Hotel Near London Apologizes for Turning Away British Soldier

LONDON, Sept. 4 -- A British hotel apologized Thursday to a soldier refused lodging by a desk clerk who told him the hotel had a "no military personnel" policy.

Cpl. Tomos Stringer, 23, was on leave from his army unit in Afghanistan in June when he sought a room on a Sunday night at the Metro Hotel in Woking, southwest of London.

Stringer, who had broken his wrist in Afghanistan and was visiting a wounded comrade in the area, was wearing civilian clothes but presented his military ID to the desk clerk. He slept in his car overnight after he was refused a room, according to his mother. Stringer has since returned to duty in Afghanistan.

"I can't believe this has happened to one of our soldiers in his own country," Gaynor Stringer told the BBC. "We've been to America and their military get treated like heroes over there." She added that it was "terrible" that British soldiers "can't even wear their uniform with pride."

After the incident was reported in the British media Thursday, hotel officials issued a statement saying the clerk had made a "mistake."

"The hotel management has always had an open door policy to all its visitors and guests, including members of the military and armed forces, and will continue to do so," the statement said. "On this particular occasion there was a mistake made by a duty receptionist and the hotel management sincerely apologizes for that mistake."

In a letter of explanation to a member of Parliament who inquired about the incident, a hotel official said the hotel had "experienced some rather serious incidents" involving military personnel. He said desk clerks had been told to be "cautious" about renting rooms to soldiers.

"In almost every case the booking is accepted," the hotel official wrote, according to the BBC. "This process does not appear to have happened in this case, for which I sincerely apologize. We also fully recognize and appreciate the tremendous courage and sacrifices" of service members.

British military officials have often complained that British soldiers do not enjoy the same level of respect afforded to U.S. soldiers in the United States.

On Thursday, the military issued a measured statement.

"We are very surprised that any company would adopt a policy to exclude members of the armed forces who generally enjoy great respect and gratitude for their professionalism, courage and bravery," the statement said. "Our service men and women make great sacrifices on behalf of us all, and they deserve our wholehearted support."

Derek Twigg, a Labor Party member of Parliament and top military adviser in Prime Minister Gordon Brown's government, said: "This case is especially egregious given that the individual concerned was on injury leave from Afghanistan and visiting an injured colleague."

"I am delighted that the armed forces generally enjoy immense respect and gratitude on the part of the nation and that contrary sentiments are rare, though evidently they exist," Twigg said.

Liam Fox, a Conservative Party member of Parliament who specializes in defense issues, called the incident "a disgraceful display of ingratitude."

"The military uniform and ID card should be a source of pride which opens doors for service personnel, not closes them," Fox said.