Age: 79

Regiment/length of service: Royal Artillery, Royal Military Police – 24 years 7 months

Medals: General Service Medal (Malay Peninsula), Long Service and Good Conduct Medal

In-Pensioner since: 30th November 2009

Born: Sheffield

Thomas joined the army at 15 and rebelled against being forced to fill a vacancy in his home area. He instead joined the artillery but found himself stuck on the rock of Gibraltar for three tedious years. Tom found his way off by joining the SIB (the CID side of things) and soon found himself in Hong Kong, accompanied by his new wife, looking into matters of theft, fraud, forgery and other serious crimes. After a few years John transferred to the regular RMP. Tom is also cartoonist, a lover of words and an excellent singer. "I used to be in a choir when I was a boy," he says. "I was a military trumpeter!" "I also like poetry," he confesses, "all of which didn't do well for my image as a warrant officer in the Military Police!"