Robert (Robbie) Stainforth is a young infantry soldier in the British Army. He joins up in 2002, aged 17, at the same time as Glenn Bott-Mole; they graduate from training together, and are posted to Iraq during the Second Gulf War of 2003. Robbie is somewhat shy and intellectual for a soldier, eagerly reading and memorising poetry. He enjoys playing darts, and dates women whom he meets through the Internet.
Robbie is tragically killed by a bomb attack on 21st July 2003. Glenn, and his father Adrian, are devastated. Both post memorial notices in the Leicester Mercury on the first anniversary of Robbie's death.
Robbie appears to have been an orphan, having listed Adrian as his next-of-kin.