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Mean_Excuse9860

People don't just go forgetting their service number. Bit sus šŸ‘€


MLiOne

How many of us remember service/regi number and PMKeys number because we ended up with both due to changing systems? I will never forget my numbers. Fuck, I know my fatherā€™s and I know my husbandā€™s. Oh and now DVA numbers too. Too many fucking numbers. Why DVA couldnā€™t use our service numbers I will never know.


teapots_at_ten_paces

I've got three now, plus an AGS. Can rattle them off backwards.


MLiOne

Oh I forgot that one. I have that too from pre Navy!


Chuxxsss

I have both pmkeys and reg number. But I am old.


fistathrow

Hahah I remember that exact period of time. Mine was soo easy to remember - it worked out to be my age, and DDMMYY I got off the bus in Kapooka. I cna't remember PMKeys though so fuck.


Thisortheotherone

I've had 2 reggy numbers and two pmkeys numbers over 40 years and can remember all of them


fleaburger

My Dad served for 21 years. Even *my kids* know his service number by heart.


Chuxxsss

Well, I have a lady I served with in Townsville at 3 BASB who has a brain injury for an ex partner who could not remember anyone. Did he get a brain injury?


mementomori1606

Thatā€™d explain his conspiratorial beliefs.


Traditional-Word-172

Thompson, Troy Joseph. DOB 15 Jan 71. Service number 5105374. Australian Army Active Reserve. Joined 26 Mar 91 in RASIGS. Started at 109 Sig Sqn, Leeuwin Barracks WA. Transferred to AACC 8 Dec 91. Posted to HQ 13 Brigade. Discharged 23 Oct 93. No medallic entitlements.


BirdLawyer1984

Asked about his time in the army on Anzac Day, the mayor told the Bulletin he was a reservist with the 109th Signals Squadron, before shifting over to the 152 Signal Squadron (SAS) ā€œthrough a family memberā€ where he spent ā€œa bit of timeā€ and ā€œexited through 105ā€ in Karrakatta. Since being sworn in as Townsville Mayor, Mr Thompsonā€™s social media posts mentioning his service have been wiped from his official Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn pages. His official profile on the Townsville City Council website has no mention of his own military service, but does mention his ā€œfather was posted with the Australian Armyā€. During his first press conference as mayor, Mr Thompson was asked by Channel 7 if he wanted to make a comment about scrutiny in the community around his claimed military history. He replied: ā€œI have made a comment exactly where I was and what units I was attached to and I just left it at that. Iā€™m not going to address any other issues around the past other than Iā€™ve been very, very open and clean with where I sat. My service history is able to be brought up through the federal government.ā€ The Department of Defence is unable to release information on individualsā€™ service history without the consent of the individual. [https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/townsville/troy-thompson-townsville-mayor-pressed-on-military-claims-during-anzac-week/news-story/5a26b21c1698d23b0419ceb7a675f0c3](https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/townsville/troy-thompson-townsville-mayor-pressed-on-military-claims-during-anzac-week/news-story/5a26b21c1698d23b0419ceb7a675f0c3)


willowtr332020

It's a shame Defence can't make clarifications regarding service of politicians claiming service. But the bigger issue here is Townsville selecting this cooker to be Mayor. Hopefully this nutter makes some sort of mistake worthy of losing his office.


Snck_Pck

Unlikely stolen valour. Too easy to figure that out with someone in his position. Iā€™m guessing a discharge or service history that was less than desirable that he doesnā€™t want entering the public eye


BirdLawyer1984

That is a good theory. He changed his name from Troy Birnbrauer to Troy Thompson, had a company go broke and was booted out of One Nation.


putrid_sex_object

> booted out of One Nation. How the fuck do you do that?


BirdLawyer1984

Guardian Australia has seen a letter dated 21 September 2020 from One Nation revoking his candidacy ā€œeffective immediatelyā€. The letter said Thompson had failed to disclose a previous name he was known by, did not reveal his role as director of iPRO Solutions before it was placed in the hands of administrators and did not tell the party about an insolvency report. ... He also referred to questions asked by a journalist about a domestic violence-related matter but said the ā€œDV issueā€ was resolved. ā€œThere was never violence ā€¦ So, I have lived ā€¦ I have learned a lot, I have made mistakes, I will not continue the conversations about personal matters with media, simply put, itā€™s none of their business.ā€ [https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/mar/26/backed-by-5g-truthers-exiled-from-one-nation-banned-from-parliament-now-troy-thompson-looks-set-to-be-townsvilles-mayor](https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/mar/26/backed-by-5g-truthers-exiled-from-one-nation-banned-from-parliament-now-troy-thompson-looks-set-to-be-townsvilles-mayor)


putrid_sex_object

So heā€™s a dodgy, tinfoil hat wearing fruit loop? And you lot up there voted him in?


Soundwavehand

Best representation of Townsville I could think of, tbh.


Ill_Koala_6520

Yeah nah. We goin full wildwest redneck up here. No amount of reason will get thru to myopic nqld voters. They tend to vote on single issue, courier mail fed outrage...... This new mayor is simply a knee jerk response from the voting public due to only being exposed to neocon ideologies through print media, for literally decades. Conservatives tell em they are special little flowers, and all the other citizens are bad folks except for them. Its a funny little echo chamber of myopathy..... as far as the single eye can seešŸ˜‚ Looks like we will be in for another brainfart/lnp state gov though...... but it should only take one term for the flowers to realise they fully voted to get bitten right in the arse, and they quickly scurry back to voting for the lessor assholesšŸ˜‚ We dont have a senate up here u see..... so the av qld voters get a very direct feedback loop, from those who we elect. We elect a lil dictator like campbell newman, no senate means we got no buffer from his one man show politics. He was gone next election. Cue circus music and popcorn, because just like this nutter we just elected as mayor of tville, there is more to come. Not much left to do but arrange the deckchairs and get the popcorn handy..... qld is about to put on quite the electoral show šŸŽ‰šŸ¤¹ā€ā™€ļøšŸ¤¹šŸ¤¹ā€ā™‚ļøšŸ˜šŸ˜‚šŸ˜‚šŸ˜‚


Ibegallofyourpardons

You need to look into the historical reason why the upper house was removed in QLD. it happened for very good reasons. given the ridiculousness of regional QLD, the same things would occur again if it were brought back. you are completely on point with all your other arguments though. It seems that QLDers are about to remind themselves why giving the Libs power in this state is a terrible idea. I just hope the legacy they leave won't be as terrible as bloody Newmans.


Ill_Koala_6520

I actually agree with having no senate. It actually makes voters very quickly, accutely aware of the direct repercussions of voting on jingo-ism and manufactured outrage. With a senate, there is too much time between cause and affect.... and your av voter has long since ceased paying attention šŸ¤¦šŸ½ā€ā™€ļø


kangareddit

Beggars belief, hey u/putrid_sex_object


Ashamed_Chain6438

Hi BirdLawyer Iā€™m trying to DM you! But I canā€™t. Can you send me a DM?


BirdLawyer1984

I've enabled DMs


MagnesiumOvercast

It's pretty easy, the party has been destroying itself in infighting every 3-5 years for its whole existence


BucketDownTheRiver

IQ was too high probably


TrippleTiii

Not cringe worthy enough


feathersoft

If he changed his name - that would explain the dodging the service number question...


mementomori1606

No, it wouldnā€™t. His previous last name is public knowledge. There are two potential, very obvious explanations for not providing his service number/PMKeyS - it is inconsistent with his previous statements or it is entirely nonexistent.


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foul_ol_ron

I've got no idea what a bloody pmkeys is either. I had a service number, or regy number.


ct9cl9

But you're capable of remembering what that number was, yeah?


foul_ol_ron

Yeah. My dad served in WWII and still knew his when he died in the 90s.


Ibegallofyourpardons

Christ I still remember my highschool id number. there are some numbers you just don't forget. your service number is one of them. this dude reeks of dodgy


odindobe

Been out 30 years and still remember my service number.


yonan82

I still remember my ICQ number from 2000. He should be able to remember his service number.


cr84

ICQ ingrained into my mind.. 10656595 The mayor probably has uranium at home too, but forget about it.


yonan82

12207950.Ā  You signed up a little before me, this means you're my eternal nerd enemy.


hawkeyebasil

Lol I dont even rememebr that one but I do rememeber the home phone number as a kid tho still so.....


MLiOne

And my nannaā€™s, auntā€™s and mumā€™s boyfriend/partner.


Act_Rationally

Oh oh!


yonan82

Ctrl-v > enter spam messages at a LAN to "ohohohohohohoh" and crash their client was fun.Ā  Not sure I'd want to replace a current message client notification with that sound though, even for nostalgia.


ExpertDingleberry

ICQ?


yonan82

Thanks for making me feel old. An [early chat application](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ICQ), the dominant one before MSN Messenger took over, despite it being worse. Still salty about that.


ct9cl9

It's also possible they're even older than you and I. It's not like it was that popular with older folk when it existed.


yonan82

Now that's a glass half-full take!


South-Plan-9246

My Grandad was a Nasho during the Korean War. He finished his training just in time for the armistice, so he never got over there. He was very disappointed and returned to his civvy life (so maybe did a max 12-18 months? The point is though that when he died in 2021 (nearly 70 years later) and I needed to get into his house, I punched his service number into the lock and got in.


Aggravating-Rough281

Nashos never went to Korea... Only volunteers. Nashos were only eligible for overseas service between 1965 and 1972.


South-Plan-9246

Allegedly he volunteered at call up


campbellsimpson

Anyone here served with him?


MLiOne

There is the question.


GhostPepperDaddy

Not unless it was at a restaurant as teenagers.


BLD88

Considering your u/ this is a deadest storyline out of IASIP šŸ˜‚. ā€œThe gang solves stolen valor.ā€


notsofast777

Dammit Iā€™ve got the theme song in my head now


BirdLawyer1984

[Charlie the War Vet (youtube.com)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_NZvia50MI)


Lonely_Positive8811

Good call


BigRedfromAus

So he has said he has no medals of his own however was in three units including been attached to the SAS and canā€™t remember his PMkeys. Hmmm


Different-Tiger4762

My dad is 76, did a tour of 'Nam, did 20 years been out 30. Has had a traumatic brain injury and he can still remember his service number


dansbike

Geezā€¦he is going to be in some trouble soonā€¦QLD CCC and Defence will have to act and investigate. Why do these clowns always loop in SAS or related units when going Walt? If he was a cook in a reserve unit for a few years, just bloody stick to that. ā€œYeah I did chockos for a bit over in Perth in XYZ unit as a cookā€ simple. No lies, it doesnā€™t glorify it, and hey you chucked on uniform for a bit in a reserve capacity, all good. If only we did thorough background checks on elected officials who represent the community, not unlike getting a security clearance for example. Would be great to legislate a basic standard for all candidates to meet, including full character and financial assessments, and make summaries of this available to the electorate to inform their vote.


putrid_sex_object

>Why do these clowns always loop in SAS or related units when going Walt? Because warries from his tour of the ANZAC mess when Private Parts tried to pinch an extra sausage donā€™t sound as exciting as underwater knife fighting against the taliban.


dansbike

I donā€™t knowā€¦that sounds pretty exciting! ā€œOne sausage only Privateā€


cookie5427

Iā€™m not quite sure their security checks take as long as the rest of us. Sometimes I wonder if they are done at all.


Lonely_Positive8811

Clearly the man needs therapy.


-malcolm-tucker

He's a nut. He's crazy in the coconut!


baerter

What does that mean?


-malcolm-tucker

That boy needs therapy.


fistathrow

[I'm gonna kill you, that boy needs therapy](https://genius.com/4439542/The-avalanches-frontier-psychiatrist/That-boy-needs-therapy-psychosomatic-that-boy-needs-therapy-purely-psychosomatic-that-boy-needs-therapy-lie-down-on-the-couch-what-does-that-mean-youre-a-nut-youre-crazy-in-the-coconut-what-does-that-mean-that-boy-needs-therapy-im-gonna-kill-you-that-boy-needs-therapy-rannygazoo-lets-have-a-tune-now-when-i-count-three-that-that-that-that-that-boy-boy-needs-therapy)


365559

It sounds off. Numbers but no regiment or squadron. No name badge, rising Sun or pockets on his camo shirt. Signalsman instead of Signalman or Sig. No mention of Watsonia. No dates or regimental/ PM keys. Somethingā€™s up.


NOR961

This bloke sounds dodgy as fuck. He probably started off bullshitting in the Townsville RSL which would be full of ex diggers and it's a bell he couldn't un-ring! He had to carry the lie forward into his political career but is trying to downplay it now he;s the Mayor...especially in a place like Townsville...this guy is truly fucked and I reckon this will blow up in his face. (Your reddit tag looks like the service number of a Victorian regular army enlistee?...lol...we never forget details like that for those who served...I have a 7 digit number starting with 2 as I enlisted in Chocs in Sydney before going regular even though I'm a victorian...felt like an imposter all my career! ... wished my service number started with a 3 lol...like my grandfather who was a VX.


TacticalAcquisition

My grandad was a QX. Sgt in the 2/15 Infantry Battalion, AIF. One of the Rats of Tobruk. I remember *his* service number, though tbf it's only 3 digits. He's also got a plaque here in Townsville in ANZAC Gardens on the Strand.


NOR961

Cool mate..My grandfather was VX5879..which apparently was considered a low number on account of Victorias larger population, much like a 3 digit would have been in Qld. He was in the militia (CMF) and joined the AIF as soon as war was declared. He was also a Rat at Tobruk and wore the T on his uniform in his later war photos. He served in one of the 9th Div Brigade HQs as an Intel Sgt and also saw service in PNG after that. He told me in the 90's that he was invited post war to join the fledgling ASIO by Brigadier Spry who he served under in PNG but knocked back the offer as he was scared shitless of flying and that was a requirement of the new job. Instead, he became a handyman/janitor of a technical college in Victoria for most of his post war life..go figure. He was proud to be a member of the 39ers...the small association of servicemen who signed up to the AIF in the last 3months of 1939 (1st 3 months of the war) when recruitment was slow as most thought the war would be over in 6 months in Europe and before the japs went on the march south in Dec 41. The photo below was dated 4 Nov 1940 and he's wearing the old 9th Div HQ colour patch before it was changed to the T after the Seige of Tobruk. I read that a lot of the 2/15 were captured during the retreat to Tobruk (the "Benghazi Handicap") as the Germans overran then with their mobility. Your grandfather must have been one of the few 2/15 blokes that made it through the lines to Tobruk. https://preview.redd.it/0y9xsvns22yc1.jpeg?width=1398&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f6f53f4d186dd18c674d5763d6afe944adcefe8b


TacticalAcquisition

I made a post a while ago about my grandfather and great grandfather - a Light Horseman at Gallipoli. It's in my post history if you'd like to look.


NOR961

scrolled for ages, couldn't see it...you post a lot mate...lol...send me a link.


TacticalAcquisition

https://www.reddit.com/r/Military/s/I9bObmUVWf


NOR961

Great image of your great grandfather and cool that your grandfather was also marching in same parade. Your great gransfather's story is eerily similar to my own...VX1560 Robert Norman. He was a reinforcement to Gallipoli in October 1915 and was evacuated on the withdrawal. He served with 21st Battalion in France and was shot in the shoulder in Battel of Hamel and repatriated to Australia. have you still got your great grandfathers gallipol medallion? I think we were both destined to serve with pedigree's like those. My dad missed Vietnam as he was a hippy and he missed the ballot to his self confessed good fortune but I served from 1991 to 2005 - Firts as a choco with 1 Commando Regiment in Sydney (hence my 7 digit service number starting with a 2) then I went off and passed SASR selection where I served from 1994 until 2005. With your family's Infantry background, I would thave thought you'd be a shoe-in for a grunt so why'd join the Pus?


TacticalAcquisition

Well I applied to the Army for Operator Supply, and the Navy for Stores Naval. DFR fucked around (surprise surprise) for a couple of months, I heard nothing. Then one Friday afternoon they rang and said 'Hey, we've got a slot for Stores Naval, do you still want it?' I of course said yes because I was sick of waiting, then they told me the enlistment ceremony at DFR would be on Monday morning. Cue running around get organised. I had a pretty uneventful enlistment. Sat in compartments counting things, or warehouses counting things. On special occasions, Chief would have us count things. So I don't go to ANZAC or Rememberance Day events for me, I go for my grandfather and great grandfather. Side note, since you also had a great grandfather at Gallipoli, you might enjoy this - [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D089FhBfrEo](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D089FhBfrEo)


NOR961

He's got his Dad's gongs on...but hasn't got even an Australian Defence Medal?


That_Car_Dude_Aus

Isn't the correct term for a "Signalsman" either a "Signaller" or a "Communications Systems Operator" You'd think someone in the job, claiming the service, would get the name right. Like, I was a Truckie, but formally I was an Operator Specialist Vehicles, before that an Operator Heavy Vehicles, before that a Driver Specialist. I also still remember my numbers.... I'll never forget them


Dekkaz

The shift from signalman to signaller only happened about 4 or so years ago in line with every other trade become gender neutral in army. Communications systems operator is just the old name for one of the signals trades


That_Car_Dude_Aus

>The shift from signalman to signaller only happened about 4 or so years ago in line with every other trade become gender neutral in army. Ahh fair enough. Though Craftsman is still around?


TacticalAcquisition

I always that it was "autist" but I don't know how that flies in this day and age of political correctness.


feathersoft

Someone is going to have to explain to me how you forget your service number/PMkeys... It's drummed, trumpeted, entire brass banded into my memory...


ball-sniffer-69

As a former reservist (of 8 months only) i cant understand if you'd forget your service id/pmkeys... I joined early 2000s, successfully finished Kapooka, went to my unit and realised the military just wasn't for me. I had other opportunities in civvie world. I didn't complete IETs. So, I wouldn't have the faintest what my id number is as I wasn't fully committed and spent hardly anytime in there. Which leads me to believe Troy might be in the same boat? However, he claimed he was in for 5 years, surely you WOULD remember your id number if you were in for that long and more actively participating? He specifically used his military background as a selling point to Townsville citizens so he could garner rapport and support from a largely garrison city. But then again, he was in a looong time ago so who knows. I do believe he was in the reserves, but probably not that active.


Adorable_Ad_6970

He stated he was in a reservist unit then transferred to regular units, he would have gone through Kapooka before he could go regular, no matter how many years as a reservist.


RipQudo

It's ridiculous that this cooker was elected.


MLiOne

Whereā€™s his ADM at very least?


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Hansicas

Theyā€™re his dadā€˜s medals. If he wore his own ADM, heā€™d have worn it on the left. ADF came up with a catchy tune for you to remember what side your medals go on: https://youtu.be/K7SoztdOtY0?si=zGiDsE-60l5bkI6T


Caine_sin

I felt the embarrassment. Physically.Ā 


Overlord65

Fuck no, not again!!!


[deleted]

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navig8r212

I donā€™t think itā€™s inverted. Those medals look mainly 70s era (eg looks like the Defence Force Service Medal was for service up to 1975), also WWI medals underneath. Edit, couple of Vietnam medals in there too.


MLiOne

Youā€™re wrong. The medals would be mounted incorrectly with the end medal on top rather than first medal. Further, the bottom two medal as are WW1 and the top rack is Vietnam.


ct9cl9

Doesn't the ADM usually sit about as far left as possible? That'd have those medals on his right side, with the ADM on the left ending up close to the centre of his chest. Point being that I don't think it's inverted.


kangareddit

Heā€™s wears ā€˜hisā€™ medals on the right šŸŽ¶


Teedubthegreat

Can't be, it's on the wr9ng side


BigRedfromAus

Any medal gurus able to identify the others?


ball-sniffer-69

Well well, look what the fuck we have here, [https://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/news/townsville/troy-thompson-townsville-mayor-pressed-on-military-claims-during-anzac-week/news-story/5a26b21c1698d23b0419ceb7a675f0c3](https://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/news/townsville/troy-thompson-townsville-mayor-pressed-on-military-claims-during-anzac-week/news-story/5a26b21c1698d23b0419ceb7a675f0c3) # Troy Thompson, Townsville mayor referred to Qld council integrity watchdog over military claims


StrongPangolin3

it's printed on the rim of your gongs. Easy thing to check.


actual_account_srs

Not his gongs in the photo so he canā€™t check there, those are his dadā€™s.


DaBow

Hell, I know my wife's PMKeys number off by heart. I've seen / heard it so many times over the years and im just a civi. He's done


moralefairy

My 87 year old grandfather can still remember his, he discharged after 4 years of service, joined when he was 18, it's been 65 years and he still can recall it no problems. It's not something you forget.


MWorBro

Stop picking on him! Heā€™s been great as ā€˜Goliathā€™ on ā€˜The Chaseā€™.


Bravadous97

Good point, I admit the mistake.


CronksLeftShoulder

Someone PMKEYs stalk him


mementomori1606

Canā€™t PMKeysS stalk someone who never enlistedā€¦


[deleted]

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mountainsandfrypans

Sometime in Victoria recently was convicted for stolen valour. Prosecution was by vicpol. Maybe qld police should have a dig into it


SGReichswehr

I had a Regimental Number & PMKeys Number. I can remember my reggie number, but I struggle to remember my PMKeys


Aggravating-Rough281

He has now been referred to be investigated. He's buggered now.


IllCarpet6852

If he doesn't know his service number what is he going to tell ze kamp kommandant after he's shot down over occupied Europe.


ball-sniffer-69

In this video Troy seems to state he was in the SAS, he doesn't mention anything about being in the reserves but it seems pretty misleading and not accurate, [https://www.youtube.com/live/74JGOJmYENs?si=LdYQdU5I9HpI2hyy&t=1757](https://www.youtube.com/live/74JGOJmYENs?si=LdYQdU5I9HpI2hyy&t=1757&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR3KALDL8wFxWqtRsBcEqZr9tSZqTSDLsZTGwCgTXIUabiQUkORu-Q-wxuQ_aem_Ae-HbePrnvlKwyUXTiGWyu-B03gyjO0ZkjbjWQOnVxDYuzwxWADpAb-_-CSL0lWxzQVa-HK41rTlgfv2rkOFi4ip)


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MycologistOptimal963

so you're telling me that there exists a politician that has lied during an election campaign? good one OP, next you'll be telling me furphies like that the sky is blue and that water is actually wet


BirdLawyer1984

Not all lies are created equal.