THE wife of a Selby soldier injured in Afghanistan has spoken of their wedding and hopes that her new husband will be home from duty in time for the birth of their child.

Corporal James Grundy, of the Royal Engineers, was flown out to Afghanistan earlier this week less than three months after he married Lisa, who is expecting their first son in December.

The couple, who now live in Army quarters in Ripon, were friends before they started dating last December, and married at Gretna Green, surrounded by their families.

Lisa, 26, said: “Our families are just down the road. They’re brilliant and have been great, very supportive. I’m excited about the baby, but a bit nervous that Jay could miss it really, and that is the only real downside of him being away. Quite a few of the lads have got babies due while on tour, and the Army have said they will try to get them back for the due dates.

“We’re both very happy, and Jay is very happy that it’s a boy. I’m glad he’s going to be in the safest place he can be in Afghanistan. It’s difficult that he’s not here for the pregnancy, but he’s just happy he’s going to be a dad.”

In May 2010, Cpl Grundy was badly injured when the armoured vehicle he was travelling in near Lashkar Gah was destroyed by an improvised explosive device.

Two passengers in the rear seats were unharmed, but the blast buckled the doors and killed driver Sapper Daryn Roy. Cpl Grundy suffered broken cheekbones, a broken upper jaw, and needed metal plates fitted in his face, but told The Press in March he was looking forward to returning to Afghanistan to help recruits on their first tours.

Lisa said: “I knew he was going to ship out again. They are mainly going to be in Camp Bastion so hopefully won’t be doing anything too dangerous. He just wants to lay everything to rest after everything that happened last time.

“He got to fly out with lads he knew. He’s gone out with Sapper Tom Chaser, who Jay was best man for a couple of months ago. He’s looking after Tom a bit, because it’s his first tour. His tour should end at the end of March.

“I think he’s staying in the Army. He said he couldn’t imagine doing anything else.”