A true hero
Tributes paid to Scots Army medic who worked with star before serving in Iraq
DISTRAUGHT friends and relatives of the Scottish soldier killed in Iraq hailed her as ‘a true hero’ and an ‘incredible force of nature’.
Lance Corporal Brodie Gillon died when Iranian-backed gunmen fired missiles on a military base on Wednesday.
She was the first British soldier to be killed in combat during the current fight against Islamic State.
As the Foreign Secretary welcomed ‘swift and decisive’ US air strikes launched in retaliation to the attack, which also killed two American servicemen, tributes were paid.
Lance Corporal Gillon’s cousin Robert Gillon said: ‘You are a true hero, taken from us doing what you loved doing, and done so well.’
The soldier – who qualified as a Class 1 Combat Medical Technician in 2018 – was a reservist with the Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry and served with the Irish Guards Battle Group.
The 26-year-old, from Ayr, juggled her training with work as a sports physiotherapist. Her clients included
Hollywood star Chris Pine during the filming of Netflix’s drama Outlaw King about Robert the Bruce.
In a Facebook post, she said she was ‘loving’ Army life. In 2015 she wrote: ‘Exactly one year ago today I joined the Army, last night I spent my night in a Land Rover off road convoy driving, absolutely s ******* my trousers! ‘Got to love it tho!’ Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab yesterday backed the US air strikes launched in response to the attack blamed on an Iranian-backed militia.
He said: ‘The response to the cowardly attack on coalition forces in Iraq has been swift, decisive and proportionate. We will continue working with our partners to ensure those responsible for these deplorable acts will be held to account.’
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace also welcomed the US strike, saying: ‘When we and others are attacked, we reserve the right to defend ourselves.’
Before going to Iraq, Lance Corporal Gillon worked as a therapist at Glasgow-based Sports Therapy Scotland. Boss David Jenkins said she would have had a ‘bright future’ in the field and added: ‘Almost daily we had clients asking after her so everyone here is very upset. Everyone wanted to be treated by Brodie.’
Brenda Wallace, from Glasgow, was treated by the soldier after hurting her foot. She paid tribute to the ‘gorgeous, vibrant, incredible force of nature’. She added: ‘Brodie was the most stunning, strong, bright and brave young woman.’
And Lillian Tait wrote on Facebook: ‘You were my best friend. Fifteen years of friendship just wasn’t long enough but I was one of the lucky ones to have spent so many amazing times with you.’