Terry StewartOfficials are looking into whether a man who took part in a Remembrance Sunday ceremony dressed as a high-ranking navy officer was a fake.
The man was involved in the wreath laying in Llandudno, Conwy county, on Sunday, and saluted the war memorial before marching away with a colleague.
Serving and former service personnel became suspicious when they saw him dressed as a rear admiral and wearing the rare Distinguished Service Order medal.
The Ministry of Defence said it was taking it very seriously, adding that impersonating a naval officer can be considered a criminal offence.
Hundreds of people were on the seafront in Llandudno to mark Remembrance Sunday last weekend for the traditional period of silence and the laying of poppy wreaths.
But members of the town’s Royal Naval Association spotted a man wearing an unusual uniform among the ranks of serving and former servicemen and women.
The man was wearing the epaulettes and sleeve lace of a rear admiral, one of the highest ranks in the Royal Navy.
He also had an array of medals on his left chest, including the Distinguished Service Order, of which very few have been awarded since 1979.
Several veterans and serving officers have said on social media that they are concerned that the man may not have been a rear admiral, and may not have earned all the medals he was wearing.
Llandudno Town Council, which organised the event, confirmed that no-one of that rank was due to be at the ceremony.
Greg Robbins, chair of the council’s civic sub-committee, said: “The man was challenged by the parade marshal, but stated that he was of a certain rank, and that he was representing the Lord Lieutenant’s office.
“The parade marshal was left with little choice but to accommodate him in the wreath laying ceremony.
“The most important thing with Remembrance Sunday ceremonies is that they are suitably dignified, as this one was.
“This individual did not disrupt the ceremony, but we are keen to know who he was, and will be working with the Ministry of Defence on its investigation.”
The man was seen walking in formation to the war memorial with a colleague, also dressed in a khaki uniform.
The colleague laid a wreath before the pair saluted and walked away together.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence said: “Impersonating a Naval officer is insulting to anyone connected to the service and can be considered a criminal offence.
“Nothing should detract from the poignancy of Remembrance Sunday which can be a sombre time for members of the Royal Navy family and an opportunity for people in communities across the country to pay their respects to people who have or are serving their country.”