A former Department of Veterans Affairs official is accused of wearing military medals he was not entitled to at an Anzac Day service at Sandgate in Brisbane earlier this year.
Darryl John Rae, 59, was charged in May with improper use of service decorations after an investigation into the incident. Police allege he wore a number of medals without entitlement at the service, including the Australian Active Service Medal, Iraq Medal, Australian Service Medal, Long Service Medal, Saudi Arabian Medal for the Liberation of Kuwait, and a Timor Leste Solidarity Medal, allegedly misrepresenting his service record.
Rae had previously promoted himself in media as a serving member of the Royal Australian Navy from 1982 to 2003, describing a career that ranged from junior sailor to officer. He also said publicly that he had served both as a reservist and as a full-time servicemen during that period.
An internal letter from RSL Queensland officials, previously reported by The Courier Mail, said Rae allegedly introduced himself to members in 2024 as a serving RAAF wing commander, active investigator with the Australian Defence Force and a former lieutenant commander in the navy.
The letter said “inconsistencies” in Rae’s version of his service led to a “careful and discreet” review, which “gave rise to serious and substantiated doubts” about his history.
On Tuesday, several observers went to court expecting to see Rae appear in person on the charge, but he did not attend. His lawyer, Stephen Kerin, appeared instead and told the court Rae was unwell and unable to be there.
The case is scheduled to return to Sandgate Magistrates Court on July 16.
Rae later resigned from his position with RSL Queensland following the alleged disciplinary investigation. He had also previously been contracted to work for the Queensland government in the Department of Premier and Cabinet under Annastacia Palaszczuk.
