“ I’m proud of him as a soldier and as a son. He did the Army proud, ” 60 year-old Robin Cornish said of his son, the one hundred and fifteenth British soldier to be killed in Iraq since operations began in 2003. Cpl Cornish, who served for the 1st Battalion The Light Infantry, joined the Army at the age of eighteen in Leeds. His deployments included Northern Ireland, Sierra Leone and Iraq in 2003 and 2004. He had been touring the country for a third time for three months when he was killed. His father said he would have risen through the ranks: “ He would have got on. He was determined to go up the ladder and he would have got there. ” Yesterday, Cpl Cornish ’ s Commanding Officer, Lietenant Colonel Johnny Bowron, said: “ Matthew was a great soldier, a fine friend and a marvellous husband and father. He will be remembered for his heart and his great character. A Yorkshireman through and through and an enthusiastic follower of Leeds Rhinos Rugby League, he was constantly teased for his inexplicable loyalty to Tottenham Hotspur Football Club. ” Cpl Cornish leaves behind his wife Abbey, his three-year old son Ethan and his one-year old daughter Libby. Lt Col Bowron said Cpl Cornish ’ s true passion was for his family. “ They were what lay closest to his heart - the rest was irrelevant. ” Des Browne, the Defence Secretary, commented on the loss of life in both Iraq and Afghanistan yesterday. “ Our troops are doing a tough job magnificently well. Their courage and commitment demands nothing but admiration. ”
" I’m proud of him as a soldier and as a son. He did the Army proud, " 60 year-old Robin Cornish said of his son, the one hundred and fifteenth British soldier to be killed in Iraq since operations began in 2003. Cpl Cornish, who served for the 1st Battalion The Light Infantry, joined the Army at the age of eighteen in Leeds. His deployments included Northern Ireland, Sierra Leone and Iraq in 2003 and 2004. He had been touring the country for a third time for three months when he was killed. His father said he would have risen through the ranks: " He would have got on. He was determined to go up the ladder and he would have got there. " Yesterday, Cpl Cornish ' s Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Johnny Bowron, said: " Matthew was a great soldier, a fine friend and a marvellous husband and father. He will be remembered for his heart and his great character. A Yorkshire man through and through and an enthusiastic follower of Leeds Rhinos Rugby League, he was constantly teased for his inexplicable loyalty to Tottenham Hotspur Football Club. " Cpl Cornish leaves behind his wife Abbey, his three-year old son Ethan and his one-year old daughter Libby. Lt Col Bowron said Cpl Cornish ' s true passion was for his family. " They were what lay closest to his heart - the rest was irrelevant. " Des Browne, the Defence Secretary, commented on the loss of life in both Iraq and Afghanistan yesterday. " Our troops are doing a tough job magnificently well. Their courage and commitment demands nothing but admiration. "
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