Falklands fraud

Kyt · Jun 27, 2009

He's not one of us - Cambridge News

Falklands War hero and a military advisor to director Stephen Spielberg has been criticised by veterans.

Jack Livesey, of Springfield Road, Sawston has built a long career as a "military historian" based on his "Army record."

He even used his "years of service" in mitigation when he was found guilty of fraudulently claiming almost £30,000 of disability benefits.

Livesey claimed to have served in the 1982 Falklands War winning the Military Medal for gallantry and to have completed five tours of Northern Ireland while serving in the army from 1972 to 1994.

But a News investigation, prompted by letters from outraged former Paras, has discovered he only served three years in the catering corps during the early 1970s.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has no record of Livesey being in the army in the 1990s.

An MOD spokesman said: "Our records indicate Jack Livesey (DOB 15/05/54) only served in the British Army in the Army Catering Corps from December 1971 to April 1974."

No mention was made of him serving in the Paras, being awarded medals or tours of Northern Ireland and the Falklands.

The News also discovered Livesey is now banned from his former workplace, the Imperial War Museum in Duxford
* and that he was not employed as an advisor for the filming of Saving Private Ryan, despite claims he made on his website.

Livesey denies the claims against him.

Malcolm Simpson, regimental sergeant major of the 2nd parachute battalion during the Falklands said: "There were nine men in the regiment who were given the Military Medal and Livesey is not on the list. I knew every man in the regiment and I cannot remember him.

"I am amazed he has gotten away with it for so long. That he was a serving soldier and has done this shows his esprit de corps.

"I think it is appalling that he should have done this and disgraced the memory of the fallen and those who did receive the medals who do not go around pontificating about it."

Falkland's War veteran Simon Weston, who suffered horrific burns during the conflict, was appalled by Livesey's actions.

He said: "I just find this incredibly sad. I can't understand how he got away with it for so long.

"To trade himself on those genuine heroes and those who have fallen is appalling.

"I feel sad for those people who won it deservedly to find out this man claimed it falsely. It's reprehensible."

And Gary Steele, a former soldier with D Company 2nd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment from 1978-1984 during the Falklands War said: "I served with 2 Para during the period that this man claims to have served and I can assure you that he didn't win the Military Medal, didn't serve in the Falklands Conflict and was never a member of the 2nd Battalion of The Parachute Regiment."

The 55-year-old boasted on his website, promoting his military credentials, that he was a military advisor for the famous Normandy beach scenes in Steven Spielberg's Saving Private Ryan.

But a spokeswoman for the director's film company California-based DreamWorks told the News: "I have spoken to the senior military advisor on the movie, Captain Dale Dye, who had two others working with him. None of them were Jack Livesey. He did not work on the movie."

In 2004 Livesey mentioned his war record during his trial for £30,000 benefit fraud in mitigation for his crime. Judge Jonathan Haworth gave him a one year suspended sentence for falsely claiming the cash while employed by the Imperial War Museum.

Livesey and his partner Bridget were due to get married at Duxford and he was booked to give a lecture on the V1 bomber - but the museum has banned him from volunteering due to his over-blown internet account of what he did there while employed.

A museum spokeswoman said:

"Simply, he is no longer allowed to volunteer at Duxford, and his talk was cancelled, due to false claims that he has made about his role at the museum, on his website."

Livesey worked at the museum from July, 1999 to October 2006 as an administrator before becoming a research and information officer.

He claimed on his website he was the museum's military historian and that he served with the 2nd Parachute Battalion winning the MM, GSM, and SAM medals.

He also claimed to have been given the UNEF - which was awarded to UN peacekeepers from abroad after the Suez Crisis in 1956.

The News caught up with Livesey in the large Sawston bungalow where he lives with his partner.

He said: "It is all true. I worked on Saving Private Ryan on the beach scenes as well as Band of Brothers and Flyboys. I did receive the Military Medal but I don't have it here and served in the Falklands.

"I don't have my discharge papers to prove when I served because my ex-wife put a lot of my stuff on a bonfire when we divorced nine years ago.

"I don't know where these rumours come from. I don't want this to harm Duxford - that's my big concern.

"The MOD must have made a mistake. Papers get lost. I am no longer claiming benefits. I held my hand up to the fraud but I am paying for that mistake every day."

The News has handed the results of the investigation to the department of Works and Pensions.

Livesey's benefits cheating

LIVESEY presented himself as a historian and Falklands War veteran during his trial in 2004 for falsely claiming almost £30,000 in incapacity benefit over four-and-a- half years.

The fraudster - then 50 - was well dressed during his appearances at Cambridge Crown Court, with those present hearing he had served in the Parachute Regiment in the Falklands War and was decorated for his bravery.

His massive fraud was seen as a fall from grace for a man of honour with an impressive war record.

He admitted claiming £29,164 despite being employed as a military historian at Duxford's Imperial War Museum, but said he had been forced into it by his ex- wife.

Disabled Livesey, wept as the judge at Cambridge Crown Court concluded that he had "fallen into the temptation of receiving easy money".

Suspending a 12-month prison sentence for a year, Judge Jonathan Haworth told Livesey, whose "impeccable and impressive" references included one from an Air Commodore: "If ever there was a day that you needed to put that character in the balance and rely on it, today (Thursday, 25 June) is it."

The judge even said he hoped that Livesey, of Springfield Road, Sawston, who was at that time suspended from his employment at the museum, could keep his job.

"I can only express the hope in the light of what I have read about you that you are able to continue your work there," he said.

Livesey originally began claiming incapacity benefit genuinely in 1992 following what he called an army accident which left him with a spinal injury and unable to work.

But in 1999 after years of doing voluntary work and studying for a degree in the history of warfare, he was employed at the museum full- time.

Meanwhile, the self-styled ex-Para continued to pocket incapacity benefit he was not entitled to, the court heard.
Click to expand...

Golden Wattle · Jun 27, 2009

Unfortunately, he's not the first, nor will he be the last.

Lest We Forget.

GW

Keith · Jun 28, 2009

Porkies

Golden Wattle said: ↑

Unfortunately, he's not the first, nor will he be the last.

Lest We Forget.

GW
Click to expand...

Hi All,
Seems he had an inferiority complex because of his actual insignificant service.
However it seems he learnt something from his basic corps training to cook up a story like this.
:nono:
Cheers
Keith

Golden Wattle · Jun 28, 2009

Keith said: ↑

Hi All,
Seems he had an inferiority complex because of his actual insignificant service.
However it seems he learnt something from his basic corps training to cook up a story like this.
:nono:
Cheers
Keith
Click to expand...

Oh Keith,
Your jokes are getting worse.:lol:

Keith · Jun 28, 2009

Jocular deteriation

Golden Wattle said: ↑

Oh Keith,
Your jokes are getting worse.:lol:
Click to expand...

Hi Goldie.

It's me age, I'm from a pre cool era.

:mmph:

Cheers
Keith

Golden Wattle · Jun 28, 2009

Keith said: ↑

Hi Goldie.

It's me age, I'm from a pre cool era.

:mmph:

Cheers
Keith
Click to expand...

Pre Fonzie?
Is there such a thing?

GW:fencing:

Cobber · Jun 29, 2009

Bar$^@rd Wannabes, cannot stand them and I have absolutely no compassion towards them.
They are stealing the valour of every soldier from every nation that has ever fought in a war of any size.

Down here we have ANZMI.com (Aust New Zed Military Imposter's) which have a very long list of names and shames the persons down here lying about service and medals by outing them publicly on their web site, and further if the need arrives.
Check them out, I am sure that the Brits would have something similar and this guy needs to be on page one of Brit wannabe site for time being.
, End rant

Keith · Jun 29, 2009

Pre Fonze

Golden Wattle said: ↑

Pre Fonzie?
Is there such a thing?

GW:fencing:
Click to expand...

Hi Goldie,

I grew up with Tom Mix, Hopalong Cassidy, Gene Autry, Gabby Hayes, Will Hay, Shirley Temple, Lassie, Laurel & Hardy, Buck Rodgers, and many more, at the saturday matinees, who were at that time cleanly, openly, honestly and warmingly entertaining.
I am glad I had the priviledge of watching them.
None of the mix of Hollyhorror, mayhem, sex and violence that we have today, thrust upon, influencing and educating the minds of our younger generation.
What happened to love and honour?
There you've got me all serious again, sorry.

:drum:

Cheers
Keith

Golden Wattle · Jun 30, 2009

Keith, Keith, Keith,
You forgot Zorro, The Lone Ranger, The Green Hornet, Superman & Batman.
Me only 50!
Don't apologise, we need you oldies to keep us whippersnappers in line.
Ha!
Cheers.
Goldie.

Log in or Sign up

Falklands fraud

Kyt Άρης

Golden Wattle New Member

Keith New Member

Golden Wattle New Member

Keith New Member

Golden Wattle New Member

Cobber New Member

Keith New Member

Golden Wattle New Member

Share This Page

Log in or Sign up

Falklands fraud

Thread Tools

Kyt Άρης

Golden Wattle New Member

Keith New Member

Golden Wattle New Member

Keith New Member

Golden Wattle New Member

Cobber New Member

Keith New Member

Golden Wattle New Member

Share This Page

Useful Searches