The Rise of "Valour Theft" — When Service Is Denied, Not Faked.
We are all familiar with the concept of Stolen Valour — a disgraceful practice where individuals fabricate military careers, wear unearned medals, or claim ranks and tours of duty they never served. The outrage is justified. Wearing a uniform without earning it is a betrayal of trust and an insult to those who’ve risked their lives in genuine service. However, there is a new and equally toxic phenomenon emerging online, one that is less discussed but just as damaging: the denial of genuine service. Let’s call it Valour Theft — not by those who never served, but by those who seek to erase and ridicule the service of others.
A case in point: Danny West vs. Matt Taylor.
In a tirade posted across YouTube comments, Danny West writes about Matt Taylor:
“Phase one drop out. Got himself kicked out. He was getting bullied. He couldn't afford to buy himself out, so he got a dishonourable discharge for bringing the army into disrepute for drug offences.”
At first glance, it reads like just another internet insult. But this isn’t harmless trolling — it’s a deliberate attempt to rewrite someone’s history, smear their reputation, and undermine their service. It’s an inversion of Stolen Valour, where instead of claiming service that didn’t happen, the aggressor works to deny service that did.
The truth, by contrast, is openly documented. Matt Taylor, never one to shy away from the facts of his life, provides full disclosure in his autobiographical book Taylor Tales, available for free download on Lulu.com. In it, he recounts his time in the British Army, his training, and, ultimately, his dismissal — not for dishonourable reasons, but for sending cannabis to his terminally ill mother in a misguided but compassionate attempt to relieve her pain. For that action, he was reduced in rank and dismissed. Not dishonourably. Not for bullying. Not for failing training.
This nuance is important. Because truth matters — especially when it comes to service.
When someone deliberately spreads misinformation to devalue or rewrite the story of another's military record, they are not just engaging in petty internet drama — they are stealing that person's valour. They are chipping away at the dignity of service, replacing sacrifice with mockery, and truth with slander.
Danny West presents himself as an ex-soldier, allegedly having served 17 years in the army and claiming the rank of Staff Sergeant. Yet, he offers no evidence to support his status — no regimental history, no documentation, no verification. Meanwhile, Matt Taylor has shown his warrant card, his army number, and his pass-out photo from training as a Royal Military Policeman. The documentation exists. The record is public. The facts are verifiable.
So what do we call it when a person denies the lived military service of another? When they take to social media to dismiss, rewrite, and ridicule someone’s contribution — not because it's fake, but because they want to humiliate or discredit them?
It is time we coined the term: Valour Theft.
Valour Theft is not about pretending to be a hero — it’s about stripping someone else of their heroism. It’s a bitter act of erasure, often motivated by envy, spite, or personal vendetta. And it is as damaging as Stolen Valour itself. Both rely on lies. Both disrespect the armed forces. Both undermine the sacrifices made in uniform.
In the age of online personas and digital vendettas, it is vital we respect facts and honour service where it’s due. Matt Taylor served. He trained. He passed. He was dismissed for an act he openly confesses and takes responsibility for. He owns his truth. Danny West, and others like him, would do well to respect it.
Because denying someone’s military service is not just a lie — it’s a theft of something sacred.
And we call that Valour Theft.