| Surname: | Hodsman |
| Initials: | T M |
| Rank: | Warrant Officer I |
| Army Number: | 22953551 |
| Notes: | RMP. Tony Michael Hodsman. Extract from the Birmingham Daily Post. RSM refused to serve in Ulster A Regimental Sergeant Major is to be discharged today, two years short of his pension, because he refused to serve in Northern Ireland. Warrant Officer Tony Hodsman who has been in the Royal Military Police for 21 years said the health of his wife and child, age eight, who suffers from a nervous complaint prevented him from accepting a two year posting. Lord Brayley, Under Secretary of State for the Army, will consider a letter about the case today from Mr Anthony Buck, Conservative MP for Colchester. Warrant Officer Hodsman age 39, holder of the British Empire Medal, said last night that he feared an Ulster posting would kill his wife, who suffers from asthma. "The Army is throwing me out and my whole career is going down the drain. he said. He claimed that the Army had disregarded a medical certificate from the family doctor advising that he should not be sent to Ulster. Warrant Officer Hodsman will lose his £20 a week pension and receive a £1,000 gratuity instead of £2,000. Mr Buck his MP said "I have a great deal of sympathy with Mr Hodsman and I am hopeful that the Army will allow him to serve out his two years in Colchester." A Ministry of Defence spokesman said later : "Only two days ago the Under Secretary of State for the Army decided that there was no reason for him to alter his previous decision, an Warrant Officer Hodsman must be discharged. Extract from Birmingham Daily Post, 10/7/1974. RSM given reprieve by Army. A regimental sergeant major who was due to be discharged from the Army because he refused to go to Ulster was given a reprieve last night. But Army chiefs want him to promise that if the need arises he will be prepared to accept a posting in the province. WO Tony Hodsman age 39, said "no" to Ulster because he feared it would kill his asthmatic wife. Their eight year old son also has a nervous complaint. He was to have been discharged at Midnight last night after 21 years in the Royal Military Police and two years short of his pension Earlier yesterday, an Army spokesman said he would be able to stay on "indefinitely" at his Army home. WO Hodsman, who holds the British Empire Medal would have lost his £20 a week pension. His gratuity would have been cut from £3,000 to £1,000. But for his MP Mr Antony Buck (Colchester) himself a former Defence Minister, stepped in. He contacted Lord Brayley Under Secretary of State for the army and urged a reprieve in view of the RSM's service record. |
Decoration Record: | |
| Decoration: | British Empire Medal (London Gazette: 42683 Page: 4333 June 2, 1962) |
| Citation: | Queen's Birthday Honour. 22953551 Cpl Tony Michael Hodsman, Hong Kong Provost Company, Corps of Royal Military Police. 18 Sept. 60 - 1 Nov 61. Anti-Vice Duties.Citation: Corporal Hodsman took over the Ant-Vice duties in Hong Kong on 18th September 1960. At this time the average number of fresh venereal cases was 12.4 a week. He set bout the task of reducing the Venereal Disease rate with resourcefulness, intelligence, integrity, and an immense amount of hard work and long hours. During his thirteen months on this assignment he has given up much of his spare time and all his leave. Through his efforts, his dealing with the military and civilian clinics, his tactful and firm handling of Bar and Brothel owners and managers he has managed to achieve a lever of cooperation which is quite remarkable - especially as his visits are without open Government sanction. The results of his long hours of work are that the weekly Venereal Disease rate has dropped from 12.4 cases to 6.6 cases a week by October 1961.. Commanding Officers pay tribute to the sterling achievement of this young Corporal who has been directly responsible for reducing the incidence rate of Venereal Disease by 50% over the last 13 months. Corporal Hodsman has been thirteen months absolute devotion to duty which has resulted in a great improvement to the health and welfare of the serviceman stationed in Hong Kong.Recommended by: OC. Hong Kong Pro Coy. Brig. Hong Kong & Kowloon Garrison. Lt/Gen. GOC Hong Kong. |