A WAR hero awarded the Victoria Cross has been honoured by his former school, after its cadet force pupils won a national competition.

Lieutenant commander George Bradford, who was born in Darlington, was part of a raid on Zeebrugge, Belgium, which aimed to stop German U-boats from accessing the open sea in World War One.

He jumped ashore to secure a raiding boat and was killed by German defenders on his 31st birthday, April 23, 1918.

Lt Cdr Bradford was one of eight British servicemen awarded the Victoria Cross that day.

A replica of his VC was presented to Barnard Castle School, which he attended between 1898 and 1900, by Colonel Peter McAllister, of Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, today. (Thursday, October 10)

Col McAllister’s children, Hamish and Charlotte, attend the school and Charlotte is a colour sergeant in Barnard Castle’s Combined Cadet Force.

He inspected the cadet force of pupils aged between 14 and 18-years-old, who have just won the Colts Canter competition.

The challenge saw the cadets compete at various military disciplines against other teams to win the award for the second year running.

Headteacher Alan Stevens said: “Lt Cdr Bradford’s story is an inspirational one and it's one we tell the pupils to show them what pupils from the school have done.

“It’s a very proud day for us and the replica will go on show in the school and the cadets have also done really well.”

Flight Lieutenant James Harris, of RAF Leeming, North Yorkshire, whose children, Thomas, Robert and Claire are pupils of the school, did a fly past in a Hawk jet to mark the event.

Lt Cdr Bradford’s VC is in the Imperial War Museum, London.