It was a Remembrance Sunday unlike any other in the quiet seaside town of Llandudno, North Wales. As hundreds gathered on November 9, 2025, to honor the fallen, a man in a sharply pressed Royal Navy rear admiral’s uniform, adorned with a dazzling array of medals, drew more than a few curious glances. He laid a wreath with solemn precision, saluted the war memorial, and marched away—leaving in his wake a storm of suspicion and, ultimately, a criminal charge.
The man at the center of this extraordinary episode is Jonathan David Carley, a 64-year-old retired history teacher from Harlech, Gwynedd. According to North Wales Police, Carley was arrested on Friday, November 14, 2025, after images of him in full naval regalia—complete with the epaulettes and sleeve lace signifying a rear admiral, one of the Royal Navy’s highest ranks—spread rapidly across news outlets and social media (as reported by BBC and The Independent).
The uniform wasn’t the only thing that caught the eye. Carley’s chest glittered with twelve medals, including the highly rare Distinguished Service Order (DSO), awarded for exceptional command and leadership during active operations, and the Queen’s Volunteer Reserves Medal (QVRM), reserved for exemplary reservists. Among the other decorations was an MBE, four campaign medals, and several others that, when combined, raised more than a few eyebrows. The Walter Mitty Hunters Club—an online group dedicated to exposing military imposters—quickly pointed out that no known serviceman had ever received all the medals Carley displayed, especially the DSO and QVRM together, a combination virtually unheard of (The Sun, The Independent).
It didn’t take long for the authorities to act. Chief Inspector Trystan Bevan of North Wales Police confirmed, “We can confirm that, during a search of the male’s address earlier today, a naval uniform and a selection of medals were recovered from within.” He added, “Our enquiries into this incident are currently ongoing.” The arrest, he said, was made in response to “significant public concern, particularly given its occurrence on Remembrance Sunday.”
Carley’s appearance at the Llandudno ceremony was as unexpected as it was controversial. Llandudno Town Council, which organized the event, confirmed that no rear admirals were scheduled to attend. Greg Robbins, chair of the council’s civic sub-committee, recounted, “The man was challenged by the parade marshal, but stated that he was of a certain rank, and that he was representing the Lord Lieutenant’s office. The parade marshal was left with little choice but to accommodate him in the wreath-laying ceremony.” Yet Harry Fetherstonhaugh, Lord Lieutenant of Clwyd, told The Sun, “I’ve never seen him in my life.”
The Walter Mitty Hunters Club, which has made a mission of exposing “stolen valour,” found images of Carley at previous remembrance events in 2018 and 2019. On those occasions, he reportedly carried a ceremonial sword but did not display the DSO. Public records, as reported by The Sun, revealed Carley’s only known military experience was a brief commission as a 2nd Lieutenant (on probation) in the reserves from July 1991 until February 1995—a far cry from the storied naval career his uniform implied.
His background outside the military was equally colorful. Carley claimed to have studied at Oxford and Harvard and to have taught at Eton College, where notable figures such as Princes William and Harry once studied. However, these claims have not been substantiated in the current investigation.
The reaction from the military community was swift and unequivocal. A Royal Navy spokesperson told The Independent, “Impersonating a Naval officer is insulting to anyone connected to the service and could be considered a criminal offence. Nothing should detract from the poignancy of Remembrance Sunday, which can be a sombre time for members of the Royal Navy family and an opportunity for people in communities across the United Kingdom to pay their respects to people who have served or are serving their country.”
The Ministry of Defence also weighed in, warning that impersonating a naval officer is not only disrespectful but also a potential criminal act. Indeed, under the Uniforms Act, it is an offence to wear a military uniform without the monarch’s permission unless performing on stage (The Sun). Carley was charged with “wearing uniform or dress bearing the mark of His Majesty’s Forces without permission,” a charge that carries real legal weight. He is scheduled to appear at Caernarfon Magistrates’ Court on December 11, 2025.
Chief Inspector Bevan urged the public to avoid speculation and refrain from sharing content online that could compromise the ongoing investigation or future court proceedings. “We urge members of the public to avoid online speculation and to refrain from sharing any content that could compromise future court proceedings,” Bevan stressed, echoing concerns about the impact of viral images and social media commentary on the legal process (BBC, North Wales Police statements).
Llandudno Town Council, for its part, sought to reassure the public that the event itself had been a respectful and dignified commemoration, despite the controversy. A spokesperson said, “Whilst he laid his wreath respectfully and behaved before leaving, military organisations are now investigating the matter. The council would not want this incident to detract from what was an excellent parade and remembrance service.”
The case has reignited debate over so-called “stolen valour” and the importance of protecting the integrity of military honors. The Walter Mitty Hunters Club, which played a role in exposing the deception, exists precisely because of the deep respect held for those who have genuinely served. For many veterans and families, the wearing of unearned medals is not just a harmless eccentricity—it’s a profound insult.
While Carley awaits his day in court, the incident has left a mark on the tight-knit community of Llandudno and on the broader conversation about remembrance and respect. As the Royal Navy spokesperson put it, “Nothing should detract from the poignancy of Remembrance Sunday.” For now, the wreath laid by a man in borrowed glory serves as a reminder of the enduring value of truth, honor, and the sacrifices made by the genuine men and women of His Majesty’s Forces.
