For the Walters

[Dolly Gray]

Over the years we have covered the subject of the Walters quite a bit in this Forum and whilst we know of them, invariably we just let them get on with their lies until they start to annoy us or ours.

If you speak to a lot of Bootneck’s wives.partners they usually say something like ‘he told me he was a brain surgeon when I first met him’ so we all have the Walter streak in there somewhere, its just part of our make-up

Lots of us belonged to the blockage in the throat gang, who when asked the question ‘what do you do for a living’ just could not say the words I am a Royal Marine.

But that is the fun side of the subject, to get wets, to impress a bird, but never to cause harm or create problems for anyone other than yourself.

But there is another side to being a Walter and recent events in my work have made me realise how lucky we are to belong to what is called the ‘Corps’ family

It is those Walters who live the dream full time, pretending that they served in the Corps, Paras or whatever, being in the SBS/SAS, working undercover and going on secret missions, it is to these idiots I aim my comment, you just do not realise the amount of trouble that is caused when you depart this earth for those left behind, irrespective of them being wives, partners, family, friends and those clowns who actually believe your stories and get out of it by saying ‘I never really believed him in the first place’

Last week I added a name to the Obituaries page to try to get information on someone who a social worker I work with had been told was an ex Royal Marine, he had passed away from cancer aged 54. We needed the information sharpish so I came here. The result was as I thought it would be, I came up with a negative to anyone knowing him.

From the initial briefing and a lack of certain things I knew that I was probably looking at a Walter but went through the motions just the same, at least we were doing something positive for the guy

Because of the circumstances behind this case deep down I actually wanted him to belong to us. I wanted to see someone say they were oppos, I wanted to be able to go to the memorial service wearing my corps tie and put a green lid on the chair for him and identify to his partner that he belonged to a rather large and special family. I just wanted him to go with something instead of just someone whose first 43 years of his life is literally a blank. The daft thing that even now I find myself hoping that someone knew him.

It is OK saying you can't diappear because of the Internet but if you want to drop out of society and you still can and when you have gone, unless you owe money, nobody is really worried about you


The biggest problem now being that this guys partner who met him 11 years ago knows nothing other than the fact he said he was an ex Royal who kept himself to himself, was involved in something sneaky, and had to leave the Corp’s! is now asking questions like how can SSAFA help, is she entitled to a pension, can she get cash from RN&RMBT to help her cover the costs, can the British Legion help?.

Bottom line is she is going to have her world torn apart when she finds out in the next few days , that her partner was not who he says he was, no bugler, no flag, no corps wreath, no green lid, no drunken oppos no nuthin.

So if you are a Walter of this ilk just remember we are all mortal, so give some though to those who you leave behind, because it is those folks who have to clean up your mess.

[Andy O'Pray]

Very well put Dolly. Your story should be thought provoking, especially to potential Walters.

Aye - Andy

[Artist]

Nice one Dolly

Whenever I meet a possible WALTER I just ask them "What was your offical number" 9 times out of ten I get an Armyish number or a Marine number dating from the time of Trafalgar. Then I just ignore them after telling them to "Get a life, and stop bullsh*ting people". It seems to stop them in there tracks. Don't happen often but It annoys me off when it does.

Aye Artist

[Bob Bell]

Hi Dolly, You may recall I started a simular topic early December 2001. When I was inquiring after a former Royal I had met who said he had been knighted by the Queen ( I know he wasn't ) and on leaving the Corp's with the rank of RSM (I know he wasn't). He did serve in the Corp's for 16 years and left with the rank of Sgt. a PTI no less. The trouble is that eveybody thinks he was some super human Royal. I'm with you just tell the truth and stop the BS it only hurts one's self and the people around you. Bob Bell

[mattt_h]

what is the reason a BSer is called a walter mitty??????????

[Andy O'Pray]

mattt_h, go to the search engine, you will find a whole thread on Walter Mitty. Just don't ever become one.

Aye - Andy.

[mattt_h]

thanks got it

[bootneck]

Dolly, well put mate, lifes hard enough as it is, without trying to remember all the BS you`ve spun, so like you say, keep it simple, stick to the facts and you can`t go wrong, his widow`s world is going to turn upside down

[Budgie]

Dolly, I know exactly where you are coming from with this as I had a work colleague who used to drop out bits about his 'Military' background and such like but when I pressed him, it turned out he had only ever been in the ATC!. Needless to say he was suitably advised!

I know of a similiar case to yours where an 'ex-serviceman' approached the Royal British Legion for help and claiming he had been de-mobbed as a sgt. When sitting down with him to complete the paperwork side it soon became obvious he was a Walter. The biggest giveaway was that he couldn't remember his service number! Then he couldn't remember where and when he joined up but he had served 22 years!. Then he couldn't provide his army pension details but was able to produce his medals (War medal, Defence Medal, 1939-45 Star and France and Germany star). The only snag was that he would have had to joined up at age 9 to qualify for those awards!

It's annoying when that happens but I also find it a bit sad that someone can tell the lie so often that they actually believe it.

On the other side of the coin I have spent the last couple of years looking for 2 mates I served with. I know they exist, I know they served but I can find no trace of them. I suppose if an individual wants to keep himself to himself then finding them is just a little bit more difficult.

[Oakers]

I've come across a few at work in the past, the last one was some tw*t going around telling everyone he was former bootneck AWI. he was about to be interviewed for a new position and I got my mitts on him first, what a chopper this guy was. I didn't let on my background at first, let him waffle for a bit. He told me that he was so sneaky beaky his lads did their Arctic training in France not Norway so that they wouldn't be seen by other units. I nearly ripped my guts up as I laughed in his face, in fornt of everyone told him he was a muppet and to thin out before I stuck my boot in his arse, needless to say he did not get the promotion and I haven't seen or heard from him since.

The other one was a young security guard who was boasting he had served at 40 in Plymouth, needless to say I was forced to expose him and subsequently have a quiet word in his shell.

It's not just that these people are annoying with these claims, they can cause a lot of distress as has already been pointed out. Also how does it affect those of us who really are trying to get on outside against some of the misconceptions already held by civvis when those preconceived ideas are being fuelled by billy bulls**t rantiong on about his time down south and how wonderful he is etc. These people are a menace and they should be exposed at any given opportunity before they cause a lot of damage to the good name of the Corps.

That of course is just a personal opinion

[Black Rat]

Try being in my job! Funny how many coppers who apply for firearms are 'ex instructors' etc.

The military must have more instructors than you can shake a stick at!

I never tell anyone about my time as a Phantom pilot as it was hush hush.

Of course I remember my time on attachment to the Red Arrows fondly, being the first booty to fly with them, you could always tell which one I was, green smoke etc etc etc etc etc!!!!!

[Artist]

Oakers

Met a BS today. Pi**ed him off big time. Asked the standard question got a load of shite in reply. (why is it when Royal goes to war every Ars*wipe is suddenly a Marine?) It's stupid. Marines are honest, upstanding, and a bunch of people who will lie to anyone ifen there is a chance of a bonk!

But, They are without question Marines. And ifen you are a Marine you can suss out a BS at 20 yards! I can anyway.

It is fun to make walters look like the pratts they are mind.

Aye Artist

[harry hackedoff]

Marines are honest, upstanding, and a bunch of people who will lie to anyone ifen there is a chance of a bonk!

But mostly, to themselves

She definately is giving me the eye
"Plums", "trap" and "door" spring to mind
Not for us stacks rates, obviously
Aye, Harry Stackers

[Tommy Gun]

The CO gave us a mega brief about the subject & said "that if he found any of us bull***ting about what had happened out there the book would be thrown "which is right in my opinion as like you guys said after a conflict some nobber will always beef up the truth or just lies to trap.

[Mike]

Caught

Oh shit...... had me cover blown this week........Just had a social visit from Shoulderholster.......Heck he's a big Lad...... I'm glad I did't have him as my Oppo for the firmans lift on the bottom field!
By the way, now the watch has seen my new found mate they have stopped calling me stumpy and other nasty names and now call me Killer, which is a whole lot better!

Any way he's sused me cover and I have to admitt that it is me in the photo on my profile. Not, as I posted a while back, My rolly polly second cousin three times removed, and Yes Prez and Artist me hands DO reach the keyboard, but I'm not telling you how!

So now you all know & I'm embarrased

Thanks for the visit Holster, great to meet a fellow brother with simular intrests and a wackie sence of humour.... Lets hope you can make the Banyan
Aye