The wearing of decorations and medals has been in the news this last month. The Chief Constable of Northamptonshire Nicholas Adderley served as Chief Constable of Northamptonshire Police from 2018 to 2024, when he was dismissed for gross misconduct. He had embellished his military service in the Royal Navy and fabricated receiving both Northern Ireland and Falklands medals.
There is a fuller account on Wikipedia on what only be called a very unsavoury episode. Funnily enough this only came out into the open when his ex-wife took the steps to expose his lies and deceit.
But back to June 1942 when Sheffield's Gunner Gordon was court-martialled in Kent for wearing a VC ribbon that he was not entitled to wear. It was awarded ostensibly for his actions on the retreat to Dunkirk in May 1940 but this was a complete fabrication. He had bought the ribbon from a shop in Hythe Kent for the sum of 1s 9d (9p) as he wanted his wife to read about his heroism in the newspapers.
From the report Gunner Graham seems more like a fantasist than one who sets out deliberately to misrepresent his achievements to others so that they can further their own careers
As a footnote only 181 Victoria Crosses were awarded in the Second World War and none of the recipients had a Sheffield connection.
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