Anyone know him?
- Thread starter BRYAN
- Start date
Showing one's respects for the dead is a very personal thing, and it is wrong to comment on how another person mourns.
What someone chooses to wear, where they choose to go to reflect, whether they do / don't wear a black tie, whether they observe the "official" periods of silence etc etc, are all at the discretion of the individual. Different people have their own way of showing respect and expressing grief, and not everyone feels comfortable with the "conventional" way. The person who has passed will mean different things to different people, and their own method of mourning will reflect that, and that alone.
Personally, I do not commerate the one terrible day that someone died. I'd rather remember all the wonderful days they lived. So no black tie for me.
What someone chooses to wear, where they choose to go to reflect, whether they do / don't wear a black tie, whether they observe the "official" periods of silence etc etc, are all at the discretion of the individual. Different people have their own way of showing respect and expressing grief, and not everyone feels comfortable with the "conventional" way. The person who has passed will mean different things to different people, and their own method of mourning will reflect that, and that alone.
Personally, I do not commerate the one terrible day that someone died. I'd rather remember all the wonderful days they lived. So no black tie for me.
Rake Aboot
Well-Known Member
Why do you ask ?
He also sports the APTC crossed swords...I did the Assistant Instructors Course in 1995..it was as bad as P Company so if he did it fairplay!
BRYAN
Well-Known Member
Because I'm not military or acquainted with the uniforms/regalia etc. I was definitely not judging or passing any criticism.
I had rightly or wrongly assumed that some badging/medals were being worn on behalf of others ie mixed meaning.
Rake Aboot
Well-Known Member
It’s an ex forces motorcycle club
Not only members of the military received the Queen's Jubilee medal .I received mine as a Mountain Rescue Team member.
The leather waist coat or jerkin is a biker thing Rather than a motorcycle thing. Oh it is a long story that involves subcultures within subcultures. Don’t go there. The RBL have their own branches or club now. They started quite a few years ago, although thinking about it, it may be a support thing rather than an actual club. I can’t remember now.
A lot of ex forces are or were attracted to the biker lifestyle and the perceived brotherhood that exists with certain groups.
No idea about the medals so will take other peoples word for that.
A lot of ex forces are or were attracted to the biker lifestyle and the perceived brotherhood that exists with certain groups.
No idea about the medals so will take other peoples word for that.
Precision123
Well-Known Member
These are the Armed Forces Bikers. Quite a decent charity.
The only medal I recognise is the 5th from the left- Iraq Medal.
Interesting that a number have bronze? Medallions, very unusual for a British award/medal. ( Yes the VC is bronze but it’s a cross).
Two have very vibrant blue ribbons, possibly the lighting, again unusual.
The last one looks a bit like the ribbon of the Distinguished Service Medal, but wrong medal and mounting.
Would be interested if anyone can come up with définitive suggestions.
Interesting that a number have bronze? Medallions, very unusual for a British award/medal. ( Yes the VC is bronze but it’s a cross).
Two have very vibrant blue ribbons, possibly the lighting, again unusual.
The last one looks a bit like the ribbon of the Distinguished Service Medal, but wrong medal and mounting.
Would be interested if anyone can come up with définitive suggestions.
Precision123
Well-Known Member
Well until I'm proven otherwise, I call Walt.
I have no doubt he earned the medals on his left chest. Equally, I have no doubt he bought the ones on his right chest, as they are commemorative medals, rather than issued ones.
The operational medals are in chronological order (as they should be) and are (L-R):
1. Gulf War medal issued by the Brits - August 1990 to March 1991. Different clasps available depending when you were there.
2. UNPROFOR medal issued by the UN for service in Former Yugoslavia - March 1992 to December 1995.
3. NATO Former Yugoslavia medal issued by the Brits - July 92 to December 2002 - it always has the Former Yugoslavia clasp. The numeral 2 denotes the number of op tours in FRY carried out by the individual. Not really approved for wear by UK dress regs, but I know a lot of people have put them on.
4. NATO Kosovo medal issued by the Brits - October 1998 to December 2002 - it always has the Kosovo clasp.
5. Iraq Medal - January 2003 to May 2011
The one on the end is the Golden Jubilee medal (2002). All of the jubilee and long service medals are mounted after the operational medals. As he is not wearing the Diamond Jubilee issued in February 2012, that means that he left the Forces before then.
So, judging by the medals, I would say he was probably at least 20 when he got the Gulf War Medal, so that makes him around 52+. And he must have spent at least 14 and possibly up to 20 years in the Army.
The only thing I would comment on is that when you have 6 medals, they should be overlapped so that they are the width of 5 medal ribbons (according to dress regs, it is the width of the jacket chest pocket seams). Although I suppose once you are no longer serving, no-one is going to enforce the dress regs..............
Definitely not a Walt, though.
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Brilliant, thank you for the info. Hat off to the gent.
Rake Aboot
Well-Known Member
Until I’m proven otherwise I’ll surmise you’re talking rubbish.
I wonder why people do this? Would they insult the person to their face ?
Precision123
Well-Known Member
Dear Rake.
Because you can buy badges - Google the 'brothers forever' one and it takes you to Amazon. That badge shows no allegiance to anything. And why wear that with two rows of medals? I know one bloke who is able to do that - one!
Assumptions are not proof, especially of identity. Assumptions are where mistakes are made, analysis provides facts. Your FLO doesn't make assumptions.
I'm looking for facts, which counters what you want to believe, which is why you turn to personal insults. Really not necessary.
And, oh. By the way. I am ex-Army and do this sh*t for a living.
Because you can buy badges - Google the 'brothers forever' one and it takes you to Amazon. That badge shows no allegiance to anything. And why wear that with two rows of medals? I know one bloke who is able to do that - one!
Assumptions are not proof, especially of identity. Assumptions are where mistakes are made, analysis provides facts. Your FLO doesn't make assumptions.
I'm looking for facts, which counters what you want to believe, which is why you turn to personal insults. Really not necessary.
And, oh. By the way. I am ex-Army and do this sh*t for a living.
Does it matter what the guy chose to wear / display, or whether the medals were genuine? Really none of our business. He was there, paying his respects, and that's enough.
palmer_mike
Well-Known Member
Pretty sure alleging someone is a ‘walt’ would be see as a personal insult.
Also I’d err on the side of ‘innocent until proven guilty’ rather than the opposite way round as you seem to be advocating
