Seeing this thread I recalled an incident regarding a TA soldier in Bedford so had a ferret around on tinternet to find the original story. (A bit shocked when I found out it was nearly 11 years ago, but they say time flys as you get older). I've edited her name to save her blushes but as his name and picture was all over the national newspapers left his in. This all happened after he left the TA where sources tell me he also claimed to be a former Para, wore a Para helmet instead of the issue bowler and generally rubbed everyone up the wrong way until binned. A local paper published a picture of them her in her wedding dress and him in No 2's complete with SGTs rank and a set of medals. Sadly I can't find it now.
Groom who posed as Para unmasked 14 Aug 2001
A MAN who married in the full dress uniform of the Parachute Regiment and left for work each day dressed as a soldier has been exposed as living a lie.
His bride, G***, 24, expressed her anger and hurt yesterday after discovering that the man proudly wearing his uniform in their wedding picture had deceived her from the day they met.
Mark Dear, 29, from Bedford, was not a soldier but a storeman. After leaving home for work he would change into civilian clothes for his job in a warehouse. His tales of soldiering in Northern Ireland and the death of a comrade in a skirmish were pure invention.
Now their one-year marriage is over and Dear is awaiting sentence after pleading guilty at Bedford magistrates' court to wearing the uniform of the Parachute Regiment while not a serving soldier and without permission.
After the hearing Mrs Dear said: "He told me he was training recruits at a Territorial Army centre. I am not so shallow as to leave him just because I have found out he is not a soldier. There are other matters which have come to light."
Dear, who also admitted possessing five rounds of ammunition without a certificate, is due to be sentenced in September. The couple were married in July last year three months after they met in a bar.
Mrs Dear said: "I feel sorry for Mark. He must have thought the only way he could get me was by telling me he was something he wasn't. But it wasn't necessary."
The Army said that Dear, who now works for a window company, had never been a regular soldier but had been in the Territorial Army.

Originally Posted by msr

And on a 1 WESSEX Ex in Denmark c1992. The chap alleged to have swung the shovel was also allegedly thrown out of the FFL and had allegedly had some trigger time in Croatia (Vukovar?)

m-s-r

And on a 1RGJ deployment to Cyprus in 1994. Except they were Regulars and they made their getaway in a Mini Moke.

Originally Posted by Pararegtom

Circa 1979/82, I used to drop into 10 Para,s bar up at finchley on a wednesday as my 2 brothers were serving with 3 coy.Too much amusement, Mr Bodie aka lewis collins would be cutting about in his beige leather jacket and fcuk off flairs in the Bar, posing in angry stances and getting into the role of being a paratrooper, to be honest he did last for 3 weeks on the training programme,but jacked due to (filming) requirements. Mind you he did have a very cool maroon jensen intercepter. Happy days

He did actually pass P company, and although he attended Brize he only made around 5 jumps as he injured his ankle.

Originally Posted by verticalgyro

And on 1RGJ deployment to Cyprus in 1994. Except they were Regulars and they made their getaway in a Mini Moke.

About 7 years ago we had a new recruit join the squadron, he was a bit strange from the start, over a period of time it became clear that things were not adding up and it was soon starting to get noticed.

A: oppurtunity comes up in a lesson run by a staff instructor on basic first aid. said recruit asks question, if soldier has been shot or dying can he use his bayonet on said casualty.

B; on weekend exercise whilst sitting passenger in bedford was seen stroking his rifle.

Final straw came when he was see in full uniform carrying an air rifle whilst parading around the local town. when arrested and being asked what he thought he was doing, he replied to the officer "im on patrol and protecting the town"

he was soon got rid of and banned from joining any part of the armed forces

Feck me I've dealt with some odd ball wanna be recruits.... 'de ye git tae fire guns an aw ken?' 'ah want tae shoot them Taliban....' people like that we guide to the salvation army across the road..... We did have a guy who claimed to be ex foreign legion. Was a bit of an enigma and disappeared off the radar.

Originally Posted by mogwaimarshall

Final straw came when he was see in full uniform carrying an air rifle whilst parading around the local town. when arrested and being asked what he thought he was doing, he replied to the officer "im on patrol and protecting the town"

he was soon got rid of and banned from joining any part of the armed forces

So he joined the TA instead.???

Originally Posted by Ravers

I know a fellow who while not exactly a Walter, takes his membership of one of the posher Yeomanry units a little too far. He appears to live his life as though he were a Cav officer circa 1890. Standard daily attire for him is usually mess wellingtons, blues trousers, braces and a muscle vest, maintaining that 'just about to take part in a cavalry charge, but I haven't put my coat on yet' look.

He can frequently be seen in full dress blues, spurs, chainmail et al, prancing around some of the seedier clubs in town or at dodgy parties. He even has business cards printed up with his rank and his unit's cap badge embossed on them. He's well to do and I've heard he's turned up to a few hunts in full Yeomanry garb, complete with sword and with the horse decked out in highly polished tack and other associated gear.

To be honest though, I quite like him and he gets more fanny than anyone I know, mostly as a result of his odd behaviour and dress sense. He appears to have found a niche that works for him and as a result he's never short of an impressionable young actress, model or other Hoxton type to plough.

I'm just jealous I suppose.

Does his name rhyme with Cumshot?

Originally Posted by LordVonHarley

Does his name rhyme with Cumshot?

He must be infamous across the TA now! I'm led to believe he's even been AGAI'd for his dressing up habits.

Originally Posted by Countrylad

By any chance is he in a central London signals yeomanry? And his father 'works' at Westminister?

But hardly smart! The ones I knew from that mob were all trying just a little too hard, including one with green teeth, who when not dining at their HQ had a diet from The Scottish Restaurant...

Originally Posted by napier

Was that Joe C the medic from Swindon? We shared a shell scrape on exercise in the late 80s - he shouted French words in his sleep and when I woke him for stag he lashed out and smacked me in the face. He was a complete fruit loop.

The very one!