Stolen Valour
Stolen Valour
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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Sydney Morning Herald 1 April 2005
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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Sangster
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Perry Stuart (Lofty) SANGSTER has associated with veterans for many years, as a member of various motor cycle groups in the Northern Territory and South Australia, including the H.O.G. (Harley Owners Group) in Darwin, Alice Springs and Adelaide, Australia Patriots M/C and Southern Cross M/C. Sangster has regaled members of these clubs with stories of his extraordinary service in South Vietnam, with the SAS (Special Air Service) and the U.S. 5th Airborne, and of the war wounds he received to his back and legs. |
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Sangster's story, as told to his wide circle of friends and acquaintances, is as follows:
Now that you have read what Lofty Sangster has to say, let's look at the facts.
Sangster regularly travels between Darwin, Alice Springs and Adelaide practising his occupation of diesel mechanic. He attends biker rallies and regales all present with his tales of heroic deeds and moans about his war ravaged health, for which the government gives him no support. The more alcohol he consumes, the more heroic the deeds become and the more bitter his rhetoric against the government. Scroll down to our Brian Day story, we have his complete SAS records and we would have Lofty Sangster's as well, if he ever served in the unit. 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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Herriott
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Harry (Hal) Francis Herriott gave many interviews to reporters with false tales about his war service and on the 15th April 2006 he gave this story to the Cairns Post. |
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Statements from the newspaper. "Mr Herriott fought in Greece, Crete, Syria and Papua New Guinea with the 2/11 Infantry Battalion". - At no time did he "fight" with the 2/11 Infantry battalion. "They dropped 3,000 German paratroopers on us, we were 500, and it was 10 days of hand to hand fighting. No quarter given none asked a defiant Mr Herriott said" - He was not there on 20 May 1941 when German paratroops opened Operation Merkur (Mercury) on Crete, Herriott was 1,000 kms (600 miles) distant at 1Aust. Convalescent Depot , Kafar Vitkin, Palestine where he remained until 26 May 1941. "We joined the Freedom Fighters in the Mountains"- "We wore German uniforms and boots, used German weapons and ammunition" - Obviously he did not. "For five months Mr Herriott fought with the Antarties Freedom fighters, living in caves and stone huts by day and ambushing the Germans by night" - All of his time is accounted for from 9 April 1941 when he departed Egypt for Greece. He was in Australian Army Service Corp (AASC) units and in hospitals during this five month period. "Mr Herriott and six other fellow infantrymen escaped Crete on a small fishing boat still wearing German uniforms"."Picked up at sea by a British submarine" Herriott claims to have been "picked up" five months after the 20 May 1941. During the relevant months Herriott was, from 27 Sep 1941, in hospital with catarrh, jaundice and boils........ From 13 October 1941 with Services Training Regiment...... On 24 October 1941 transferred to Petrol Company AASC, 6 Australian Division until 13 January 1942 when he was transferred to No. 2 Company AASC. His claim of fighting in the mountains and leaving Crete on a fishing boat is remarkably similar to this recently published story. http://www.abc.net.au/rn/verbatim/stories/2004/1011693.htm The 2/11 Battalion, which Herriott was very briefly a member of, fought a heroic battle alongside New Zealand, British and Greek troops against German paratroopers during Operation Merkur (Mercury) at Retimo, Crete, commencing 20th May 1941. Below is an eyewitness account of the opening of the operation from an ordinary soldier who was there "It was a spectacle that might have belonged to a war between the planets. Out of the unswerving flying fleet came tumbling lines of little dolls, sprouting silken mushrooms that stayed and steadied them, and lowered them in ordered ranks into our consuming fire. And still they came, till all the fantastic sky before us was filled with futuristic snowflakes floating beneath the low black thundercloud of the processional planes - occasionally flashing into fire as if struck by lightning from the earth." "These little dolls were highly trained and motivated German paratroopers of General Kurt Student's XI Air Corps. For ten days they and the elite mountain troops that were sent to reinforce them hunted and were hunted by the Australian, New Zealand, British and Greek soldiers, as well as Cretan farmers, townspeople and police. Fighting was savage and bloody, with little quarter given or asked. Men fought to the death in solitary duels or in major engagements. Their bodies cluttered the narrow streets of the towns or lay among the olive trees and creek beds of the countryside. Herriott is stealing the honour and valour of Soldiers of the Battalion while never having to endure the same hardships. He was not part of the unit at that time, he spent only thirty-six days with the 2/11 whilst it was inactive in Egypt, three months before it was deployed to Greece and Crete. He joined the army on 26th April 1940 at Northam in Western Australia. After training he arrived in Palestine on 13 October 1940, then completed a Signals Instructions course and was sent to Australian Imperial Forces Staging Camp, Line of Communications at Beit Jurja on the 8 Jan 1941. On the 18 January 1941 Herriott marched into the 2/11 Battalion at Amiriya Egypt, was promptly marched out again on 23 February 1941 and transferred to Petrol Company Aust. Army Service Corps, (AASC), he then remained with AASC units until his discharge in Victoria on 7 September 1945.
On 9 April 1941 Herriott embarked for Greece from Egypt as part of the 17th Brigade Composite Company AASC. (Operation Merkur 20 to 30 May 1941)
How likely then is his statement?"When we went to Greece we went to Kalamia and were evacuated from there on a Royal Navy cruiser that dropped us off at Crete, they must have got the records wrong or assumed I came back on another ship." Between early May 1941 and January 1942 he alternated between hospitals, (always a non-battle casualty) the Services Training Regiment and Number 2 Company AASC until he embarked for Ceylon then onto Fremantle Western Australia, arriving on 28 Jul 1942. On 30 Nov 1942 as a member of the AASC he again departed Australia and arrived New Guinea 4 Dec 1942. On 20 Dec 1942 he was evacuated (non battle casualty) on the hospital ship MV Duntroon and disembarked at Gladstone Queensland on 6 January 1943. He did not "fight" with the 2/11 Battalion in Papua New Guinea either and spent only 16 days there as a member of the AASC. After evacuation from Papua New Guinea he spent the rest of his service in Australia. Whilst Hal Herriott, through rewriting the history of his service, thought he was a "hell of soldier" it is obvious from reading his service record that he was in fact the "soldier from hell". He clocked up at least twenty charges for offences and spent a great deal of time in and out of hospitals with non-battle caused injuries or sickness spending more than three hundred days on sick lists. For the majority of his service he could be described as troublesome and well below average. Herriott has been living off his dishonourable stories in the Atherton, Queensland area for many years. He presents himself as a heroic Infantry soldier when in fact he has the track record of an ineffective burden on the Australian Imperial Forces during time of war. Late news to hand says that his friends at the Returned Services League Club where he is a committee man and former Secretary, subsidised a trip to Crete for him to attend commemorative events as a representative of the Battalion that fought so bravely in defence of the island and subsequently endured many hardships including imprisonment in German Stalags. As is usual with our exposures of RSL executives, we discovered that some of the members of Herriott's club were suspicious of his tales of service and great valour but nothing came of this. The RSL could apply to have him charged with obtaining financial benefits by deception but they won't and we don't suggest they do.
Herriott has made three trips to Crete and Greece as a 2/11 Battalion representative and was in Greece only last year for another memorial service. We are reliably informed that he has another trip already booked to Greece where he will present the Order of Australia Medal to a Greek citizen. The Australian Embassy there would be interested in this story of ours because they fully believed his yarns about the Battle for Crete and the aftermath and had arranged enough trips, commendations, medallions, awards and recognition from the Greek, Crete and British governments to be highly embarrassed about this deception. The Commonwealth could also have him charged with offences under the Criminal Code because what he has done is deceive Commonwealth Officers, ie Embassy staff, to gain benefits, but they won't and again we don't suggest this be done. Removal from his possession of all deceitfully gained awards made by foreign governments would be sufficient. Perhaps a better home for them would be Western Australia where the 2/11 Battalion was raised rather than on his chest and in his living room. Wannabes beware, obtain benefits by deception and you could find yourselves in a lot more trouble than you ever imagined.
"They must have got the records wrong" (Hal Herriott 20 July 2006) "The war records must have been stuffed up....there is no truth to the allegations as far as I'm concerned" (Hal Herriott 26 July 2006) Herriott has rejected our allegation that he is an impostor, read the Tablelander (25 July 06) and Cairns Post (26 July 06) newspaper reports.
Note 13 trips to Crete, 10 more than we knew of.
"Outcry" "Herriott in hospital" We can't find any evidence of any "outcry" this reporter writes of, he appears to be the lone voice. A report from the Atherton area tells us that most people there agree with our version of events because they've been suspicious of Herriott's wild tales for years. We've yet to receive any other reports from Cairns but it could be due to total disinterest. Herriott booked himself out of hospital on 26 July 2006 without undergoing an amputation and doubts have been cast on this "leg amputation" being the reason for his hospitalisation in the first place. This deemed ploy to gain the sympathy vote was published twice in two days by the Cairns Post but it won't work, too many people are aware of Herriott's ways now. Herriott says his Army records are wrong, what else would he say? This is a standard first response from a wannabe who has been caught out. We can't find any other Herriotts, or names with similar spelling, on the WW2 nominal roll who served with the 2/11 Battalion or the Australian Army Service Corps, 6th Division, also there are no similar names with Harry Francis as the first and second names. His Army records from April to September 1941, which is the period he says he was on Crete, involve entries showing him to be elsewhere and were made by many clerks and were initialled by almost as many officers as being correct. Could they have all made the same mistakes? Not likely. Just one example is his admission to, and discharge from, 1 Aust. Convalescent Depot in Palestine, two entries made on 17 and 27 May 1941 by two different clerks and signed off by two different officers. Would he have us believe this was a conspiracy to disguise the fact that he was actually on Crete fighting a guerilla action dressed in German uniform? Perhaps some people who know Herriott heard some stories of him being on an "X-List". This sounds a bit like something special but being on that list only meant the soldier was absent from his parent unit, in Herriott's case a Service Corps Petrol Company, and we know exactly where he was and it wasn't near Crete. Herriott was on seven such lists during his Army service and always due to hospitalisation or convalescence. Perhaps Herriott could produce two Japanese swords he reportedly stole and lodged in a Sydney bank for safe-keeping. They are said to be the ancient family samurai swords of the Japanese Commander of the 18th Army and his aide who surrendered to an Australian General near Wewak, more precisely Cape Wom, New Guinea in August 1945. This theft is said to have occurred just before the surrender ceremony. History tells us that this particular Japanese surrender, there were others, took place on 13 September 1945 but Herriott had moved the month forward to August to suit his own needs i.e. his discharge date. We remind you of what we wrote in the initial story. On 30 Nov 1942 as a member of the AASC he again departed Australia and arrived New Guinea 4 Dec 1942. On 20 Dec 1942 he was evacuated (non battle casualty) on the hospital ship MV Duntroon and disembarked at Gladstone Queensland on 6 January 1943. He did not "fight" with the 2/11 Battalion in Papua New Guinea either and spent only 16 days there as a member of the AASC. After evacuation from Papua New Guinea he spent the rest of his service in Australia. (Herriott discharged from the Army on 7 September 1945, five weeks before the surrender) Representing the 2/11 Battalion, 19th Brigade, 6th Division. The cost of this trip was heavily subsidised by his RSL club.
Photo, May 2005, Crete. When this photo was first published by the Tablelander newspaper the caption was "Kairi WW2 veteran Hal Herriott is comforted by Colonel Mark Blatherwick, British Military Attaché to the British Ambassador to Greece after the Rethymno (Retimo) memorial service" Cairns Post 28 July 2006. Quote from the Minister for Veteran's Affairs, Bruce Billson.
Perhaps a few of our readers could heed Mr. Billson's urging. If anyone has genuine doubts as to the validity of a person's war service, take the information to the nearest DVA office and let us know the outcome via our guest book but please don't name names. 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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