This sort of thing does concern me as a taxpayer!
I once went into a military surplus store in Hong Kong and saw a full set of almost brand new looking cold weather flying gear complete with pilot's brevet and 7 Sqn badges. As I had just left the mob I jokingly said "I wonder if that's the stuff I just handed in?" It wasn't but it was immediately apparent that it had once belonged to an RAF colleague of mine who was still serving, complete with a brand new and presumably privately bought, wings and name badge. They said it had come from a supplier near London.