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Outpouring of support for Chorley soldier
The Guardian has been inundated with messages of support to Kingsman Anthony Cooper ever since our front page story last week revealed the terrible injuries he suffered in Afghanistan.
The 22-year-old, from Euxton, lost both legs from the knee down, his right eye, two fingers and a suffered a brain injury after stepping on an Inprovised Explosive Device (IED) while serving on his first tour of duty of the war-torn country.
He's being cared for at a hospital in Birmingham and although he's opened his eyes the former Parklands High School pupil is still unable to speak.
Today the Guardian is publishing a series of messages of support from our readers.
Eric Roper of the Liverpool branch of The King's Regiment Association said: "On behalf of all members of this association we wish Anthony all the best and wish him a successful and speedy recovery from his horrific injuries.
He and his family are in our thoughts and prayers."
Kenneth J Mansfield served as a Kingsman from 1966 to 1993 and said: "There's no such thing as an ex Kingsman so from one Kingo to another - all my best wishes for a speedy recovery and remember our motto 'Nec Aspera Terrent' – Difficulties be Damned."
Friend Zara, from Blackpool, had this message for Anthony's mum Shelley.
"You definitely have a son to be proud of a true hero," she wrote.
Now a former schoolfriend of Anthony, who joined the Armed Forces at the same time, has called on the town to rally behind the troops on the frontline.
Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Corps soldier Alex Horridge grew up alongside bomb-blast victim Anthony Cooper.
The pair sat together in classes at Parklands High School in Chorley, and even signed up to join the army together.
So when Alex saw images, published in last week's Chorley Guardian, of his old school friend lying fighting for his life in a Birmingham hospital, he was stunned.
The 22-year-old said: "I was shocked to see the pictures, as I have never had that happen to somebody I knew that well.
"He has such a good sense of humour, and gets on well with pretty much everyone.
"Even if he isn't in the best mood he will crack a joke, nothing seems to get him down."
The pair shared a form class at school, sat together in English lessons, and joined the army together on the same day at the age of 16.
Alex remembers his friend being hard-working, happy, and desperate for army life.
He added: "He was a keen and green soldier, he always wanted to be a soldier, he was absolutely mad for it."
Alex, who will be staying with his parents in Highfield Road North when he returns to Chorley on leave next week, last saw his old school friend before Anthony's deployment to Afghanistan with the Duke of Lancaster Regiment at the beginning of the year.
He remembers his young friend being in good spirits.
But now Anthony is in hospital suffering from devastating injuries after stepping on an Improvised Explosive Device (IED).
He lost both his legs from the knee down, his right eye, and two fingers from his left hand and the tips of his fingers on his right.
Now, after seeing the devastating injuries released by Anthony's mother, Alex wants to see the people of Chorley come together to celebrate the work of the town's young soldiers, fighting on the frontline in Afghanistan.
"When we come back, whatever regiment we are in. gets a homecoming parade," he said. "But the local towns don't really do anything.
"I was in Preston just after I got back last year and saw people doing fundraising things for Help for Heroes, but I think a lot of people in Chorley are still unaware of what we are doing in Afghanistan.
"It would be good to raise a bit more awareness for the lads. It's so good to see that people do care about what we are doing.
"Lads go out there and when they receive letters from home you see such a change in their character."
* The Guardian has launched a 'We Salute You' campaign in aid of Help for Heroes. You can show your support by wearing one of special blue wristbands and making a donation to the charity.
The wristbands are available from the Guardian's offices in Market Street.
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Weather for Chorley
Wednesday 23 May 2012
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