Falklands War veterans slam police chief as ‘shameful’ for wearing medal without ever serving in conflict
FALKLANDS War veterans have slammed a police chief as “shameful” after The Sun revealed he wore their medal without ever serving in the conflict.
Nick Adderley, 57, pinned the South Atlantic Medal to his chest — despite not joining the Royal Navy until two years after the war.
The Northampton Police Chief Constable was just 15 when the Falklands War ended in 1982.
Ex-Royal Navy Warrant Officer Chris Howe MBE, who suffered 27 per cent burns when HMS Coventry was sunk, said: “It makes me very angry that someone in his position would deceive and wear a medal that they don’t deserve to.
“It is totally shameful and he should be held to account and explain why he did it.”
Mr Adderley said the gong had belonged to his brother and he had been unaware of the protocol to wear a relative’s medals away from his own.
Former soldier and retired Met senior detective Mick Neville said: “Wearing fake medals is known as stolen valour and is as low as it gets to people in the Armed Forces.
“Veterans and serving members of the military are rightly very angry when people falsely claim to have served in conflicts.
“It cheapens the medals that they proudly wear and is particularly upsetting for those who were injured in those combat zones.”
The Independent Office for Police Conduct is investigating and Mr Adderley could face a gross misconduct board and dismissal.
Northampton Police said: “Northamptonshire Police will not be commenting further on this while the IOPC investigation is ongoing.”