Here is another example of the RSL allowing wannabes to infest their ranks. RSL Presidents are considered to be among community leaders and their behaviour must be beyond reproach. 

Here is a photo of Trevor Chapman officially representing the RSL on a commemorative occasion.

Notice that Chapman is wearing three medals on his left breast and together with all his buttons and badges he looks like a proper little veteran.  The three medals he is wearing are all self purchased United Kingdom Tin commemorative medals, they are

 1. General Service Cross Commemorative Medal.

 2. National Service Commemorative Medal.

 3. British Forces Germany Medal.

 

Trevor Chapman served in Germany in a British Army, Royal Artillery, and Anti Aircraft unit during the 1950s.  He was awarded no medals for his service. Obviously to make himself a more presentable in the prestigious position of RSL Sub Branch President he has been to a medal shop and purchased Tin trinkets.  

Chapman’s behaviour is unacceptable and should he not take the hint and remove his “pretty self purchased trinkets” he should be treated with contempt by those Marion RSL members who have earned and wear genuine medals.  

Chapman is not the worst wannabe we have encountered but there is a steady increase in his kind infesting our RSLs. 

The government is very clear about the wearing of medals by serving and ex-service personal. The protocol for wearing of medals can be found at the following web site. This site also has information dealing with wearing of Unofficial medals as seen below.

 http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/awards/wearing.cfm

Unofficial medals

Ex-service organisations sometimes commission their own unofficial medals to mark participation in particular military campaigns, periods of service or types of service that have not been recognised through the Australian honours system. Awards made by foreign governments which have not been approved by the Governor-General for acceptance and wear are also "unofficial". There is no impediment to wearing such medals in appropriate private settings, such as a meeting of the relevant ex-service association, or a reception hosted by the relevant foreign government. Ideally, unofficial medals should not be worn at public ceremonial and commemorative events, but if they are worn as the occasion demands, the convention is that they are worn on the right breast.

The RSL South Australian Branch also has a web site regarding the wearing of medals

https://www.clubsonline.com.au/customdata/index.cfm?fuseaction=display_main&ItemID=5159&OrgID=1113&cfid=3728363&cftoken=6010&dts=182009557

As the President of an RSL it is Chapman’s responsibility to comply with official protocol as published by the government and his own State RSL Branch. By failing to do so, he shows a lack of leadership and respect to serving and ex-service men and women by wearing his tin medals on his left breast. 

We will continue to name and shame RSL executives who wear inappropriate medals to boost their egos.