POSED AS MAJOR.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 238, 8 October 1935, Page 10

POSED AS MAJOR.

FOOLED THE ARMY.

INVITED TO CANTEEN. TOO MUCH TO DRINK. (Special.—By Air Mail.) LONDON, September 14. The astonishing story of how a man— Richard Willougliby—posed as a major and fooled the British Army was revealed when, he was sent to prison for three months. Posing as a major, Willoughby drove up to the R.A.M.C. cricket ground at Tidworth, visited various units and was entertained to dinner at the O.T.C. camp. Willouglibv's police record, according to Superintendent Bennett, alleged that he had also posed at various times as an officer of the Canadian Rifles, a doctor (lie was appointed as ship's surgeon in a British liner) and a clergymen. On one occasion he preached a sermon. He bought a North London doctor's practice for £30, resold it for £50 and in order to impress the purchasing doctor he obtained peoplo from the local labour exchange to 'fill his consulting room on the pretence that he wanted a man and woman clerk.

Superintendent Bennett said that Willoughby drove up to the Tidworth cricket ground in a large car. He was dressed in tho uniform of a major of the R.A.M.C. lie wore field boots, a sword, and the Military Cross, the 1914-15 Star, the General Service Medal, the Victory Medal, and the French Croix de Guerre. After watching the cricket for three-quarters of an hour, he asked to be directed to the officers' mess. He told Lieutenant Prince he was Major Willoughby, and had come down from Millbank, where he occupied field officer's quarters, in connection with an outbreak of diphtheria. ,- His manner became objectionable through taking too much to drink while being entertained to din - nor at tho O.T.C. camp," said the superintendent. "He was sent back to the military hospital and put on a sofa, where he went to sleep."

I Doubts arose regarding his identity, and he was taken to the police station. Superintendent Bennett added that search of War Office records had failed to reveal that Willoughby had held a commission in the R.A.M.C., or was entitled to the medals. After six months' imprisonment in Boston, U.S.A. for fraud and impersonating a British officer, he was deported to this country. "On his return he became acquainted with a clergyman," said Superintendent Bennett. "He made love to his daughter, aged 20, and so impressed this man and his family that they agreed he should marry her." Superintendent Bennett added: "At the present time he is carrying on business at Upper Berkeley Street under the style of the London Institute of Therapeutics, which seems to bo "reducing fat peoplo by giving injections."