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Vango
was born in London on 26 Jan 1926 and now resides in
Gloucestershire.
We
were very amused when one of our ARRSE mates described
Vango’s rack of medals as “looks like the **&@###* Dulux
colour chart”. With permission from the ARRSE we
present Joseph John Vango.
Wildebeest
Like a
crocodile submerged in a watering hole waiting for
hapless prey to stop by for a drink, the Waltenkommando
wait patiently – and usually not for very long. Down to
the water’s edge to slake his thirst steps Mr Joe
Wildebeest – or Joe Vango to be more precise. The water
stirs.
A Land
Down Under
It all
started in a land far far away a couple of years ago
when one of our colonial cousins
Down Under spotted something in a magazine
that didn’t add up. Said colonial is an expert on
medals – in particular those pertaining to
the
Korean War. The magazine was ‘The Morning
Calm’, the journal of the British Korean Veterans’
Association (BKVA), and it had been donated to our man
in the Antipodes by a friend and Korean ‘vet’ – that’s
as in veteran, not as in a slanty-eyed James Herriot.
Anyhow, in the April 2007 edition our man spots the name
of one Joe Vango
DCM
MM – Gloucestershire Branch Secretary and
former 3RAR (3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment)
Korea,
WW2 veteran and ex-POW. Now, our man did 23
years in the mob and knows that a double gallantry award
winner is something that doesn’t exactly grow on trees.
Surely he’d recognise the name of such a distinguished
hero?
Being
a historian, our man - let’s call him ‘Steve’ – has a
shed-load of literature concerning all things
medal-related - and in particular records pertaining to
Australian units in
Korea and who got what. Surprise surprise,
guess who's name is not on the list? A trawl through
that trusty Walt-outer the
London Gazette likewise yielded a big fat
zero. Nothing. Nada. Niente. Neither DCM
or MM to such an individual in Korea or otherwise.
Miffed
Somewhat miffed, ‘Steve’ pens a rather stiff missive to
the editor of 'The Morning Calm' and flags up Vango as a
possible
Walt. The editor then sends the letter on to
the Honorary General Secretary of the BKVA – Frank
Ellison
OBE
BEM JP who contacts Vango and squares up to
him regarding his medal rack. Frank, understandably
treated the allegations seriously and took a very dim
view of such fraudulent claims, but it seemed that the
writing was on the wall, despite feeble protestations
from Vango that he had a letter from the Australian Army
authorising him to wear both decorations – which in
itself suggested that he had them before joining the
RAR.
It
transpired that Vango did actually see service in Korea
with 3RAR and had a
Service Number that indicated he was a
British enlistee with possible prior service in the
British Army. Records, however, showed no such
decorations and nor was he listed as a POW. He did not
serve in
Malaya,
Borneo or
Vietnam. Oh dear!
Bubbled
Bubbled, Vango does a runner and goes off the radar.
However, the story doesn’t end there. Fast forward two
years to June 2009. The
Normandy Veteran’s Association are parading
for the last time at the Cenotaph in olde
London towne. Like a moth to a candle the
opportunity to hog the limelight was simply too good to
miss and in to the spotlight steps our Wildebeest.
Festooned
Festooned with enough tinware to put even
Phil the Greek to shame, Joe Vango DCM MM is
on parade – and it makes for an impressive sight.
Sporting a blazer and
beret with the badge of the
Wiltshire Regiment, his medal rack looks like
the f@#$%^g Dulux colour chart and within a short time
he’s been spotted by the
Gongpolizei.
Rule 1 of
Walting:
never, never, ever have your photograph taken. Joe's
medals are:
Distinguished Conduct Medal
Military Medal
1939-45 Star
France & Germany Star
Defence Medal
War Medal
General Service Medal 1918
Korea Medal
UN
Korea Medal
Australian Active Service Medal (Korea)
1953
Coronation Medal
1977 Jubilee Medal
2002 Jubilee Medal
Even
with some other associated tat that he'd pinned on
that's quite a rack! Within 24 hours Vango had been
featured on a medal experts' forum and was duly
shredded. It’s a small world – one of the members being
the bloke who spotted Vango in the first place. Vango’s
reputation was junked and yet again another walt was
outed.
Custard
It’s
not the first time that someone with creditable service
has over-egged the custard. But pitching up to a parade
sporting gallantry awards that you’re not entitled to is
invoking the
Curse of ARRSE. Why do they do it? God knows.
But times have changed Walter. The
internet is your enemy
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. |
VANGO Joseph John
