, Korea Medal and United Nations Medal Korea.
The RNSWR Association Newsletter detailing Newton's Cold War exploits is shown below. A synopsis of the Newton RNSWR Association newsletter story together with our comments follow.
From 1950 to May 1953 In 1950 Newton departed Sydney for the United Kingdom with a letter from a "family friend" and was inducted into a Secret Intelligence Service Group as a Junior Field Officer.
We have Newton's Citizens Military Forces Record of Service, gained through the Freedom of Information Legislation from the National Archives Australia. His records clearly show that he was taken on strength of 30 Battalion NSW Scottish Regiment on 19 Sep 1949 and he was struck off strength 13 November 1952. Had Newton gone to the United Kingdom in 1950, he would have been taken off strength in 1950. We don't know where he was between 1950 and 1953, when he claims to have been a super spy, but it looks like he was still attending parades at 30 Battalion in Sydney in 1951 and 1952. When this is put with the mountain of other evidence it is most likely the truth of the matter.
Trained as a secret agent in Arisaig Scotland and Beaulieu Manor in New Forest England with the Political Warfare Executive (PWE) and other "Secret Units ".
According to "Secret Operations Executive (SOE) Syllabus: Lessons in ungentle manly warfare, World War II", introduction by Denis Rigden (pub by Public Record Office 2001), the Group A Schools based around Arisaig and Morar in Inverness were opened between Nov 1940 and June 1941 (10 in total). The last students left in Dec 1944. The Political Warfare Executive (PWE) and the "Finishing school" for the SOE ceased operations at Beaulieu Manor in New Forest, England in 1945 The information is direct from Beaulieu Manor's Heritage Education Officer and Archivist . See the emails from Beaulieu Manor For the attn of xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Thank you for your recent enquiry, which has been passed to me for reply. The Beaulieu Estate was the location for one of the training schools for the Special Operations Executive rather than the PWE, which I believe had a base at Woburn Abbey in Bedfordshire. The SOE 'Finishing' School at Beaulieu closed in June 1945, the first properties for the School having been requisitioned in January 1941. Best wishes for the New Year, XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Heritage Education Officer and Archivist In 1951, was trained by Fairbairn and Sykes formerly of the Hong Kong Police and "Paddy" Mayne former SAS Commander L t Col William Ewart (Dan) Fairbairn and Captain Eric Anthony (Bill) Sykes were both from the Shanghai Police not the Hong Kong Police. Fairbairn left Arisaig in 1942 and worked in Canada and the USA with various secret organisations. Sykes died of pneumonia in 1945 so neither were at Arisaig to train Newton. Lt Col Robert Blair (Paddy) Mayne DSO and 3 Bars was famous for his exploits with the British SAS during WW2 he served between 1939 and 1945. He left the Army at the end of the war and served on an Antarctic expedition before returning to his profession as a solicitor in his home town of Newtownards, England
September 1951 was commissioned as a British Army Officer.
ANZMI has friends in the UK who have access to the British Army List of Officers. Lists from 1950 through to 1959 failed to find any Reginald Bruce Newton. One of our London sources at the Imperial War Museum said: "I checked one of the following for each year from 1950 to 1959 inclusive Quarterly Army list: [a distribution list of officers on the active list...] - London: HMSO, 1918-1959. - vols.; 21cm. - index for R B Newton, again without success."
The London Gazette publishes details of all commissions granted for the services of the United Kingdom . A friend from the London Gazette told us: From: xxxxxxxxxxxxx
To: XXXXXXXXXXxx
This link has the search engine results for Newton in September 1951. I looked at the printed index and couldn't see any military commission for an R Newton. He may of course have a different formal first name. Rgds XXXXXXXXXX
In addition to the information received directly from the London Gazette, we also, have searched the Gazette for information about Newton's "Commission" "Promotions" and "Gallantry Awards"– He is not listed anywhere.
Conducted a raid to Gough Island in the South Atlantic to a suspected secret Russian base.
There are no records of such a raid having taking place. All is serene on Gough Island. The first recorded British expedition to the Island was in 1955.
Early in 1952 served On His Majesty's Service in, Greece, Rumania, Albania and Bulgaria moving dissidents out of unstable areas .
Operatives who served in foreign countries were able to speak the languages of the country in which they operated. Did Newton learn Greek, Romanian and Bulgarian during his training in 1951
Lost his team in secret operations behind the Iron Curtain.
Rather convenient that he "lost his team" he has no one to disprove his claims.
Mid 1952 did secret courier work in Yugoslavia. Met a lady whose parents ran a safe house in Rukavac who later became his second wife.
Must have learned Yugoslav during his training as well.
October 1952 was posted to Laos and won an MC for "A heavy action".
The Imperial War Museum London told us:
"All gallantry awards were published in The London Gazette and this is searchable online, the address is in the attached document." http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/index.asp?webType=0 Officers working with "Special Units" are listed against their "home" or original unit. In the Gazette we were easily able to locate his "Training Officers" "Paddy" Mayne for his four DSOs and also Lt (Later Lt Col) Fairbairn for his appointment as an Officer in the British Army. No Reginald Newton mentioned anywhere. In addition to information received directly from the London Gazette, we have searched the Gazette for information about Newton's "Commission" "Promotions" and "Gallantry Awards"– He is not listed anywhere. – Here is the address for the London Gazette. Have a look for yourself. http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/index.asp?webType=0
Was promoted to Captain. Joined the war in Korea.
No mention in the London Gazette of Reginald Newton being promoted to Captain.
Worked on secret operations in Mongolia and received a Bar to his MC. Lost another team.
No mention in the London Gazette of Reginald Newton receiving a bar to an MC. "Lost another team" conveniently, no one to disprove his claims .
Worked on the North Korean border observing troop and equipment movements and was wounded in action in an Ambush, sustaining facial and chest injuries. Lost most of his team again.
Newton claims to have been invalided out of the British Army, "Medically and physiologically spent". Newton being invalided out of the British Army would certainly attract compensation from the UK Ministry of Defence, War Disablement Authority, as well as ongoing medical attention. When the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) War Disablement Authority was approached they told our London agent;
Dear Mr XXXXXXXXX
Thank you for your email. I have checked our War Disablement Pension records and we have no trace of this gentleman. Thanking you Ms XXXXXXXXXXXX Veterans Advice Team
Australian Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) has reciprocal arrangements with the UK War Disablement Authority. They would have, over the years, arranged medical appointments and generally assisted a heroic and wounded UK war veteran who is an Australian citizen. The Australian Department of Veterans Affairs have never heard of Major Reginald Bruce Newton, MC and bar.
Promoted to Major
There are no entries in the London Gazette relating to a promotion of a Captain Newton to Major. The British Army, the same as the Australian Army, has a system of time in rank, whereby officers must serve a specific time in each rank, as part of their qualification for promotion to the next rank. From Australian CMF Private soldier to Major, British Army, would require at least nine or ten years. Newton did it in two and a half as well as, absorbing and mastering many different languages and specialist training, required for covert operations
"Was medically and physiologically spent"
No wonder Newton was physiologically spent, as he had achieved much for the British Empire in three years on both, His, and Her Majesty's Secret Service. In reality the achievements, promotions, battles, honours and awards would never fit into such a time frame .
Returned to London.
May 1953 - Invalided out of the British Army as a Major aged 23 years .
As stated above, not known at UK Ministry of Defence The Imperial War Museum or the War Disablement Authority. No entry in the London Gazette relating to his retirement .
Newton mentions a large, bald headed Mongolian Intelligence Officer.
Newton adds little anecdotes to his story to given them the human touch. He tells of a large, bald headed Mongolian who wore a large medal around his neck that was given to him by the Czar of Russia. The Mongolian escaped from Russian communists with a large amount of gold bullion and worked with Newton in Mongolia and Korea in 1952. Newton said, in October 2000 "The large, bald headed Mongolian was now living in Australia and doing very well".
If the large, bald headed Mongolian was given a Medal by the Czar and escaped from the Russians he would have had to have been at least 20 years old in 1917. Do the calculations, and if the large bald headed Mongolian was living in Australia and doing well, in October 2000, he would have to be 103 years old.
Australian Military Service as a CMF Private Soldier from 1948 to 1950
Newton was born on 22 September 1930. On 12 September 1949 aged nearly nineteen he joined the 30th Infantry Battalion, NSW Scottish 2 Division a Citizens Military Forces unit based in Sydney, as 257955 Private R B Newton, where he served until the 13 Nov 1952. According to Reginald he departed Sydney for the UK in late 1950 to work in UK Intelligence. His CMF records clearly show him still in Australia in 1952. 30 th Battalion merged with the RNSW Regiment in the early 1950s.
Because of his service with the 30th Battalion Newton was eligible for membership to the current RNSWR Association. As a result of his Wannabe posing he is a well-known member of that association. When asked by the RNSWR Association for proof of his service he is quoted as saying "I worked for British Intelligence and cannot divulge my discharge papers". Any Service papers in his possession would show his regimental details, decorations, medals and awards all listed against his "home unit" and disclosure of this information would be no threat to Global Security as Reginald Newton purports
Newton claims to be Major Reginald Bruce Newton MC and Bar (Retired). He wears the medals and acts the part of a retired British Major. Newton is a fraud a Wannabe and an impostor.
We ask you to review the evidence and come to your own conclusion. Our conclusions are that:
He never left Australia in 1950 to work with British Intelligence. He was never a commissioned officer in the British Army. He did not train at Arisaig Scotland or at Beaulieu Manor in New Forest in 1950 or 1951. He was not trained by any of the famous trio Fairbairn, Sykes or Mayne He did not serve as a British officer in covert operations in Europe, Laos, Mongolia or Korea He was never wounded in action. He is fraudulently wearing bravery, and service medals. He was still in Australia in 1951 when he claimed to be training at secret schools in the UK
ESO Membership What has to be done to convince ESOs, that when claims of "Secret Service" are uttered, it is essential to insist on proof of service
Unfortunately people like Newton are aided and abetted by well meaning and honest, but gullible executives of Ex Service Organisations, who, having served in the Armed Forces trust that a retired Major is a decent and honourable person. Newton is not a decent and honourable person and has never been an Army Officer or the recipient of bravery awards in any army anywhere at anytime
Newton's antics are an affront to veterans worldwide; they are an insult to a long line of his soldierly relatives, - including Newton VC an heroic WW II pilot from the Australian 22nd Sqn. The Squadron is now based at Richmond NSW. In December 2002 at a dinner in the Squadron's Sergeants Mess honouring Flight Lieutenant Bill Newton, VC. The RAAF Newspaper reported
"Also present were members of the Newton family – which has a proud history of service to Australia – including Major Reg Newton MC (ret'd) whose Army service overseas reflected the depth of commitment the extended Newton family had given to the ADF."
Newton has committed wrongs against veterans and against his family as well as crimes against Australian federal law. Penalties for falsely wearing medals and claiming to be a veteran are heavy, and include jail. Jail is where he belongs and we will do our utmost to help him get there, although, his lies, deceit and miserable behaviour has done most of the work already.
The tragedy is that Newton was not exposed a long time ago, which is indicative of the depth of his deceit and the planning that he must have put into his charade. These actions cannot be actions of stable personality, and it is suggested to Newton that he seeks immediate psychological help.
Newton will remain on our web site for the rest of his life. We will alert Defence establishments and Ex Service Organisations in the Sydney area and Australia wide of his deceit, so that he – a miserable impostor – will never again be held as an example of an "Heroic cold war veteran", as he was in the 1/19th Association Newsletter and the RAAF 22nd Squadron Sergeants Mess, as reported in the RAAF Newspaper of December 2002.
Newton, go to all those people you have fooled over the years and apologise, then go to a psychologist and seek help for your personality defect.
 8 July 2006
Reginald Bruce Newton is a member of the 2/19th Bn Association. The President of that Association Mr Roger Perry finds it impossible to grasp the concept that his "good friend" Reginald Bruce Newton is a fraud an impostor and a thief of honour . Perry wrote in the latest edition of the 2/19th Bn Newsletter
Mr Perry is approaching a great disappointment because he will eventually discover that his good friend Newton has been lying for all these years.
Newton had the opportunity to clear his name before we published his story on our web site. On the 21st January 2006 we sent a letter to Newton. He chose to ignore our letter. Mr Perry said that Newton is collecting evidence from the United Kingdom, should he choose to wait for that evidence he will grow old and weary, because the evidence does not exist. Perry is a loyal friend to Newton but infinitely gullible. Perhaps the 2/19th Association could collect some evidence as well. The NSW State Library Sydney, the National Library Canberra and the National Archives Australia hold records of the NSW Scottish Battalion and Newton's service file, these records will show Reginald was still attending parades in Sydney during his "dreamed up" cold war secret service. Finally, Newton has committed serious offences by falsely wearing gallantry and other medals. The penalty for these offences is a heavy fine or gaol. 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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Keaton
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KEATON, Graham (or Grahame) Frederick. ex- 217183. Born 1948.
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Graham(e) Frederick Keaton (217183) served in Vietnam with RAASC (Royal Australian Army Service Corps) as a Technical Storeman.
Keaton didn't serve in any of these countries and also, didn't join the Army until 21 November 1966.
We have copies of Keaton's Army records which were obtained in June 2004 from National Archives by an executive member of the RAASC Association who noted that there were no entries regarding Keaton's claimed service with 3RAR in Vietnam or service in Borneo-Malaya. This search was prompted by a Veteran who was obviously very interested in Keaton's claims but he decided to let the matter rest for a while. This sort of behaviouris inexplicable and could be viewed by some as aiding and abetting wannabe behaviour, for a senior officer to be aware of such a problem and do nothing borders on disrespect for the veteran community.  21 March 2006
We delayed publishing the following for a few reasons, one of them being that we were waiting for a newspaper report on Keaton and his former boss at 2 Wing AAFC. The article can be viewed below.
"Wing Commander" BAIN will appear in his own story on our Cases page soon. This is published in the interests of fair play and allowing all War Veterans, particularly Vietnam War Veterans, to accept or reject the apology to the Veteran Community at large We received three apologies [two almost identical] from Grahame Keaton on Monday 13 March 06, 48 hours after we published information on his activities. The first is to the Veteran Community, the second must be to Australian Air Force Cadets units and the third to a RAASC Association of which he is a member. A policy statement from our INFO page.
In the case of civilians who wear military honours and awards to which they have no entitlement, they are permanent residents of the site. In the case of genuine vets who embellish their service and wear unentitled honours and awards, their stories are only removed from the site when three criteria are met;
Once those conditions are met, the story is removed from the site. Mr. Keaton has complied with points 1 & 2. Point 3 is now up to you. All comments received at information@anzmi.netup to 1200hrs 20 April 06 will be taken into account.
From: Grahame Keaton Sir 1 Yes I am guilty of wearing "tin medals" (miniature) at the Dining In Night I was lead to believe that these could be worn but when I found out at a later date that they could not be worn with the awarded ones they were gotten rid of. I am also guilty of weraing non awarded medals as If memory serves me right I was actually doing an assessment of Basic stage cadets in Service Knowledge as I asked them prior to this night to watch for things that were wrong with dress etc. In foresight maybe I should not of worn the wrong ones and only wore the real ones on the wrong side, as I say I plead guilty to this and on reflection am a fool 2 Yes I am guilty of the things written in 221 Sqn Web site as I believed that the cadets were actually "hamming it up" doing interviews about everyone as the cadets were really laying it on thick about each other and as a result I joined the fray and hammed it up as well, unfortunately things must of gotten out of hand and as I have never seen the site they must of written what I had said 3 I appologise to the Veteran Community for these acts of stupidity and am now aware of the rules etc to the wearing of "purchased medals" after carefully reading the articles written. 4 I also wish to appologise to my comerades at 25 Supply 5 Coy RAASC for these acts of stupidity as well. 5 As a result of these actions I have resigned from the AAFC immediately and appologised to the OC for my actions Regards Grahame Keaton
Monday 13 March 06. Letter of Apology to Unit
I Grahame Keaton ex T/Cpl RAASC wish to apologise for my inexcusable behaviour by wearing non issue medals and comments made by me. I have let my family, the Veteran Community my comrades and my former RAASC units that I served in and myself down by doing this. My stupidity has caused me to resign from the AAFC and stand down as Wing Woff 2 Wing AAFC. Once again I cannot appologise enough for the embarresment caused by me to all veterans and my family. I am now aware of the rules in wearing foreign, tin and non awarded medals and apologise once again. Thank you Grahame Keaton
Monday 13 March 06 Letter of Apology
I Grahame Keaton ex T/Cpl RAASC wish to apologise for my inexcusable behaviour by wearing non issue medals and comments made by me. I have let my family, the Veteran Community my comrades and myself down by doing this. My stupidity has caused me to resign from the AAFC and stand down as Wing Woff 2 Wing AAFC. Once again I cannot appologise enough for the embarresment caused by me to all veterans and my family. I am now aware of the rules in wearing foreign, tin and non awarded medals and apologise once again. Thank you Grahame Keaton ANZMI C0MMENTS. Mr. Keaton has not been totally honest in these apologies . With reference to why he wore non awarded medals; he makes this appear to be a one-off event , a training exercise, when in fact he hadbeen seen to wear the ribbons of the medals on many occasions while in service dress. He makes no definite mention of the Infantry Combat Badge he wore with the ribbons while impersonating a qualified Infantryman, which he did on every occasion he wore the ribbon bar with ICB , not onlythat one night. Keaton's activities were reported to the 2 Wing OC in 2004 and while heordered the matter to be dropped, we must imagine that Keaton had to front the OC and explain himself. We find it hard to believe that he has never seen the web site and his "bio". As for "hamming it up" with the Cadets (point 2, 1st apology) we have a report of Keaton claiming he had " entered a tunnel and shot some VC". He stated this at a completely different time, not at the supposed "interview" session. Keaton has actually resigned but we'll have to wait and see if the illegal wearing of the General Service Medal 62-66 is swept under the carpet by the AAFC............ again. It appears that Keaton believes his greatest mistake was wearing what we refer to as Tin Medals, purchased trinkets. We did touch on these briefly in the main story but deemed them to be so unimportant to the overall exposure that we didn't even bother to name them. We must make one thing abundantly clear, Keaton does not appear on our web site for wearing "purchased medals" The only hard and fast rule about wearing "Tin" with awarded decorations is the rule of common sense. Keaton says he is now aware of the "rules" about wearing non awarded decorations butthey are actually Federal laws which could see him charged with the offence , ie wearing the GSM 62-66 while in the uniform of an Australian Defence Force sanctioned and controlled Air Force Cadet unit. If found guilty he would face maximum penalties of $3,300 and/or six months gaol. One "rule" he was aware of, and disregarded, was that while in receipt of a pension for disability he shouldn't have been working in a civilian type job as well. We imagine that the Department of Veteran's Affairs will have something to say about this.
It's now up to the Veteran Community and the War Veterans of the AAFC units and relevant associations to accept or reject Mr. Keaton's apologies.
The thirty day deadline for responses to Keaton's apologies has expired and we allowed extra time for late responses.
Of twelve respondents, 9 have rejected them outright. [ this number does not include people attached to ANZMI ]
1 is not sure .
1 accepts but doesn't think they're genuine...??
1 is reluctant to accept.
Accordingly, the Grahame Keaton story will remain on our website for the term of his natural life.
More information on Keaton and his posing will undoubtedly be received and will be published as updates.
If the new penalties for wearing unauthorised service medals are imposed, he should face heavy fines and-or imprisonment.
Should you discover a flagrant wannabe in your midst such as KEATON, ask your State Police to charge him with the offences because the Federal Police will do absolutely nothing, calling on them for action is a futile exercise.
Contact us for the appropriate Act under which these people may be charged.
ANZMI
In KEATON'S apologies he stated that he wore the General Service Medal and Infantry Combat Badge (ICB) only for the reason of training Cadets. We don't know how many people may have believed this story but recently we found some photographs on the 221 Squadron web site dating back to 1994 that completely deny this absurd claim.
This one for example which appears to be the most recent photo of him in uniform.
Above right. His miniature medals from what appears to have been an earlier date.
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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What if an impersonator repents?
Hawkins
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Peter Hawkins enlisted into the RAAF, 10 Feb 1967, served as an Airfield Defence Guard at Ubon, Thailand, arriving 15th Dec 1967 returning to Australia after 6 months on compassionate grounds. On return he remustered as a Physical Training Instructor serving in numerous units as expected of a long serving member of the RAAF and then he eventually remustered again finishing his career as a Warrant Officer, Discipline. WO(D) |
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An Airman of such standing and integrity, someone young Airmen & women could look up to and to aspire to become, a role model for the young officers to emulate, someone who's leadership they could epitomize.
Peter Hawkins, you have been caught out wearing the Vietnam Medal and Australian Active Service Medal 1945-75 with clasps Vietnam which, you are not entitled to. You have been caught wearing what appears to be Tin at the end of your medals rack as well. If you must wear tin to enhance your service then the appropriate area to wear them would be on the right breast and well below any NOK medals you may be able to wear.
Peter now resides here and the "war service" he claims is now available to the world.
We have managed to identify the un-official tin medal that Peter Stanley Hawkins is wearing as well as other RAAF personnel who also wear it. The medal is known as the Ubon Medal, a worthless medal obliviously struck up by ex RAAF persons that served at the RAAF Base Ubon Thailand during the Vietnam War.
Whoever designed the medal should have chosen a different ribbon for two reasons; the first is that the colours chosen are that of the Thai National Flag. Using the colours of a National flag to make up worthless piece of junk for these glory hunters to make them selves look like they are some kind of heroes by wearing extra medals they are not entitled to, is an insult to service personnel who have earned their official medals.
The second and this is just as insulting more so to the Thai people is the ribbon had been used for an official Thai medal in 1933 named “The Safeguarding the Constitution Medal” and was awarded to those who assisted in suppression of the 1933 rebellion against the constitution and the newly formed constitutional monarchy of 1932. On the observe is a radiant two-tiered pedestal bearing the Constitution within a floreate wreath. On the Reverse is the deity Pra Siam Taewathirat (Lord Protector of Siam). The top bar is inscribed in Thai “Sacrificing Your Life” and on the suspension “For The Country”
Our recommendation to these ex RAAF personnel, who wear the medal, is to remove it as it is highly offensive to the people of Thailand. It should also not be worn with official awarded medals. You will see in the photograph taken in 2007 in Perth other ex RAAF personnel wearing the same tin medal and one member has it mounted in front of an official medal. Obviously some ex RAAF personnel have no knowledge re the protocol of the wearing medals which does not say much for their pride or intelligence.
This is published in the public interest, particularly that of the Vietnam Veteran Community. All information presented here is fact and the truth obtained from Service records. |
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Donovan
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Steven James Donovan is now purporting to be a spokesman for a group who are calling themselves the "Sydney Discovery Project", and putting forward some dubious claims of knowledge of the location of the HMAS Sydney, sunk in mysterious circumstances off the West Australian coast in 1941. Their alleged "known" location is hundreds of kilometres away from the area generally accepted by long standing researchers to be the actual site.
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Enquiries about Donovan and the Sydney Discovery Project have brought to light a number of media reports and statements from ANZMI supporters about some of the bizarre activities of Steven James Donovan. In Brisbane's "Courier Mail" on 24 April 2002, the paper reported that the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) declined to prosecute Donovan for wearing bogus military decorations. The Australian Federal Police (AFP) confiscated the bogus medals and sent a brief of evidence to the DPP, who eventually decided not to prosecute Donovan. The DPP decision drew criticism from the Queensland RSL. The newspaper goes on to state that in May 2001, Donovan was accused of stealing a statue of a Fallen Soldier from an Ipswich memorial, then hacking down plants that he later claimed were "obscuring the view" of another monument, and defacing a sandstone memorial by painting it with coloured paint, effectively ruining the sandstone.
Another report from the "Courier Mail" on 7 February 2005, details how Donovan contributed articles to a locally funded colour brochure entitled "Ipswich's Wartime History in Our Streets". The brochure had to be withdrawn after printing because of factual errors made in the brochure. Donovan claimed he was not the sole contributor and denied any knowledge of the errors. The chairman of Ipswich Heritage (and town councillor) Paul Tully, said that it was astounding that Mr Donovan, an impostor well known to genuine Ipswich veterans, was ever consulted or allowed to contribute to such an important historical document.
ANZMI has statements from persons who verify that over at least four years, Donovan has made many and varied claims to military service, including being a commissioned officer in the Special Air Service (SAS) and as a peacekeeper in Cambodia, Somalia, and Western Sahara. Steven James Donovan's real military career is somewhat less glamorous than his inflated claims. His records show: Service Number: 183101 Enlisted: 27 January 1985 Discharged: 15 February 1994 Rank and Unit on Discharge: Trooper, 2nd Cavalry Regiment. (Private soldier equivalent) There is nothing to suggest that Donovan's real military service was anything other than honourable, and once again we see a genuine serviceman who should be proud of contribution to Australia attempting to enhance his service with fanciful claims and false medals. Steven Donovan has again appeared in the public eye, this time purporting to represent a group called "Sydney Discovery Project" and has made claims that he knows the location of the wreck of HMAS Sydney, sunk in 1941. He has approached the Curator of WA's Maritime Museum with his claims, however the Museum is reluctant to accept these claims without further proof. The claims that this group knows the location of HMAS Sydney go back some time. Among the public records are mentions of "Sydney Discovery Project" on the ABC's "Stateline" program in South Australia on 11 March 2005. This program was repeated in Queensland on 1 April 2005, essentially unchanged from the SA edition. In the TV interview, Dr Mike McCarthy, of WA Maritime Museum states that the group has not provided the museum with any verifiable information, and whilst not dismissing the claims out of hand, he is waiting on further information from the Group.
Again and more recently, on 17 January 2006 the "Bulletin" weekly news magazine published a letter to the editor written by "S. J. Donovan, Sydney Discovery Project, Brisbane Qld" with more opinions on the fate of HMAS Sydney.
The location of the wreck of HMAS Sydney and the fate of the 645 crew is a matter of national concern, and even more important to the families of the deceased crew members. The Sydney Discovery Project is one of the many organisations, both official and private, that are researching the true facts. When one of these groups has a spokesman who is a known military impostor, it would be very prudent to demand concrete evidence of that group's findings before allocating public funds to them, and raising hopes of families who have never learned the fate of their loved one. Recent advice from the Office of Australian War Graves confirms that ownership of the wreck of the HMAS Sydney is vested with the Australian Government in line with Australian legislation and the UN Convention of the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) even if the shipwreck is found in international waters. Australian States have a system of control under the Historic Shipwrecks Act, 1976 and are responsible for monitoring access to these sites. In addition, the Minister for Environment and Heritage has publicly stated his intention to immediately declare HMAS Sydney an historic shipwreck and a protected zone as soon as the actual site is discovered. A reputable search group is currently analysing data from an extensive aerial search. If any person or group, including Donovan's, has intentions of exploiting the wreck site or somehow gaining financial advantage from either government funding, salvage rights, or commercial dive use, they will be badly disappointed.
This is published in the public interest, particularly that of the 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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