Student turned soldier grows up fast after friend dies

He was deployed with Private Thornton and the pair became close friends. He was also on patrol with him when he died.

“I joined up for a laugh thinking I was never going to come out here,” the Huddersfield 21-year-old said. “Now I just want to get back alive.”

The TA is making a huge commitment to the war in Afghanistan, with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) looking to sign up an estimated 30,000 reservists to be ready for deployment by 2015 to soften the brunt of the cuts.

The 4th Battalion, The Yorkshire Regiment, which Pte Thornton was serving with, is currently undertaking an unprecedented back-to-back deployment to Helmand Province with students, sales consultants and fitness trainers all leaving their day jobs to fight on the front line.

But the experience of the Yorkshire TA soldiers in Helmand Province reveals the size of the burden they are being asked to take on.

“We did all our training together and we were living together at the checkpoint,” said Pte Robbins, who is studying policing at Central Lancashire University and hopes to pursue a career as an officer in North Yorkshire.

“I was right next to him when he died, it took me ages to come to the reality that it had happened.

“It affected me greatly how quickly you can go from being there to not.

“For two months afterwards, I found it very hard sleeping – the things I have seen made it very difficult. One night I woke up throwing up. That is when I was realised it was bad.

“I went to see his family in Barnsley on my R and R – it was hard for everybody. He was very close to me so I can’t even know how it was for them.

“Everybody here still misses Matthew a lot.

“He was an excellent soldier and a great friend to me.”

Pte Robbins says he has reservations about readjusting to student life following his experiences on the front line.

“My mum reckons I have grown up very quickly here,” he added.

“I am a bit worried about going back.

“I’m going to be living with students again but I have seen some terrible things and do have a different perspective on life now – I appreciate it a lot more.”