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.
Copyright © Terry Ireland | Year Posted 2022
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