Terry Ireland Poet Rhyme

Outing a Walt

In the USA and the UK, possibly all over Europe, there are a few people who assume military dress, medals, etc and pose as Forces Veterans.  We call them Walter Mitty's or Walts for short and they really anger our ex Forces communuty.  We confront them and expose them whenever possible.  In the US  they call it Stolen Valour

He piped the Tunes of Glory
As he stood on the street
A badged para beret
Upturned at his feet, 
In full Highland dress
With his stickert kilt
Twitching in the breeze 
As he played a lively lilt.

Something in his dress
Just wasn’t quite right;
I really didn’t spot it
On first sight.
From the medals on his chest 
He was one hundred years old,
He must have bought on Ebay
Where replicas are sold.

I asked his service number
A thing no Veteran would forget
Its so well drilled in as 
Part of the military mind set.
He didnt know his unit
Couldn’t give his rank or name
All in all I told him 
He should disappear in shame.

Quite a crowd gathered 
As I told him face to face;
I thought he would brass it out
But he left with poor grace.
I told the assembled people
Why I was so annoyed
And why the credibility of such
As him should be destroyed.

There are Veterans on the streets
Too proud to beg or take
While the public unwittingly give
Hard earned cash to such a fake.
Normally I treat street beggars
With compassion and pity
But I really have no time for
Such a shameless Walter Mitty.

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Speaks Volumes November 28, 2022 at 4:11 AM I have another angle , did you take time to ask him why? Sometimes there's a story behind such actions, I can see your side dear Terry, but maybe he has a story too, the fact he left in such a hurry, maybe he was ashamed, maybe his story was valid and maybe he shouldn't be blamed. Wasn't Walter Mitty a dreamer? Maybe this guy was one too. Your Poem has got me thinking and I am sure that's what you meant to do. Terry Ireland November 28, 2022 at 5:05 AM I spent 7 years fighting for Veterans rights and hours fundraising on the streets. People were generous because of our cause. This was fraud on those giving. A full Highland Dress Uniform, and pipes are not cheap, so I have doubts it was anything but fraud. Or, as our US Brothers say, Stolen Valour. I am not being vindictive just realistic. The medals were just a step too far as well, and again. Not cheap even on eBay. We did invite him to our Centre for a coffee (freej and chat, but he declined. All in all i take your point and we did try to show consideration. The wearing of family medals, relatives etc, is in order but on the right breast, not the left. We did check this as well. So, we did give him every chance. Thanks Wen.

Ilene Bauer November 27, 2022 at 11:11 AM wow! i am so glad that you called him out and put him in his place, terry! just another example of people without any scruples - unfortunately, the world is crawling with them... Terry Ireland November 28, 2022 at 12:58 AM Thanks Ilene - the sad thing was he was a good piper and we wouldn't have objected if he handn't done the military masquerade. At the time I was in charge of fundraising for our Veterans Centre, at least 10 hours on the street every month, so it got me a little annoyed. ;-) Terry