A junior soldier from Devizes received a top prize when he graduated from the Army Foundation College in Harrogate last week.

Jack Dowse, 17, got the Neville Memorial Trophy as the leading Royal Armoured Corps student on the 42-week course.

He joined the Army Foundation College in March last year for a course combining vocational education and military training.

“I feel proud,” said Jack, a former student at Devizes School. “It’s a great sense of achievement and my mum is proud as well.”

On the course, Jack gained a Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and National Vocational Qualifications in Key Skills at level two. He also received training in scuba diving and survival techniques.

More than 81 per cent of the junior soldiers who joined the 42-week course were successful, marching off the parade square to the second phase of their training in the Infantry, Royal Artillery and Royal Armoured Corps.

“The prize awarded to Jack is the culmination of many months of hard work,” said Lieutenant Colonel Oz Lane, the college Commanding Officer.

The General Officer Commanding 3 UK Division, Major General James Cowan CBE DSO, inspected the 450-strong parade and presented Junior Soldier Dowse with his award.