CAPTAIN LISA JADE HEAD

321 EXPLOSIVE ORDNANCE DISPOSAL SQUADRON, 11 EXPLOSIVE ORDNANCE DISPOSAL REGIMENT

ROYAL LOGISTIC CORPS

Captain Lisa Jade Head, 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps died in the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham on Tuesday 19th April 2011 as a result of injuries sustained in Afghanistan.

Captain Lisa Jade Head deployed to Afghanistan on 27 March 2011 as an Improvised Explosive Device Disposal (IEED) (Neutralise) Operator with the Counter Improvised Explosive Device (C-IED) Task Force. She was based in Patrol Base 4 in the Nahr-e-Saraj District of Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

On 18 April 2011, Captain Head deployed with her team to dispose of an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) found by B Company, 2nd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment in an alleyway frequently used by Afghans and International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) troops alike. After rendering safe the identified IED, Captain Head was fatally injured while dealing with a second IED.

Captain Head was born on 30 November 1981 in Huddersfield. She studied Human Biology at Huddersfield University before attending the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst from 2004 - 2005. Captain Head commissioned into the Royal Logistic Corps (RLC) and initially trained as an Air Transport Liaison Officer, deploying to Iraq in 2006 and Afghanistan in 2007. She was selected to attend the Ammunition Technical Officers (ATO) course, and on passing was posted to 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Regiment RLC. She served with distinction as an ATO in Northern Ireland with 321 EOD Squadron (Sqn), and while there she attended the High Threat Operators Course. After successfully completing the High Threat Course as an IEDD (Neutralise) Operator she joined the C-IED Task Force for Op HERRICK 14.

Captain Head was an exemplary member of the Joint Force EOD Group within the C-IED Task Force. She was a popular and respected member of her parent Regiment and Squadron. A gifted Troop Commander she had earned the respect of all ranks.

Captain Head had a bright future ahead of her - her professionalism, leadership and unswerving sense of duty would have carried her far. She will, justly, be remembered among the ranks of the bravest of the brave.

The family of Captain Lisa Head have made the following statement:

"We wish to say that they 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."

Lieutenant Colonel Adam McRae MBE RLC, Commanding Officer 11 EOD Regiment RLC said:

"Captain Lisa Head will be remembered by the Officers and Soldiers of the Regiment as a passionate, robust and forthright individual who enjoyed life to the full; be it at work, on the sporting field or at the bar. She was totally committed to her profession and rightly proud of being an Ammunition Technical Officer. She took particular pride in achieving the coveted "High Threat" status which set her at the pinnacle of her trade. Lisa deployed to Afghanistan with the full knowledge of the threats she would face. These dangers did not faze her as she was a self-assured, highly effective operator and a well liked leader. Methodical and professional in her work she was always eminently pragmatic and calm under pressure. Having spoken with her prior to deployment she was motivated, enthusiastic and was looking forward to
the challenges she would face. Her potential was considerable and she will be an enormous loss to us all.

"The Regiment, her colleagues and friends will miss her infectious smile and dry wit. She sits proudly along side our recent fallen, several of whom were her close friends which I know inspired her to deploy to Afghanistan. Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with her family at this tragic moment. We mourn her loss; she is gone but will never be forgotten by her Regiment who I know she was proud to be part of and whom are immensely proud of her. Her sacrifice will inspire others to follow her example."