Bogus 'SAS veteran' arrested

by Babel-Fish | December 11, 2009 at 06:20 pm

1196 views | 12 Recommendations | 1 comment

Well he will not be court marshaled, but he will be marshaled into court. This carpenter thought he could chisel his way through life pretending he was a military James Bond. Well he will have to shelf the idea and stop acting the part.

A carpenter who marched in a Remembrance Day parade wearing an 'impossible collection' of military medals has been arrested on suspicion of deception.

Roger Day, 61, was photographed at the parade on November 11 in Bedworth, Warwickshire, wearing 17 medals, including the Distinguished Service Order and Military Cross - the highest bravery awards after the Victoria Cross.

Mr Day was tracked down to his three-bedroom detached home in Earl Shilton, near Hinckley, Leicestershire, where he lives with younger wife, Maxine.

When he was confronted about the medals last week, Mr Day, a keen amateur actor, claimed the collection was 'pukka', saying he had served in the SAS and could not talk about his heroics because he was bound by the Official Secrets Act.

One neighbour in Earl Shilton, Leics - where the retired marketing firm employee was thrown out of his pub for wearing an SAS tie pin - scoffed: "We all know it's rubbish. We call him Captain Fantasy."

Another told how when he recently wed third wife Maxine, 39, he ordered camouflage icing for the CAKE.

The neighbour said: "It also had plastic soldiers on it." Maxine stood by him yesterday, declaring: "He's one of the heroes nobody talks about because they are always clad in black."

Day was rumbled at the parade in Bedworth, Warwicks, over his "impossible" 21 medals. He fled when a REAL SAS veteran grilled him.

March organiser Gil Leach said: "He was not even in a regimental tie. It came from Marks and Sparks."

Yesterday the imposter stuck to his porkies about his gongs, saying: "People have misidentified them.

"I might have hung them in the wrong order."

He suggested others had misidentified his medals because he "might have hung them in the wrong order".

Mr Day also rejected that he had fled the Bedworth service after being confronted by former servicemen and admitting he was a phoney.

"I saw it out to its bitter end and then went drinking with some ex-SAS buddies."

Reports said Mr Day was once also challenged by a real soldier at his local pub after talking up his efforts as an SAS hero.

However, he was backed by the vicar of the church where he was married.

"I do not think he is pretending," Graham Gittings told The Daily Mail.

"There are pictures of him in the Armed Forces in his home and he has given talks to church groups about war and peace."

Well I have had a close look at the main medals, even if he was really a member of the SAS he would be on the list of medal holders as with other medal holders. I can confirm his name is not on the list of Military Cross nor on any given for bravery.

The guys just a poser a Walter Mitty that may after lying for years believes his own lies. He seemingly has fooled his wife and the local vicar. An ex-vet gets a army pension when he leaves the forces. If had interviewed him I would of asked him about his pension and what was his army number all soldiers and officers have them.

Looks like he did not pass the grade and 14 months military service then bought himself out. 14 months service does not attract the reward real long serving British soldiers and offices have. To me it's much more important to medals its my pension, it was the real reward for serving my country.

Of course his wife will find out the truth and may not want to live with a liar and the local rumors will make her consider leaving the street and area they live in. Trouble with lying one day you will alway's get caught out.

Possibly the shame of not making the grade and not liking army life for its discipline, had been shameful it made feel like a coward. Thus the act to make people think he was a hero, a boost to his own ego. I feel sorry for him, he should just be himself now he has got to be. Or start a new life, well that's the only choices his got, hopefully he does not commit suicide and I hope he is being counseled and watched.

I served with 22sas with nearly 20yrs service i only got 7medals inc MM! most of us nearly got killed winning them! (17 medals) sounds like another Walter Mitty.

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