Talk:Pen Farthing

This page needs more sources and a better writing style, especially the "Military Service" section.

Shield maiden
In classical times a while maiden was a female warrior I think calling Kaisa one means she is another veteran.RichardBond (talk) 05:11, 19 August 2021 (UTC)


 * Yes, certainly extremely unlikely to be a female warrior from Scandinavian folklore and mythology. Have changed it to 'who is from Norway' (lacking a source, though!) SuzannaQ (talk) 09:39, 22 August 2021 (UTC)

Military service sources
No sources are given for the military service section. The entire article appears to have been written and regularly updated by the user User_talk:Nowzad, who I suspect is Pen Farthing. NPOV. SuzannaQ (talk) 10:05, 22 August 2021 (UTC)


 * Yes I wrote it as the previous effort about my military service had me serving in places I had never been. I know my military service which could have been verified had anyone asked. But now it has been deleted and says absolutely nothing about me. Brilliant. 80.47.110.223 (talk) 18:43, 18 May 2022 (UTC)

Heavily biased article
Speaks of none of the significant controversy around recent events. Majority of references are repetitively pitched and reads like a press release rather than the quality of Wikipedia article one would expect. Such controversy I describe has marked media statements from MP's and even the UK Defence Secretary. Article current form flies in the face of WP:NPOV Inhishonour (talk) 19:15, 28 August 2021 (UTC)


 * Feel free to add the material you believe is missing from the article @Inhishonour providing that it is reliably sourced. The Guardian is reporting here on criticism of Farthing that it says is in The Sunday Times but the original article is behind The Times' paywall. JezGrove (talk) 23:45, 28 August 2021 (UTC)


 * I've made some effort towards this. I wonder if this mentioned "controversy" should really be forked into its own section?. I'd hate for genuine good will to be blighted by newsworthiness - but equally genuine concerns not diminished by such charitable efforts. Inhishonour (talk) 13:47, 29 August 2021 (UTC)
 * Yes this whole page now reflects the complete fake news that surrounded Operation Ark - not one mention of the good we did for 15 years in Afghanistan - promoting women's rights and preventing rabies or example.
 * The whole article is based on fake news articles.
 * I was not escorted into Kabul airport by British troops - Operation Pitting had ended when I managed to get into the airport via a Taliban controlled gate on the 2nd attempt. Ben Wallace confirmed this at a select committee hearing.
 * It was 67 staff who were authorised to travel. No-one was not authorised. And the government never gave authority for animals to travel - it was my flight!!!!
 * The staff were stopped from entering the airport by the Taliban.
 * My flight was privately paid for by our donors. And it was not just £200,000 raised.
 * The staff our charity then transported to Pakistan and they were then flown to London where they are now undergoing resettlement and being housed.
 * My charity still operates in Kabul.
 * No animals were put before people - this has been proved and discredited hundreds of times.
 * The charity commission has NEVER launched an investigation into our charity - that was just made up by the papers.
 * No animals suffered as a result of travelling as they travelled as any animal does when going between countries. The animals that died was due to the tear gassing we endure getting into the airport.
 * I have suffered constant abuse and depression from the last 8 months of these lies. And Wikipedia just continues to support it. Thanks a lot.
 * Oh yeah... reference; ME - I was there. 80.47.110.223 (talk) 18:48, 18 May 2022 (UTC)
 * Apologies for this being a somewhat belated response. We do need to base our articles on what (so-called) reliable sources have written.  If you have written and published pieces that are critical of points made in those sources, of course we can reflect them here.  If you think that points in this article are clearly wrong, we can modify them - for example, rather than saying "Farthing did xxxx", sourced to the Daily xxxx - we could say something like "The Daily xxxx claimed that Farthing did xxxx...".  Where you say that claims have "...been proved and discredited hundreds of times...", it would help if you provided links to the sources that support your position.  The best approach - rather than you, or your associates or friends trying to edit the article yourselves - would be to go through, and act upon, the guidance at Contact us/Article subjects.  Ghmyrtle (talk) 09:17, 6 June 2022 (UTC)
 * I was there! None of this page is correct. I am not from Tiverton. I was a Colour Sergeant...I could go on.
 * And I have not spoken to any newspapers in 2023 yet there was a post on this page stating I was evacuated again...
 * I took myself to the airport and boarded a flight of my own accord. Who would have evacuated me? There is no embassy support in Afghanistan at this time. Can we please actually post some facts instead of quoting from the made up media. This is page is totally affecting my personal mental health. It is completely made up. 92.17.99.173 (talk) 18:57, 13 January 2023 (UTC)
 * Hello, I am a recent changes patroller. As noted by others above, Wikipedia cannot rely on accounts claimed to be first-hand unless these have been published by a reliable source. How is anyone supposed to verify such an account?  –Skywatcher68 (talk) 19:47, 13 January 2023 (UTC)
 * So anybody who makes anything up will have it become fact as long as a newspaper then quotes it for an article?
 * Insane.
 * As I said I have not spoken to any newspapers yet you are now stating I was evacuated again in 2023. I was a Colour Sergeant. I am not from Tiverton. I am from Dovercourt in Essex - several hundred miles away. I am collecting evidence to take Wikipedia to court. I cannot take the mental abuse that Wikipedia seems intent on putting me through. 82.26.86.50 (talk) 21:33, 28 August 2023 (UTC)
 * Thank you wikipedia for absolutely destroying my reputation with this ill researched and completely fabricated page about me - a real living person.
 * I am still beyond distraught about this page. But unless I sue wikipedia there is nothing I can do.
 * I still receive abuse emails to this day due to the 'fact' on this page. 82.26.86.50 (talk) 15:06, 10 December 2023 (UTC)
 * Have you followed up the guidance I gave you in June 2022? There are clear courses of action open to you, but they do not include trying to edit the article yourself.  Ghmyrtle (talk) 16:03, 11 December 2023 (UTC)

Rewrite required
This article reads like a fan page. It should be completely rewritten GeorgieJanet (talk) GeorgieJanet (talk) 01:55, 29 August 2021 (UTC)

Content duplication
I'm observing duplication across pages for the named individual and the registered charity. It might be healthy to decouple one from the other? Also of note for later edits is the UK registration of the charity is under the name "NOWZAD" and the US registration of the NFP "Nowzad Dogs" could affect its own page. Inhishonour (talk) 13:43, 29 August 2021 (UTC)

Article overhaul
Various writers/editors (see above) have noted the article read like a novel, did not cover the controversy around his actions, and was repetitive. I have edited in view of these comments but I still think the following are problems we should work on: 1. It's now possibly too negative - we should add some sense that he received at least some popular support and possibly more on the success or otherwise of his books??? 2. There is nothing about him as a person. I searched extensively and there are few/no published sources that reveal basic biographical details. This is improbable given the amount of coverage he received. There are conflicting reports about where he was born, no birthdate, no schools, parents, dates when he joined the marines... no career other than the marines. Can anyone find and add such basic information? 3. I have sectioned to make it easier to read. It probably needs a good copy edit with even more repetition and flowery language taken out (you get blind to it after a bit).SandrinaHatman (talk) 20:15, 26 January 2022 (UTC)


 * Re point 2: I found a Companies House page for him. Also possible military references to 2 different people (Paul J Farthing/Douglas Paul Farthing) in the London Gazette, but nothing to confirm whether that's him without a full name or DOB. A John Paul Farthing was declared bankrupt in 2007 . Hopefully this is of use to someone (I'm new to references, sorry for any errors!). SuzannaQ (talk) 00:41, 29 January 2022 (UTC)
 * Yes Point One is me. But the rest is not me and I was definitely not in the Parachute Regiment - I was a Royal Marine..... 92.17.99.173 (talk) 19:01, 13 January 2023 (UTC)
 * this is Pen Farthing - wow - at least somebody actually realises that this page is just negative. Why don't you ask me for the details? And no I am not Paul J Farthing or Douglas Farthing...... Just ask! 92.17.99.173 (talk) 18:59, 13 January 2023 (UTC)


 * Apr 2000: "Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Service: 24686134 Sergeant Douglas Paul Farthing, The Parachute Regiment."
 * Jan 2002 "The Parachute Regiment: 24686134 Farthing, DP, SSgt, Para, 4 October 2001
 * Oct 2002: "MBE: To be Additional Members of the Military Division of the Queen’s Commendation for Bravery: 24686134 Colour Sergeant Douglas Paul Farthing, The Parachute Regiment"
 * Jan 2021: "The following promotions have been made to date 1st Jan. 2021: Sub Lieutenant to Lieutenant: FARTHING, Paul J. (D211432H)"