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War veterans call it “stolen valour”, and they want the Australian government to help put a stop to it by closing a loophole that allows widespread, unregulated sales of replica military medals.
The national office of the RSL, concerned that some people fraudulently present themselves as veterans by wearing medals they have not earned, has been calling fruitlessly for regulation for several years.
Vietnam War veteran Greg Carter calls it a “total disgrace” that anyone can buy replica military medals, right up to Victoria Crosses, without having to produce evidence they are entitled to such awards.
With Anzac Day approaching, he said, “those who achieved medals and badges through meritorious actions during their service career are being dishonoured by persons not entitled, but wearing exact duplicate replicas of those medals and badges”.
There is a booming market in replica medals, led by companies operating online and through military shops and museums.
Carter, who served in Vietnam in 1969 with the 6th Battalion, Royal Australia Regiment, and now lives in far south-west Victoria, said he was shocked to discover a war museum in Albany, Western Australia, was selling medals across the counter without requiring any documentation or evidence of entitlement from the purchaser.
“I have no problem with family members being entitled to replicas of medals awarded to their close relatives,” he said.
“There are established protocols for how they can be worn. But if you can just hand over some money and walk out with a handful of medals, it is likely you don’t understand their significance or what they really represent.”
The Defence Act 1903 states it is a federal offence to misrepresent yourself as a serving or ex-service member of the Australian Defence Force or to wear a service decoration that was not conferred on you.
The Department of Defence also says that in the case of medals lost or damaged, “only the original recipient is entitled to receive replacement medals from Defence Honours and Awards”.
However, the department advises that in the case of deceased veterans, “family members may purchase replicas”.
It goes on to advise that “families typically purchase high-quality replica sets from private, commercial suppliers”.
The loophole is there is no legal requirement on commercial suppliers to establish that anyone ordering replica medals is a family member of a medal recipient.
Carter says he contacted one major supplier and asked if he could buy a Victoria Cross.
“He said no worries, and how many did I want?” he said. “Outrageous.”
The national office of the RSL, in a formal submission to the federal government in 2024, asked that “consideration be given to amend the Defence Act to restrict the sale of replica medals, requiring official documentation to confirm eligibility”.
“The RSL has become aware of more cases of stolen valour due in part to the availability of replica medals,” its submission declared.
“While initially companies provided replica medals to current serving members and veterans as a way of preserving their original medals, a lack of governing legislation or regulation has allowed members of the public to purchase replica medals without formal documentation confirming their eligibility.”
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Tony Wright is an associate editor and special writer for The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via email.From our partners
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