'Exceptional contribution' - Meet the Great Yorkshire Show's best soldier
A soldier who has delivered an “exceptional contribution” to the 1st Battalion of the Royal Yorkshire Regiment has been named as Best Soldier, at the GYS.
This year’s honours go to Pte Lewis Andrewartha who has consistently operated well beyond his rank in training, underpinned by his unrelenting work ethic as an Infantry soldier and a fire team commander.
As a physical training instructor, Pte Andrewartha led training for his platoon in preparation for a warfighting exercise, volunteering to lead extra sessions ahead of an arduous overseas exercise.
Pte Andrewartha also completed an ultramarathon in Portugal earlier this year, relying on high levels of personal discipline and motivation for training alongside his work.
He was called upon to act as commander for fire training and Exercise Rhino Storm, despite no formal training, citations said, and performed with a level of composure expected of a soldier with far greater experience.
This supported his selection to attend a junior non-commissioned officer cadre earlier this month. Throughout the exercise, he “exemplified the highest standards of professionalism, motivation and individual discipline”.
The citation concluded: “Pte Andrewartha’s contribution has not been limited to a military output; he is woven into the social fabric of the company and has taken on the informal role of being a mentor to more junior and inexperienced soldiers.
"His personable approach coupled with his unrelenting pursuit of professional betterment has raised the standards of his section, platoon and company.”