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'War hero', 74, who went to Remembrance Day parades each year, exposed
as fake who bought medals on internet
By LUKE SALKELD=E2=80=A8Last updated at 9:49 PM on 18th November 2008
'Just a cook': Tom Cattell took part in Remembrance Day parades
pretending to be a veteran dressed in the uniform with fake medals
For nearly a decade the 74-year-old took part in services across the
country, wearing the uniform of the Parachute Regiment and SAS with
pride.
He told of being one of the youngest servicemen to fight in the Korean
War and one of the oldest to fight in the Falklands.
Yesterday, however, it emerged that Mr Cattell's stories are far from
heroic as his glittering 30-year military career was all fake.
Although he said he had won the distinguished Military Medal, he
confessed his stories were lies and in the Army he was 'just a cook'.
Mr Cattell admitted he had never been to the Falkland Islands and that
he bought his medals on the internet.
The only military service he had seen was two years' National Service-
and a brief stint with the Territorial Army.
The retired chef had lied to his wife, his friends and to Royal
British Legion clubs across the country about his military record.
When asked to produce evidence of his service, Mr Cattell gave a false
Army service number and claimed his records had been destroyed in a
fire at his home.
His deception only came to light when he sent a photo of himself
wearing medals to the RAF with a request for a replacement military
baton.
It is understood that officials cross-checked his military credentials
and found his claims to be false.
'My real history is that I served in Malaya,' he said yesterday.
'I was attached to the SAS in Malaya but only for a couple of months.
It was like a rest centre. I was just a cook.'=C2=A0
Asked why he had fabricated a military career, Mr Cattell said: 'It
was just a silly thing I have done.'
As part of the pretence, he bought clothing from a military tailor and
11 medals online.
Mr Cattell, who lives in St Blazey, Cornwall, said that at first he
intended only to collect the medals.
He explained that he pretended to have been a member of the Parachute
Regiment because he 'always admired them'.
Mr Cattell has apologised for his deceit, but not everyone has
forgiven him.
A local resident, who saw Mr Cattell in a village Remembrance Parade
last week, said: 'It's such an insult to the memories of people who
have fought and died doing military service.'
A spokesman for the St Austell British Legion said 'disciplinary
action' will be taken, adding: 'He's conned the legion, the Paras and
the SAS.'
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-Remembrance-parades-exposed-as-a-fake.html
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War hero' who attended Remembrance parades exposed as a fake
A man who posed as a war hero at Remembrance Day parades across the UK
has been exposed as a fake and could be banned from the British
Legion.
By Chris Irvine
Last Updated: 7:10PM GMT 18 Nov 2008
Retired chef Tom Cattell took part in parades across the country for
nearly a decade dressed in the uniform and medals of the Parachute
Regiment and SAS.
The 74-year-old from St Blazey, Cornwall, bragged that he was one of
the youngest servicemen to have fought in the 1950s Korean War and one
of the oldest to fight in the Falklands.
He also claimed he had won the distinguished Military Medal awarded
for acts of gallantry and devotion to duty under fire.
But he has admitted to never even visiting the Falkland Islands, while
he bought his medals on the internet and the only military service he
has seen is two years' national service and a brief stint with the
Territorial Army.
Mr Cattell deceived his friends, his wife, and Royal British Legion
clubs in West Sus*** and Cornwall.
His deception only came to light when he sent a photo of himself
wearing false medals to the RAF to sup****t a claim for a military pace
stick.
Mr Cattell, who is originally from the Birmingham area, said: "I just
built it up in my mind.
"That's what it was. I'm stupid. It was just a silly thing I have
done."
Mr Cattell bought military berets, blazers and ties from military
tailor Feneck's in Plymouth, and 11 medals from a now defunct Internet
company, which he wore annually on parade for at least the last eight
years.
He chose to pretend to have been a member of the Paras and SAS,
"Because I've always admired them.
"I did serve with four Paras - at a TA unit that was stationed up in
Bradford."
He denied any mental health issues, saying: "I have had a mild stroke
and angina and Parkinsons."
Mr Cattell took it upon himself recently to collect money for the
charity Help for Heroes, which raises funds for wounded British
servicemen and women, although did not seek permission from the
charity to do.
A spokesman for the St Austell British Legion said: "It could become
national disciplinary action. He could be banned from the British
Legion."
Secretary of the Royal Cornwall Branch of the Parachute Regimental
Association, Tom French, said: "We are absolutely disgusted about
this.
"There have been two such people within a couple of months who have
all moved within the British Legion."
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