Mothers set off on memorial walk

Cpl Darren Bonner, left, and Private Chris Gray died in action

The mothers of Royal Anglian soldiers who died in Afghanistan will set off on a 100-mile walk in their honour.

They have already raised £20,000 to help fund a memorial statue, and help the rehabilitation of soldiers injured in last year's Afghanistan tour.

The mothers of the nine dead Royal Anglian Vikings will leave Brookwood Military Cemetery Pirbright, Surrey, on the "100 miles for nine smiles" trek.

They aim to arrive in Duxford, Cambridgeshire, next week.

Military commentators have said it was one of the toughest tours of duty in the regiment's 43-year history.

Lt Col Stuart Carver said: "There will not be a town in East Anglia that does not know someone who has been injured."

The battalion, recruited from Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Essex, was awarded an unprecedented haul of medals - 78 in total.

They include six military crosses, a distinguished service order and many commendations for gallantry.

The money will fund a bronze statue and provide support to injured soldiers

Prince Charles was among those to have sent a cheque in support of the fund.

The walk was the idea of Christine Bonner from Cambridgeshire, whose son Darren, known as Big Daz, was killed by a landmine in Helmand Province.

Helen Gray's son, Chris, also died in action in action serving with the 1st Battalion.

She said: "I do take every day as it comes, one step at a time, but this walk has given us a goal.

"We'll be able to laugh and talk about everything."

Supported by the other Royal Anglian mothers, their destination is the site of the regiment's museum in Duxford and the location for a bronze statue to be erected later in the year to honour the nine dead men.

The Royal Anglian Memorial Fund has already raised almost £350,000.

The nine 1st Battalion Royal Anglians who died in Afghanistan last year were Cpl Darren Bonner; Pte Chris Gray; L/Cpl Alex Hawkins; L/Cpl George Davey; Pte Robert Foster; Pte Aaron McClure; Pte John Thrumble; Capt David Hicks; Pte Tony Rawson.