Salute to bravery of fallen heroine

Members of the public watched in silence as the funeral of Captain Lisa Jade Head began in her home town of Huddersfield.

Capt Head, of 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment, the Royal Logistic Corps, had disabled one homemade bomb when another exploded in an alleyway in Nahr-e-Saraj, Helmand province, on April 18.

The 29-year-old, who had deployed to Afghanistan only on March 27, was flown home and treated in hospital in Birmingham but died from her injuries.

Comrades from her regiment formed a guard of honour on the steps of Huddersfield Parish Church of St Peter, as the funeral cortege arrived.

Veteran soldiers from the Royal British Legion stood proudly to attention, campaign medals on their chests, as others saluted.

Silence fell and the town came to a standstill before spontaneous applause rang out as the coffin, draped in the Union Flag, topped with Capt Head’s cap, belt and ceremonial sword, was borne into the church by six pall bearers – fellow soldiers, to the song I’m Your Angel by Celine Dion and R Kelly.

Her parents, John and Leila and Capt Head’s younger sisters Helen and Jayne led close family into church, already packed with hundreds of service personnel, colleagues and friends.

As the coffin disappeared into the church a member of the crowd shouted “Go on girl!” and applause again rang out.

Capt Head is the second British woman soldier to be killed in Afghanistan. In June 2008 Sarah Bryant, 26, a member of the Intelligence Corps, died along with three SAS men in a roadside bomb attack in Lashkar Gah.

In a moving eulogy, her commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Adam McRae MBE paid tribute.

“By looking around at the attendance today you can see very much how the MoD community and the wider Army feel about Lisa,” he said.

The highly respected officer had also served in Northern Ireland, and Lt Col McRae said tributes had come from across the world and from across the armed forces from people who knew her.

She was known for her “effervescent character, her beaming smile and especially for sharing her ciggies,” he said, and everyone spoke of Capt Head as “courageous, professional, approachable and friendly”.

Lt Col McRae continued: “These themes ring out through everything I have read. Lisa’s tragic death exemplifies this.”

The officer told mourners Capt Head had been knocked off her feet by one blast, but “dusted herself down” and carried on trying to nullify the threat.

It was, Lt Col McRae added, “an act of breathless bravery, and sadly one that cost her her life.

“The regiment, her colleagues and friends will miss her beaming smile, the dry lively wit, her love of red wine and chocolate.

“Lisa will not be forgotten, her memory will live on in the deeds of EOD officers. Goodbye our northern lass. Rest in peace.”

The Rev Roger Nelson, of St Peter’s, then read a short tribute from Capt Head’s parents. Personal tributes were also read on behalf of Capt Head’s two sisters, both in their 20s.

After Capt Head’s family emerged from the church, spontaneous applause rang out.

The Rev Dr Paul Swinn Chaplain to 11 EOD Regiment RLC, said: “It means a lot to us, as a military, to know how the wider community value what we do.

“The community has taken her and her family to their hearts.”