Lance Sergeant John Hodkinson was awarded the Military Medal in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Italy. 
Recommendation

War Substantive Corporal (Lance Sergeant)

Ref. Map Italy 1/25,000 Sheet IX  SE.

During a Commando Operation on 19 March 1944 Cpl. Hodkinson commanded a Bren team sited in a forward position and subject to heavy Machine Gun fire and enemy sniping. With his Bren Gunner killed he took over the gun and in the space of less than an hour inflicted a minimum of twelve certain casualties on enemy groups infiltrating forward. At one period he was knocked unconscious by the blast from a shell, but on recovering consciousness he immediately re-manned his gun and continued to inflict casualties on the enemy. For the space of ten hours, in an extremely cramped and dangerous position, he continued coolly to fire his gun, breaking up three enemy attempts to dig in a Machine Gun on the high ground before him, and with five of his men lying dead around him. His coolness and complete disregard for his own safety was an inspiration to all ranks.