I could do with some advice re potential walt.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: North East England
Posts: 172
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I could do with some advice re potential walt.
Hi guys,
I am a civvy so please forgive the intrusion on this forum.
I would like a bit of advice if possible.
As part of my work I am about to do business with a chap who is ex-forces. Seems straight up and there is a paper trail on line about his past.
However, we took an anonymous 'phone call about him from someone claiming he was a Walt. Could be malicious, but it has raised a question about his integrity. If it turns out he is a fraud it will reflect badly on our business.
On line, some of the dates of things he has done don't match. However, that could be down to bad journalism or genuine errors.
What do you as members of the mililtary suggest is the best course of action?.
I could approach him and tell him about the 'phone call. But that may upset him if he is straight or prompt him into more lies if he is not.
He could be straight and be so angry he leaves the project which would not be good.
Is there a way I can legally and quickly check that this guy is who he says he is. If I rang for example a unit he claims to have worked with, would they be able to answer my questions?
I really want to be discreet about this as it is quite a delicate situation.
Cheers
Tyne.
I am a civvy so please forgive the intrusion on this forum.
I would like a bit of advice if possible.
As part of my work I am about to do business with a chap who is ex-forces. Seems straight up and there is a paper trail on line about his past.
However, we took an anonymous 'phone call about him from someone claiming he was a Walt. Could be malicious, but it has raised a question about his integrity. If it turns out he is a fraud it will reflect badly on our business.
On line, some of the dates of things he has done don't match. However, that could be down to bad journalism or genuine errors.
What do you as members of the mililtary suggest is the best course of action?.
I could approach him and tell him about the 'phone call. But that may upset him if he is straight or prompt him into more lies if he is not.
He could be straight and be so angry he leaves the project which would not be good.
Is there a way I can legally and quickly check that this guy is who he says he is. If I rang for example a unit he claims to have worked with, would they be able to answer my questions?
I really want to be discreet about this as it is quite a delicate situation.
Cheers
Tyne.
Nemo Me Impune Lacessit
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Derbyshire, England.
Posts: 4,097
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Not easy. You could ask him to show you the evidence of his military service that should include some form of discharge book or certificate of service, soldiers used to get a discharge book, (an AB108), officers will have their copy of The Queen's Commission. Tell him it is company policy to fully check the military background of all applicants as some of your work is of a classified or sensitive nature and do you have his permission to check with his regiment/ship/ squadron etc? Could he supply you with two service references please?
If you already have any genuine ex service people on your staff it would only take them about two minutes in the bar to uncover him if he is a Walt.
If you already have any genuine ex service people on your staff it would only take them about two minutes in the bar to uncover him if he is a Walt.
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Odiham
Posts: 170
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ok, If he is ex forces he would have received a 'reference' from his Boss as part of his dis-charge papers. Also, unless he is SF (and then you will face a brick wall of silence in response to any enquiries from his previous unit) you have every right to contact his last unit/Boss for a full reference. This should not 'piss him off' and you should inform him that you are doing this for completeness and not to check if he is a 'walt' or not.
The reality is that as an employer you should be aware of this - which leads me to question the authenticity of this post.......basics really.
The reality is that as an employer you should be aware of this - which leads me to question the authenticity of this post.......basics really.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Tyne, you need to be able to gently probe from a position of knowledge. If you lack the knowledge then ppruners might be able to give you some pointers.
It would help therefore if you said which Service, I would guess RAF, how old he is, which would set the period, and any other pointers such as lines he may have shot.
It would help therefore if you said which Service, I would guess RAF, how old he is, which would set the period, and any other pointers such as lines he may have shot.
Nemo Me Impune Lacessit
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Derbyshire, England.
Posts: 4,097
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Also, unless he is SF
Red On, Green On
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Between the woods and the water
Age: 24
Posts: 6,487
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
There are plenty of Walts about, and sometimes it can be hard to out them, but at the same time it's possible that the anonymous call was malicious, so there's a fine line to be trodden.
Can you be more specific about his claimed background, and why you think some does not stack? What are the risks to your company if he is a walt? If they are large then it might be possible to tell him to his face, and insist that you have confirmation of his service record before you can proceed. A non-walt won't be offended, a true walt will scream and shout, or continue to try to BS you.
Bear in mind that the online trail could be entirely created by him - it's not hard. Small things like checking the name of the person who registered the domain name of a site that mentions him might be enough to uncover the fact that he's fabricated things.
Feel free to PM me. My old unit has lots of walt-trouble - this is perhaps the most famous: The Baron of Castleshort and there's a presenter of survival programmes with a silly first name who also walts a fair bit. I'd upset the owners of Pprune if I posted his waltisms
Can you be more specific about his claimed background, and why you think some does not stack? What are the risks to your company if he is a walt? If they are large then it might be possible to tell him to his face, and insist that you have confirmation of his service record before you can proceed. A non-walt won't be offended, a true walt will scream and shout, or continue to try to BS you.
Bear in mind that the online trail could be entirely created by him - it's not hard. Small things like checking the name of the person who registered the domain name of a site that mentions him might be enough to uncover the fact that he's fabricated things.
Feel free to PM me. My old unit has lots of walt-trouble - this is perhaps the most famous: The Baron of Castleshort and there's a presenter of survival programmes with a silly first name who also walts a fair bit. I'd upset the owners of Pprune if I posted his waltisms
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: North East England
Posts: 172
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks for the replies chaps.
The difficulty is that he is helping us free of charge. Its a charity project and he is doing this out of the goodnes of his heart.
We are not employing him as such.
Although a civvy, i have a lot of experience with the military and have worked a lot with the mainly the RN - and other navies. I could have a decent stab at spotting a Walt if he was ex-navy.
He's ex AAC. Recent Ex as in Telic
The difficulty is that he is helping us free of charge. Its a charity project and he is doing this out of the goodnes of his heart.
We are not employing him as such.
Although a civvy, i have a lot of experience with the military and have worked a lot with the mainly the RN - and other navies. I could have a decent stab at spotting a Walt if he was ex-navy.
He's ex AAC. Recent Ex as in Telic
Red On, Green On
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Between the woods and the water
Age: 24
Posts: 6,487
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
Tyne - PM me if you like with his name etc. My neighbour three doors away is an ex AAC officer of that vintage, as is another acquaintance in the village.
Cool Mod
Join Date: Apr 1998
Location: 18nm N of LGW
Posts: 6,185
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If he is ex AAC ask him what regiment/s he served with and let us know. With gentle probing he will be all too happy to tell you - even if he not genuine. There are a few ex AAC and serving guys on here. Ask him what he did. Ask him the stations he served on. You will either frighten him or he will give you the answers that are simply checkable. We have the 'tools' if they will pardon the expression.
lj101,
Interesting, 'cos I just did that (with both of my Service numbers) and got absolutely nothing.
Either I played the 'grey man' thing to perfection, or I've really been a Walt all these years and never told myself...
Interesting, 'cos I just did that (with both of my Service numbers) and got absolutely nothing.
Either I played the 'grey man' thing to perfection, or I've really been a Walt all these years and never told myself...
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Lake District
Posts: 164
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Work of a paid or voluntary nature for most charities will require some sort of background check as you may be working with people of a vulnerable nature, peoples personal details on their finances and health, the charities funds or be in a position to at least see all of the above to some extent...
If his participation does not warrant such a check (CRB or similar) he is not to know so you could start the ball rolling with a few searching yet logical questions about service number, positions of responsibility held, previous addresses, regiments served on and the belter would be names of commanding officers that you could write to for character references...This would appear appropriate for a good guy and terrifying for all but the coolest of walts.
If his participation does not warrant such a check (CRB or similar) he is not to know so you could start the ball rolling with a few searching yet logical questions about service number, positions of responsibility held, previous addresses, regiments served on and the belter would be names of commanding officers that you could write to for character references...This would appear appropriate for a good guy and terrifying for all but the coolest of walts.
Last edited by Vim_Fuego; 29th Sep 2011 at 14:54.
Avoid imitations
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Wandering the FIR and cyberspace often at highly unsociable times
Posts: 14,583
Received 441 Likes
on
233 Posts
Thud, I guess "old fogeys" like us are too old to fit in with the present system.
I received nothing like a reference from H.M. but I did get a nice handwritten letter from an airship thanking me for my "very valuable" 18 years service and wishing me luck in my future career.
Then they just took my car pass away and that was it.
I received nothing like a reference from H.M. but I did get a nice handwritten letter from an airship thanking me for my "very valuable" 18 years service and wishing me luck in my future career.
Then they just took my car pass away and that was it.
I dont believe that you are even discussing this!
Tyne, man the fu@k up, go to the bloke with your 'evidence' and tell him your concerns! His reaction will speak volumes.
What more do you want?
No sh!t Sherlock!
No it has not! ONUS PROBANDI
The only integrity question here is about you trying to sort the issue out on this forum. For goodness sake put your big boy pants on and talk to the bloke!
As part of my work I am about to do business with a chap who is ex-forces. Seems straight up and there is a paper trail on line about his past.
However, we took an anonymous 'phone call about him from someone claiming he was a Walt.
Could be malicious
but it has raised a question about his integrity
The only integrity question here is about you trying to sort the issue out on this forum. For goodness sake put your big boy pants on and talk to the bloke!
Red On, Green On
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Between the woods and the water
Age: 24
Posts: 6,487
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
Ask him what his service number is/was and google it with his surname.
Just tried it in the office and both officers and the ranks come up.
Just tried it in the office and both officers and the ranks come up.
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Oxon
Age: 66
Posts: 1,942
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Avoid imitations
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Wandering the FIR and cyberspace often at highly unsociable times
Posts: 14,583
Received 441 Likes
on
233 Posts
I just Googled my service number and it came up with a patent for a photocopier and the phone number in an advert for the best pizza in Italy! 
I'm proud to put both on my CV...
I'm proud to put both on my CV...