I'm not a lawyer and may have this wrong; but I think there may be a subtle distinction between "medals", and "insignia / badges of rank"
My interpretation is that falsely claiming a medal is claiming to have done something that you haven't done (sort of rings a bell, doesn't it!); whereas falsely wearing insignia such as a badge of rank or a pilot's brevet is claiming a qualification and, effectively, an identity to which you are not entitled. It is the latter case that the article I quoted earlier makes me believe to be an offence.
Is there a lawyer on here that can confirm or refute this?
Last edited by Jonzarno; 1st Oct 2016 at 10:58.
Reason: Clarification