What is Chris Ryan's real name?

Answer 1

The entire answer below has been cut-and-pasted verbatim from the discussion page about Chris Ryan on Wikipedia.

Chris Ryan's real name is Colin Armstrong.

In The One That Got Away (1995, ISBN 0712676163), 'Ryan' claimed to have won the Military Medal (MM) for his actions in the Gulf War, and of being notified at the end of June, 1991[1]. Only fifteen MMs were awarded for this operation[2], nine of these to members of the Special Air Service. The London Gazette, lists three as posthumously awarded (including Consiglio and Lane)[3][4], and six awarded to unidentified members of the 'Special Air Service Group', dated 29th June, 1991[5]. In subsequent editions of The London Gazette, through the 1990s, six Military Medal recipients were individually named, and Gazetted for services in the Gulf, and back dated to 29th June, 1991. Five of these six were attributed to The Parachute Regiment, and the remaining one, to The Duke of Wellington's Regiment - neither of which were deployed in the Gulf War. This accounts for all six recipients being the 'unidentified members' of the Special Air Service Group.

In The One That Got Away (1995, ISBN 0712676163), 'Ryan' claimed his parent unit was The Parachute Regiment[6], which leaves five possible candidates for the true identity of 'Ryan'. Of these five, one continues to work for Olive Security Group in Iraq using his real name[7] and the British Army service numbers of two others pre-date that of even Steven Mitchell (24428654)[8], who claims in Bravo Two Zero (1993, ISBN 0552141275) to have served in the British army for two years before 'Ryan' had enlisted[9]. Of the remaining two, British Army service number of one is consistent with the early-mid-1980s, while the other (24496702) is consistent with the late-1970s which is when 'Ryan' claimed to have joined the British Army[10].

By a structured process of elimination, the only remaining MM recipient that could possibly be 'Chris Ryan' is Colin Armstrong.

References

1. Ryan, Chris (1995). The One That Got Away. London: Century. p. 234. ISBN 9780099641612.

2. "List of British Gallantry Awards for Operation Granby"

3. "Honours and Awards" Supplement to The London Gazette of Friday, 29th June 1991. Number 52588, published: 28th June, 1991. Page G10.

4. "Honours and Awards" Supplement to The London Gazette of Thursday, 9th May 1996. Number 54393, published: 9th May, 1996. Page p. 6549.

5. "Honours and Awards" Supplement to The London Gazette of Friday, 29th June 1991. Number 52588, published: 28th June, 1991. Page G12.

6. Ryan, Chris (1995). The One That Got Away. London: Century. p. 91. ISBN 9780099641612.

7. Embassy of the United States - Security Companies (Service in Iraq).

8. "Honours and Awards" Supplement to The London Gazette of Monday, 14th December 1998. Number 55340, published: December 14 1998. Page 13620.

9. McNab, Andy (1993). Bravo Two Zero. Great Britain: Bantam Press. p. 21. ISBN 0552141275.

10. Ryan, Chris (1995). The One That Got Away. London: Century. p. 85. ISBN 9780099641612.