A SIXTH former at King's College, Taunton, has received an award for his entry on US Army Lieutenant General Harold G Moore in the National Army Museum's annual essay writing competition.

In addition to Thomas B studying A-level history, philosophy and business studies at King’s, he entered the junior category of the competition during the Easter holiday.

Thomas was the youngest writer in the category, and he and his family recently attended the award ceremony at the National Army Museum to receive his runner-up prize.

The Centre for Army Leadership and National Army Museum run the annual competition and this year the brief was to write 2,000 words on leadership and emotional intelligence.

Entrants were asked to draw on their personal experience of leadership or think of someone that has inspired them, either in their own life or a historical role model.

Thomas crafted a piece about General Moore, whose fortitude saved most of his outnumbered battalion in 1965 in the first major battle between American and North Vietnamese troops, and was immortalised in a book and a movie starring Mel Gibson.

Thomas found him inspirational for his commitment to equality and the support he gave to the people under his command.

Thomas is one of a number of pupils from military families at King’s, which has a proud tradition of military history.

He started his educational journey as a boarder at King’s Hall School and has continued through to King’s College where he will sit his A-levels next year.

Oliver Ridley, head of Sixth Form, said: “It is a great pleasure to work with young people who have the enthusiasm and courage to enter these competitions, and the ability to be selected for prizes.

"I am very proud of Thomas and delighted his abilities have been recognised.”