I understand the Baron Castleshort is taking legal action against ARRSE and other forums for defamation. Has anyone heard from their learn'd friend?

The webpage walt-watch.50webs.com/shortt.htm was pulled because the ISP received the following;


My XXXXXs at this stage.

Although this "courtesy mail" seems to be no more than a bit of shroud waving it does highlight the possible problems that could be faced by contributors to threads.
On balance, from what I have read on this site, it would be difficult to prove any defamation without raking through a lot of (apparently) unflattering history.

I've gone over my page at byronik.com/cqb.html and, as far as I can tell, I've followed his instructions to the letter. But now he's telling the world that individual XXXX XXXXX of San Diego, California is subject to legal action.

I wouldn't worry about it. In any court worth its' salt he'd be laughed out when one or two of the more checkable facts about his past are queried. I suspect that he knows how expensive it could get - for him - and is merely barking.

I think he is banking on the "legal" threat to get ISPs to bin the "offending" websites. ISPs would rather "bottle it" than investigate the case on it merits.

From you updated webpage; did the supporting documentation he supplied add up?

The "defamatory postings" consisted of a collage of photographs, namely three into one. Not one unkind word was written. The only text identified the individual pictures as the Baron Castleshort.

It depends what you mean by add up. The attachments seem to be irrelevant to any of the queries raised in ARRSE and yet the Baron has asked me not to disseminate them in any shape or form, so I'll endeavour to be circumspect.

There are letters and certificates from 1980 to 2008 heaping high praise on Mr. James Shortt and thanking him for having given various lectures and sundry training to members of the US Air Force, the US special forces, 21 SAS, Her Majesty's Household Guards at Pirbright, the State Special Security Agency of Mongolia and the UK Cabinet Office's Departmental Security Unit.

The Latvian police awarded him the Security Police Silver badge, presumably in recognition of providing their personnel with quality training through the auspices of the International Bodyguard Association.

In every case, he is referred to as "Jim Short," "Mr. James G. Shortt," "Mr. J. Short," "J Short Esq." or "Baron Castleshort": never with any military rank whatsoever, even when his civilian name appears on a list of other lecturers whose names are prefaced with "Maj" "Capt" or "SSgt."

The only evidence that he ever served in H.M. armed forces is on page 79 of Mars & Minerva of July 1994, where an acknowledgment for the use of an illustration out of one of Shortt's books states that "he served with" B Sqn. 21 SAS.

A typewritten note (undated) purporting to be an extract from 21 SAS part two orders states that James Shortt was attached to B and HQ Sqns for a brief period whilst he carried out research for one of his books.

A page of a European passport verifies that the holder is also known as Baron Shortt of Castleshort. But the Passport Office will probably list any aliases on that page. And I don't think any of us suggested that he didn't purchase his title fair and square.

I've never expressed any malice towards the Baron and I always remembered him with the greatest respect until I happened to find the photo of him wearing that orange skirt.

It's reasonable to assume that somebody who holds an aristocratic title and dresses so eccentrically doesn't expect to pass unnoticed. And surely ridicule is fair comment.

With regard to his "supporting documentation";


I don't think anyone has questioned his skills at martial arts.


Surely being "attached" to do some research is very different from being actually badged as one of THEM?

The areas of doubt and puzzlement remain:

*His actual "badged" service with various UK SF viz SAS Para wings and SBS badge.
*His title of Baron Castleshort.
*His dress sense.
*His involvement with the LoF and the Royal Galloglas Guard.

I trust he is not planning to use IBA funds to pay for his own legal costs. As far as I can see the IBA have not been "defamed" in any way. Having a DG that who lays himself open to public ridicule is a hazard.

I will see if I can tempt a friendly learn'd friend to go through all the Castleshort posts to see what she thinks. I'll just have to hope she is on a quiet period at work otherwise getting her to wade through at least 35 webpages of Shortt related posts will be a challenge.

Last edited by Gas Gas Gas on Tue Sep 09, 2008 4:17 pm; edited 1 time in total

The Title Baron Castleshot was last recognized in C1390 under the surname Mac Angearr.

I guess he is rattilling his sabre with legal action.......but it does not take up to much research to show he is bigging himself up.

One has to wonder at the good Baron’s thought process. At the moment any negative comments are limited to a couple of bulletin boards that anyone needing a bodyguard are unlikely to visit unless, of course, they Google “Baron Castleshort”. I think the good Baron has not been discussed here for around six months and that hiatus was probably set to continue. However, he decides now is the time to act and thereby generating more traffic here. So far he has succeeded in the removal of one photograph and getting Byronik to review his webpage.

Can any of the ARRSE COs advise if they have received any representation from the Baron regarding the LoF topics?

From his summary I would agree with Byronik’s observation that the “supporting documentation” seems to answer questions that have not been asked. Obfuscation is a word that springs to mind. Had he supplied copies of payslips from 21 or documentary verification of his title we would, rightly, have to sing a different tune.

If he does decide to enrich a few more lawyers, he can be sure that he will be under VERY close scrutiny from a number of angles. Defence lawyers for one and certain members of the media for another. Win or lose, I don’t think the IBA will be bathed in Castleshort’s reflected "glory". Will the IBA membership be really happy that their DG drags their organisation through the courts because he is upset that he personally, not the IBA, is subject to ridicule?

Looking again at the rec.heraldry site it would appear at birth he was registered with the surname Shortt (not Short) at Croydon in 1953. There you are, one correction/clarification made here at ARRSE.

There's also THIS

If a picture paints a thousand words then there are 157,000 at;
www.ibabodyguards.net/...dule=media
and select 50 Anniversary 2007.

The good Baron makes an appearance.

He claims that he is a registered expert witness.

Anyone can register with the "Expertdotcom" industry. There are hundreds of sites to chose from to slap your name on. The real test is whether ones testimony has been vetted and accepted by a court of competent jurisdiction. There is a whole legal process for having an expert sworn in and their testimony accepted. I'd be interested to see the legal case citations to see this process for myself. If however, he gave a deposition at a public hearing or gave a presentation at a standing committee, then that is not per se an Expert Witness.

(for the interested, a brief summary appears in the heading of this case as to how, where who may be an expert witness... scc.lexum.umontreal.ca...cs2-9.html - with slight variations on other courts, it's pretty much the same standard.)

If anyone can supply me with the awards this person is apparently claiming Canada gave him, I'll check with our folks over here.

As for copyright questions, send them to me in PM, I'll have a look and see what the ruckus is about. So far, I haven't seen anything that sticks out as a flagrant violation.

I haven't been able to find him on the Legal Hub, which is where I advertise as an Expert Witness. Sweet and Maxwell (owners of the site) insist upon legal references from at least two solicitors/Barristers before you can register with them.

He'd also need to have given evidence in a Court of Law, Civil or Criminal within the past year.

Legal Hub

B2N, I did a search on our Dbases and reporting series here and came up with a zero.

What's up with the FBI National Academy connection? I can't decide if it's a not for profit organization under the auspices of the FBI or just a school using it's location near the Quantico gang to draw students.

Any ideas on what Canuck awards he's been given? His name isn't coming up in any of our Gazettes.

Some possible info on the good Baron’s Canadian Gong?

groups.google.com/grou...52324c7dde


Yup I'm sure a lot of 17 year olds were handed out this one.

Edit: further reading on Google gives a DOB as 1953 so 14 years old and awarded this gong.

If you think that Jim is, or has been, unethical in his use of military or civilian awards or titles, why not complain to the I.B.A. (HQ @ IBAbodyguards.net).

Their code of ethics is as follows;


As a member of the international Bodyguard Association (IBA), I acknowledge that it is my personal responsibility to further the professional development of myself and other men and women who serve in the protection industry.

I will always exhibit the highest level of integrity in the performance of my professional duties, and I will carry out my responsibilities with professional competence.

I will not engage in any unethical or illegal conduct, or in any activity that could jeopardize my responsibilities.

I undertake to refrain from using narcotic or intoxicating substances that might hinder my judgement and my ability to perform my duties to the fullest of my abilities.

I will keep an open mind and commit myself to the pursuit of knowledge and information for the purpose of discovering new methods and systems.

I will always be honest when dealing with my principals, fellow Bodyguards, the International Bodyguard Association (IBA) it's members and officers, business associates and all others, and I will uphold the standards established by our founder, Lucien Victor Ott.

I acknowledge that a great deal of trust and responsibility has been given to me and I know that I must dedicate myself in the furtherance of the bodyguard profession and those whom I am sworn to protect.

I will always acknowledge the fact I am a member of a truly unique international organization and I will not hold any animosity or discriminate against another IBA member based solely on ethnic origin (Nationality or Skin Colour), gender or religious persuasion (Creed).

I will be truthful in representing myself to my principals, potential employers and fellow members of the IBA. Further I will not misrepresent my Capabilities, or myself.

I will not misrepresent myself as a Instructor or any other officer of the IBA nor will I teach bodyguard skills to any person as such until I have received written permission of the Director General of the IBA.

Lastly, I will commit myself to attaining excellence in all areas of the bodyguard profession.

www.finjutsu.com/Henki...hortt.html

Very varied career indeed, Priest, Nurse, saving the Universe.

Love his CV & cross over dates

1974 - 1978 Mayday University Hospital Nurse
1976 - 1982 Consultant to the RM Commando Force

Top man was he at the Embassy Siege as a consultant to Operation Nimrod ??

Gee, I must be in mong mode today, all I can find for a referenced expert on any of the trials in London is the name Paul Beaver. Something must be wrong with my browser and search engines, when I search for the experts in any of these trials, I just keep getting Beaver's name.

Now if Shortt would care to send me the legal citation for the one(s) he did, I'd be happy to let the press, analysts and whatnots searchy engine folks in on that they forgot to mention Shortt's expertise. Why wouldn't these media types quote Shortt the same way they quoted Beaver?

As for reporting him to his own organization? How very nepotistic.