MoD launch probe into ‘pretend’ admiral at Remembrance Sunday occasion carrying suspicious uncommon medal
The Ministry of Defence have launched a probe into a suspected ‘fake’ admiral who attended a Remembrance Sunday event wearing a suspicious rare medal.
Jonathan Carley, 64, is now the subject of an MoD investigation after being accused of posing as a military serviceman with a chest full of suspicious medals at the Remembrance ceremony in Llandudno, North Wales on Sunday.
Carley laid a wreath and saluted at the ceremony last Sunday, igniting fury among veterans as he marched off to take his place next to VIPs, including the mayor, during the event honouring Britain’s fallen heroes.
A Royal Navy spokesperson said: ‘Impersonating a Naval officer is insulting to anyone connected to the service and could be considered a criminal offence.
‘Nothing should detract from the poignancy of Remembrance Sunday which can be a sombre time for members of the Royal Navy family and an opportunity for people in communities across the United Kingdom to pay their respects to people who have served or are serving their country.’
The MoD are treating the inquiry very seriously, pointing out that impersonating a naval officer can be considered a criminal offence.
The Uniforms Act of 1894 states that it is unlawful for any person not serving in His Majesty’s Military Forces to wear military uniforms without authority – an offence that can result in imprisonment or a fine.
Carley was dressed in a Rear Admiral’s uniform with 12 medals pinned to his jacket.
Carley is said to have bluffed his way into laying a wreath alongside senior army officer at the even in Llandudno, north Wales. His row of medals, which appeared to include both the Distinguished Service Order and the Queen’s Volunteer Reserves Medal on the left-hand side, raised suspicions
Pictured left to right: A Distinguished Service Order Medal and The Queen’s Volunteer Reserves Medal
They included the prestigious Distinguished Service Order (DSO) and the Queen’s Volunteer Reserves Medal, which is only given to military reservists.
But the two medals together led online sleuths to question his legitimacy – because no single serviceperson is believed to have been bestowed with both.
And Llandudno Town Council, the organisers of the event, have confirmed that no person of that rank was expected at the ceremony.
The Walter Mitty Hunters Club, a group dedicated to unearthing cases of ‘stolen valour’, say records indicate no one has earned both awards.
When Carley was asked by the parade marshal who he was, he claimed to be representing the Lord Lieutenant of Clwyd.
But both the Lord Lieutenant and the council claim they do not know who the man is, with the local authority stating he was not on their guest list.
Greg Robbins, chair of Llandudno council’s civic sub-committee, told the BBC: ‘The man was challenged by the parade marshal, but stated that he was of a certain rank, and that he was representing the Lord Lieutenant’s office.
‘The parade marshal was left with little choice but to accommodate him in the wreath laying ceremony.
Pictured: Jonathan Carley (centre) at a Remembrance Sunday service in 2018
Jonathan Carley at another war memorial service wearing a rear admiral outfit in 2019
‘This individual did not disrupt the ceremony, but we are keen to know who he was, and will be working with the Ministry of Defence on its investigation.’
Now the Daily Mail can reveal he has donned the same fake admiral costume in two other Remembrance Sunday services in Caernarfon – once in 2018 and again in 2019.
Photographs also show him posing next to officials at the war memorial ceremony at least twice before.
Meanwhile, his neighbours in the famed seaside castle town of Harlech say he has been bragging about his made-up military service for years.
One told the Daily Mail: ‘It’s shocking that he’s tried to be pass himself off as an admiral.
‘It’s outrageous. He told a few neighbours that he was in the military but it’s all obviously a pack of lies.’
When asked about the imposter claims, Mr Carley refused to come to the door, while two workmen mended his roof.
Mr Carley is only mentioned once in the London Gazette, the official record for military listing.
Jonathan Carley pictured in Lladudno this year where he saluted the war memorial
However, he is listed as a 2nd Lieutenant on probation with the combined cadet force Cheltenham College, where he was a history teacher.
He has also previously said he studied at Christ Church, Oxford, as well as a business degree at Harvard.
In a newspaper article he said he had been a boat captain at Oxford and had rowed at the top US university.
‘As a schoolmaster, he coached at Eton and Cheltenham before moving to Shiplake,’ the article read.
Carley was a history and politics teacher at Cheltenham college in 1988 before moving on to £17,500-a-term Shiplake four years later, The Sun reported.
A source told the Daily Mail: ‘It’s caused a huge row, it’s so obvious he is fake. QVRM has never been awarded to an Admiral and there are no Admirals in the Reserve.’
Some described him as ‘the highest ranking Walt,’ while another dubbed the unexpected guest ‘a belter’.
There are only 19 Rear Admirals currently listed as serving in the Royal Navy.
Lord Lieutenant Harry Fethersonhaugh has since told The Sun that he had never seen the man ‘before in [his] life’.
Meanwhile, a navy source told the publication they were ‘99.9 per cent certain’ the man in question was a fake.
A Llandudno council spokesman said: ‘The Town Council was not aware of, or notified of, the gentleman’s attendance in advance. He appeared on the day.
‘He was approached by the Parade Marshall and identified himself as a Rear Admiral and that he was representing the Lord Lieutenants Office.
‘The Council would like to add that it would not wish this to overshadow what was an excellent parade and remembrance service, and that with the exception of the identity of the gentleman he laid his wreath respectfully before leaving.
‘The Council understands that military organisations are looking into this, and we are awaiting any response.’
A Lord Lieutenant of Clwyd spokesman said: ‘The Lord Lieutenant had no knowledge of asking anyone to go to the event on his behalf.
‘The council sent over a photograph of the man but nobody here recognised him. The matter is under investigation at the moment.’
A Royal Navy spokesman said: ‘Impersonating a Naval officer is insulting to anyone connected to the service and could be considered a criminal offence.
‘Nothing should detract from the poignancy of Remembrance Sunday which can be a sombre time for members of the Royal Navy family and an opportunity for people in communities across the United Kingdom to pay their respects to people who have served or are serving their country.’
