Cadet Corporal Alex Will was awarded the Conabor Sword after a vote by officers of the contingent. Conabor mean ‘I will try’ which is what the St Benedict’s CCF stands for.
Cadet wins school's prestigious award
A Year 11 pupil at St Benedict’s School in Ealing has been given the school CCF’s most prestigious award.
Hussain Said, CCF School Staff Instructor, said: “Alex is an outstanding junior NCO who ran a whole term’s training for Year 10 cadets, preparing them for their Advanced Infantry certificate practical test in the field.”
“He also performed very well on a Junior NCO training course run last October by a consortium of local schools. He volunteered for the challenging Exercise Winter's Bite IV in February this year where, in freezing and wet conditions, senior cadets conducted a series of patrols and attacks. Command roles were rotated, and he was allocated the post of second-in-command for the final attack, storming a warehouse complex to rescue a hostage. He proved to be a decisive and determined leader who urged his fire team on to success. He exemplifies all the values which the CCF stands for.”
The Conabor Sword was presented to the St Benedict’s contingent by the Ecobians, the old boys of Ealing College, in gratitude for their help in re-dedicating their war memorial in November 2014. All cadets of any age, either from St Benedict's or Cardinal Wiseman School, are eligible for the award, except for the Cadet Head of the CCF, who receives a separate prize.
The winner receives a full-size sword at the presentation, but takes away a miniature copy engraved with his or her name.