Chris Parrott, the veteran for whom civilian life was a 'no man’s land'

Chris wasn’t sure what he wanted to do once he left the Army but knew that he didn’t want a desk job

Homeless Veterans Campaign
Tuesday 25 November 2014 07:00 GMT
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Chris Parrott: I felt a bit lost and quite alone
Chris Parrott: I felt a bit lost and quite alone (ABF)

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Chris Parrott, 25, was injured twice whilst serving with 2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment on two separate tours of Afghanistan.

The first incident saw a bullet shatter his leg in a battle that claimed the lives of two of his comrades. On his next tour in 2009, he suffered a serious head injury from grenade fragments. As a result of this injury, Chris was diagnosed with epilepsy, and was medically discharged from the Army in 2011

Chris wasn’t sure what he wanted to do once he left the Army but knew that he didn’t want a desk job. He enjoyed being outdoors, and it was during a visit to a home where disabled residents were doing gardening that he decided to pursue a career in horticulture.

He went on to study a two-year course in Horticulture, enabled by funding from The Soldiers’ Charity covering essential costs including clothing, safety equipment and travel. Chris was also an integral part of the landscaping team who built the ‘No Man’s Land’ garden at the 2014 RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

By donating to the Homeless Veterans campaign you can help another young veteran like Chris make a successful transition into civilian life.

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