'Bravest and most courageous' - second female soldier killed

Published on Wednesday 20 April 2011 19:57

The second female British soldier killed in Afghanistan was last night named as Captain Lisa Jade Head.

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 Monday.

The 26-year-old, from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, was flown home and treated at hospital in Birmingham where she died on Tuesday, the Ministry of Defence said.

In June 2008 Sarah Bryant became the first female British soldier killed in Afghanistan.

Last night, Lisa's family and friends paid tribute to the 26-year-old, saying she had "a fantastic sense of humour" and someone to be "looked up to".

Capt Head, a member of the Intelligence Corps, died along with three SAS men in a roadside bomb attack in Lashkar Gah.

Her family issued a statement saying: "We wish to say that we are extremely proud of Lisa.

"Lisa always said that she had the best job in the world and she loved every second of it.

"Lisa had two families - us and the Army.

"Lisa had a fantastic life and lived it to the full. No-one was more loved."

The officer had only deployed to the Afghan badlands on March 27.

She had cleared one improvised explosive device (IED) in the alleyway used by nationals and troops alike when the second bomb she was defusing detonated.

Tributes were also paid by her colleagues last night.

Lieutenant Colonel Adam McRae, the regiment's Commanding Officer, said: "Captain Lisa Head will be remembered by the Lieutenant Colonel Mark Budden, commanding officer of Counter-Improvised Explosive Device Task Force, said the captain's death had "rocked" her colleagues.

"Her selfless commitment, dealing with the most dangerous of threats in Afghanistan, is a lesson to us all," he said.

"In a dark time, she had a natural energy surrounding her, an energy that provides a light to shine a path for us all.

"She was someone that people are naturally drawn towards and want to spend time with.

"It is that memory that I hope provides a very small solace in this most difficult of times. She was a role model to us all.

Captain Mike Kennedy, who worked alongside the soldier, said she was "the bravest and most courageous woman I have ever met. She typified the spirit of the ammunition technical officer, making the long and lonely walk into the face of danger and adversity for the sake of others," said Capt Kennedy.

"I had the great privilege of serving alongside her in 321 EOD Sqn, as she raced from job to job throughout Northern Ireland.She would have had it no other way, she loved her job and she loved the soldiers that she commanded.

"Lisa and I both attended the same high-threat course, a course that few women have ever completed but Lisa was determined in her usual way.

"She wanted to pass and operate in Afghanistan alongside her friends, we all did. Lisa was a fantastic operator, technical and resolute, truly irreplaceable.

"In the close-knit community in which we work the respect that she held is tantamount to none."

Lance Corporal Michelle Arnott, of Explosive Ordnance Disposal Squadron, paid tribute to the officer who led her decribing Lisa as "the best boss I have worked under" and someone to turn to.

"She had a fantastic sense of humour and drive," she said.

"You could always go straight to her for anything, whether it be work related or not.

She added: "She never complained and was always raring to go. She was always someone that you could look up to and rely on."