Keighley’s Dylan Ward is following his family tradition by becoming an artilleryman.
The 17-year-old former Oakbank School student has begun training with the Royal Artillery. Three generations of Dylan's family have served in the Royal Artillery and his mother Carmen Johnson was in the Territorial Army.
Dylan, of Broomhill Walk, last month passed out after 42 weeks of basic training at the Army Foundation College in Harrogate.
His intensive training included firing live ammunition, sleeping outdoors, and care of weapons and kit.
He was this week due to go to Larkhill in Salisbury to begin 15 weeks of training for an artillery career, including driving and radios.
He hopes to be chosen for the 4th Regiment of the Royal Artillery.
Dylan said: “It’s a family tradition. All of my family have been in the army so it was a no-brainer.”
Dylan's grandfather and great grandfather were in the Royal Artillery, and his great-great-grandfather fought with the regiment at Flanders during the First World War.
The father of Dylan’s dad, Darren Ward, served with the Duke of Wellington's Regiment, now the Yorkshire Regiment.
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