A former Black Watch Major has lodged a motion with Angus Council to highlight growing concerns about ‘Walter Mitty’ veterans and so-called pseudo charities.
Angus councillor and veterans’ campaigner Ronnie Proctor, who serves on a number of armed forces charities, said he hopes his colleagues from across the chamber will support his motion.
Mr Proctor has previously spoken out after noticing the increasing use of purchased medals by individuals which, he says, demeans those servicemen and women who have served on operations from the Second World War up to the present time.
He has also spoken out about “questionable” charities whose collection methods have been described as “quite pushy, and bordering on aggressive”.
Commenting on the motion, Mr Proctor said: “At one time, a Walter Mitty character was fairly easy to spot.
“He would be festooned in medals that it would have been impossible for him to have earned, and in some ways they were harmless enough.
“Now however, the problem is broader, ranging from people purchasing and wearing unofficial commemorative medals, right the way through to organisations who collect money, sometimes wearing military uniform, ostensibly to help veterans, but who take anything up to 80% of funds in ‘management fees’.
“Our armed forces do an amazing job defending our way of life when called to do so. They are rightly admired, and when leaving the forces they take transferable skills with them to the benefit of employers and the wider community.”
He added: “I believe, however, that the issue of these Walter Mitty characters and what I would call pseudo charities needs to addressed so that, for example, people are confident that their charitable donations are put to good use.
“That is why I have lodged the motion, and I hope my colleagues from across the chamber will support it.”
Mr Proctor’s motion asks the council to acknowledge the dedication of the men and women who serve in the armed forces and welcomes the important contribution that veterans make to the communities of Angus.
It also asks the council to share the concerns of many in the veterans’ community that individuals are falsely presenting themselves as veterans or who have claimed to have taken part in armed combat operations; and note that there is growing concern about organisations who claim to be collecting money to support veterans, but in reality charge up to 80% of donations in management fees.
Mr Proctor’s motion — to be delivered to full council on Thursday — also instructs the chief executive to write to Veterans Minister, Mr Keith Brown MSP and respectfully ask that the Scottish Government takes cognisance of these concerns and examine ways that this behaviour might be addressed.