Don Mason DSO with bar, DFC

[JDCAVE]

Isn’t it a criminal offence to misrepresent your military history pertaining to awards and medals? I haven’t looked through this in detail, but perhaps this is pertinent:

https://publications.parliament.uk/p.../658/65805.htm

Hugh: would you please comment?

Jim

[David Wallace]

In Canada even the Second World War service pin stated on the reverse side that there was a $500 fine and six months imprisonment for “misuse” of the pin (wearing it unauthorized). I came across one incident where a RAF pilot claimed a DFC but didn’t receive one. He had collided with another aircraft from his squadron on the way to the target and bailed out. He was picked up by the American army and soon after was awarded a US DFC for some unknown reason, but he was never awarded a British one so he just sewed a British DFC ribbon on his uniform.

[Don Clark]

Jim: "Isn’t it a criminal offence to misrepresent your military history pertaining to awards and medals? "

Depends on when and where.

Your reference is indeed pertinent, for the UK: where since 2009 there is no provision against false awards claims, as par 9 explains.

"9.The Armed Forces Act 2006 (‘the 2006 Act’)11 replaced the three separate Service Discipline Acts with a single statute to regulate Service law. However, section 197 of the 1955 Act was not reproduced in the 2006 Act and its provisions were repealed in 2009 when the relevant parts of the 2006 Act were brought into force.12 As a result, no specific offences now exist relating to the unauthorised wearing, or false representation of entitlement to wear military decorations or medals." (my emphasis)
https://publications.parliament.uk/p.../658/65805.htm

Additional: par 10 goes on to outline the UK MoD reasoning on withdrawing the previous offence provisions...

In Australia, under the Defence Act 1903 (as amended to 2016), Part VII Offences covers the case, at Section 80 B:

"Improper use of service decorations
(1) A person commits an offence if:
(a) the person wears a service decoration; and
(b) the person is not the person on whom the decoration was conferred.
Source https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2016C00955 "

Note that there are cogent provisions following that permit
a) wearing a deceased relatives decoration, or
b) wearing decorations for a dramatic presentation, film, doco and the like.
In either case, the wearer - quote! - "bears the evidential burden"...

For interest, Sec 80 A preceding likewise makes falsely representing to be returned soldier, sailor or airman an offence.

Additional: New Zealand
In NZ, the Military Decorations and Distinctions Act 1918 (as amended to 2013) describes the various forms of offence there in some detail.
See https://legislation.govt.nz/act/publ...DLM190411.html