Chris initially joined the TA as he left school due to personal issues.

Joining D Company, 4th Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment as an infanteer in July 2005, he completed his training in January 2006. He immediately volunteered for Operations in Iraq and on the 4th November 2006 he deployed with 1st Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment to Iraq. On arriving in Iraq he was thrown in the deep end and placed with a team that patroled in snatch vehicles around the Basra area.

Whilst returning from a routine patrol on the 9th February 2007, Chris’s snatch vehicle hit a roadside bomb, culminating in 7 soldiers being injured. Sadly, and even after extensive treatment at the roadside by his fellow colleagues, the driver Private Luke Simpson died from his injuries.

The vehicle’s commander Captain Ibrar Ali, Private Paul Davey and Chris all sustained serious injuries. Unfortunately, Chris lost his right leg just below the knee.

He was casevacued initially to Camp Buka, an American Forces Camp, where he received extremely good treatment from Lieutenant Colonel Moody.

He was subsequently transferred to a UK Forces Field Hospital. During his stay there, Chris said, “The welfare system by the Red Cross was phenomenal.”

Not long afterwards, Chris was repatriated back to the UK and on to Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham. Here, he received further treatment for his injuries, the only barriers he faced there were being on a ward with civilians who, although pro-army, could not understand what he had been through.

From Selly Oak he was then transferred to Headley Court for rehabilitation where he said, “the facilities were excellent but the food could have been better.”

What next?

Chris has now returned to school to continue his studies for his A levels, after which he hopes to complete a degree in Prosthetics and Orthotics at Salford University.

As well as his studies, he is attempting to get back his fitness, hoping to compete in the Paralympics games - in 100m and volleyball - as well as continuing his training with the TA.

Initially, a lot of doors were closed to him when he first lost his leg, but things have now improved considerably, mainly due to his training.

In October 2007, Chris gave an inspiring presentation to members of this Association during their AGM.