A Bradford soldier has won a top Army award marking him out as a future leader.

Private Anthony Wilson, of Queensbury, won the Soldiers’ Soldier prize after successfully completing the Combat Infantryman’s Course at the Infantry Training Centre in Catterick.

The accolade is all the more remarkable because the 23-year-old soldier was originally deferred from joining the Army for medical reasons, but after a variety of jobs, he decided to give it another go.

“I am thrilled with it,” the former Hipperholme & Lightcliffe High School student said.

“It is nice to think the rest of the platoon think that way about you, and I am quite proud.

“This is something I have always wanted to do, I have had various jobs but nothing has sparked that much interest and I finally decided to sign up.”

Asked why he thought he won the award, he said: “I think I always got stuck in and never really slacked off. I kept all the work rate up really and always helped out. I like working in a team and try and work together and stuff like that.”

His platoon commander, Captain Ollie Field, said: “This goes to the recruit who his peers think is the best soldier in the platoon, so it is a highly valued award.

“His enthusiasm and determination have resulted in a strong performance on the course. That he just doesn’t concentrate on his own performance but is prepared to help others is demonstrated by the fact that most of the platoon voted him their soldiers’ soldier.”

Private Wilson will receive his award at the pass out parade ceremony at the Infantry Training Centre tomorrow.

Once he has completed a two weeks’ driver training course Private Wilson will go on some well earned leave.

He will then join his new unit, the 1st Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales’s Own) in Germany.

Major David Cunningham, of the Training Centre said he had demonstrated leadership potential.

“Think about what a soldier is like in extreme circumstances with one other person in the trench with them and the Taliban are running towards you,” he said.

“Who do you want next to you?

You want the guy made Soldiers’ Soldier, he is the one you want.”