Fake World War II Veteran, Arthur ‘Rex’ Crane, Brisbane, QLD. Photo: Dean Saffron
An elderly man, Arthur “Rex” Crane who posed as a World War II veteran for 22 years was uncovered of his deceit last year by a military historian, Lynete Silver.
84-year-old man from Brisbane who held a position of the president of Ex-POW Association of Australia claimed $689,491 in war pension and disability payments. Mr Crane pleaded guilty in Brisbane District Court to defrauding the government and obtaining financial benefits by deception.
He was sentenced to jail for four years, but will be released on a good behaviour bond after six months. Court also ordered Crane to repay $413,869 which is still outstanding and for which he is not entitled for.
Fake war veteran Arthur Crane even claimed to have been involved in a volunteer guerrilla force against the Japanese at the age of 15 and said he was captured and tortured by the Japanese and sent to work on the Thai-Burma Death Railway. But in fact he had never served in the military.
