Award for Yorkshire soldier who left steel industry behind

Private Shaun Blythe, 31, of the Yorkshire Regiment, was presented with the Yorkshire Agricultural Society Cup yesterday by the society’s chairman, Simon Theakston.

Born in Sheffield and a keen Sheffield Wednesday supporter, Pte Blythe worked as a steelworker in the city before joining the Army in August of 2014.

He said: “I had always wanted to join the Army – I thought I was fit enough and young enough, so I thought I would give it a go. It’s the best thing I have ever done.

“I feel very proud to have received this trophy but there are so many other lads who could have won it. It’s a real privilege to have won.”

Having joined the Army in 2014, Pte Blythe was deployed to Ukraine on five successive Infantry Short Term Training Teams in just five months.

The deployments were particularly demanding for the junior ranks, who were often tasked to work long days in physically arduous conditions.

Throughout his time in Ukraine, commanding officers described Pte Blythe as exceptional in fulfilling his Demonstration Section duties, a vital part of the instruction process and committed and skilful in his drills, displaying the quality of the British soldier to the highest possible standard.

Pte Blythe has been a key player in the Battalion football team, in a season that saw them win the Infantry and Divisional Cup and achieve runners-up in the Army Cup. 

He has also recently passed the Junior Non-Commissioned Officers’ Cadre, a demanding seven-week course which is a prerequisite for promotion to Lance Corporal. 

It is the fifth year that the Yorkshire Agricultural Society Cup has been presented to the Best Soldier in the Yorkshire Regiment (1st Battalion Yorkshire Regiment). Last year’s winner was Private Bradley Addison, from Leeds, who was nominated by the Yorkshire Regiment.