higham

HIGHAM Gary Douglas

"Sir" Gary Douglas Higham a “Knight of the Realm” with a handlebar mustache

Gary Douglas Higham is not your average wannabe. He claims to be a Knight of the Realm who served in Vietnam and was a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Pilot. If questioned about his Knighthood he may flash a piece of paper but won’t let you read it. We are reliably advised that when he enters an RSL Club and when he braces the bar, he insists that the RSL staff refer to him as “Sir Gary”, and insisted on being entered into the Bribie Island RSL data base as “Sir Gary”

The colour photograph of Higham is very recent, taken on Rememberance Day, 11th November 2009.

According to Gary Higham he was the last Mirage Pilot and a Mirage test Pilot and he crashed a Helicopter resulting in disabilities. None of those claims are true and we are reliably advised that his only Department of Veterans Affairs accepted disability is for deafness.

Higham is well adorned with a raffish handle bar mustache that any British Wing Commander would be proud of. However, stylish hair around the top lip is insufficient qualification to wear RAAF Pilot Wings.

Notice in the photo that “Sir Gary” wears no accoutrements indicative of his Knighthood, but he does wear Vietnam Medals, Pilot Wings and other medals. His medal rack when compared to his actual RAAF service is sufficient to damn him as a wannabe. These are the Medals he is wearing:

Australian Active Service Medal

Vietnam Medal

Australian Service Medal post 1975

Defence Force Service Medal

Australian Defence Medal

UN Medals: UNEF II

Vietnam Campaign Medal

RAAF Pilots Wings

The only medal of this lot he would be entitled to wear is the Australian Defence Medal, which is awarded to recognise Australian Defence Force Regular and Reserve personnel who have demonstrated their commitment and contribution to the nation by serving for an initial enlistment period or four years service whichever is the lesser.

Higham was born on the 5 April 1958, so in 1972 when Australian involvement in the Vietnam War had ceased, Higham was fourteen years old. On 8^th January 1974 he joined the RAAF as a sixteen year old Apprentice Electrical Mechanic and was posted to Wagga Wagga in New South Wales to complete his training.

After completing his Apprenticeship we believe he remained in the RAAF until 1982. Most of his time was spent at Amberely RAAF Base in Queensland. In 1982 he had attained the rank of Leading Aircraftsman (LAC). Because of legal time restrictions we have no details of his actual date of discharge, however we have an entry on a document dated 5 March 1982 showing him to hold the rank LAC and we are reliably advised that he was discharged in 1982. Having attained that rank, it is hardly likely he is entitled to wear Pilots Wings or ever flew an aircraft.

Higham has no Military or personal history that could possibly lead to an Imperial Knighthood, and although we have no positive evidence to prove that point, it is self evident that he is a fraud and a wannabe because he is wearing medals from the Vietnam War and other Defence medals to which he has no entitlement.

Higham never at any stage served in the Vietnam War. During his RAAF service he was never a Pilot, never served overseas and he is not an Imperial Knight.

Higham has been cavorting around the Caboolture, Queensland area for years sporting various racks of fake medals, without any interference from law enforcement agencies, who with some coaxing from local Ex Service Organisations could easily charge Higham under the Defence Act 1903, with at least three offences:

1. Impersonating a veteran.

2. Wearing medals he has no right to wear, and,

3. Impersonating a person who is entitled to wear medals.

The veteran community is diminished when it is infiltrated by idiots like Higham and we urge all veterans to keep watch and let law authorities know when a fake is detected. If law authorities fail to take action let us know and we will do their job for them.

Some advice to Higham. Get the medals and the wings off, shave off your mustache, grow up and stop making a nuisance of yourself.

13th May 2010

Update - “Sir” Gary Douglas Higham a “Knight of the Realm” with a handlebar mustache.

Higham was spotted this ANZAC Day again wearing all his fake medals and his genuine handlebar mustache at the Bribie Island RSL on ANZAC Day.

He was pulled aside and told he was wearing medals and accoutrements he had no entitlement to and all he did was mumble, and claim that he was unaware that he had been exposed as a wannabe on our web site on the 18^th Dec 2009. It is reported he was handed a copy of the exposure so one would think that the message may have gotten through.

Gary Higham is a serial wannabe and a pest to the veteran community. In our exposure of the 18^th Dec 2009 Higham was shown driving a mobility scooter, this ANZAC Day he was afoot although a bit wobbly from alcohol. Perhaps from time to time he also pretends to be disabled

Good Veterans of the Bribie Island area should keep a good eye out for this persona non gratis and when he is spotted pretending to be a returned Veteran or a jet pilot or a Knight of the Realm politely tell him to grow up.

This is published in the public interest, particularly that of the Vietnam Veteran Community. All information presented here is fact and the truth. Reports from private citizens are supported by statements of fact and statutory declarations.