Hero of the Month: LCpl Tommy Brown (1984 – 2009)
LCpl Tommy Brown was a fun-loving father, British Judo Champion and deeply committed soldier in the Parachute Regiment. He’d dreamt of serving in the military since he was a child and joined when he was 16 years old, completing tours of Kuwait, Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan.
On the 22nd of December 2009, Tommy was killed in action. He was 25 years old.
LCpl Tommy Brown
“He had a zest for life and was known for his cheeky smile,” says Stacy, Tommy’s wife. “He loved going hiking and jumping out of planes – all the things that would terrify most people are the things he loved to do. He never had a lie-in his whole life. As soon as he got up, he wanted to go somewhere and do something. That’s when he was happiest, when he was walking or climbing a tree or camping out in the woods making fires. He was the kindest soul in the world.”
Tommy was an extremely hands-on father and enjoyed taking his two children, Dylan and Keira-Leigh, on as many adventures as he could. Dylan was five at the time of his dad’s death, while Keira-Leigh was just three.
“Tommy spent the first four years of his life in care. Because of that, he had always wanted a family of his own, so he could give them the childhood he didn’t have. He was always doing stuff with them. Every weekend they would go out in the morning and do something that terrified me, climbing up things or going out on boats or exploring some new place. Every time he got back from a tour he would insist we all go to Disneyland. Even though he died when the kids were young, he left a lot of memories for them. He had a passion for life and crammed a heck of a lot into 25 years.”
Tommy with his children, Dylan and Keira, at the zoo
In his spare time, Tommy enjoyed martial arts. Before joining the Army he was a British Judo Champion and even represented Scotland at the Commonwealth Games.
“He started Judo when he was six or seven and continued it right up until he became a paratrooper. He was always very into fitness and fighting. He did boxing as well but he wasn’t very good at that, so Judo stuck!”
Of Tommy’s many career achievements, however, he was always most proud of serving in the Parachute Regiment. As a boy, he used to ask his mum to pretend they were soldiers while they walked to school. For those who knew him, there was never any doubt he’d join the Army.
“He actually failed the entrance exam at first because of some issues he had with his legs, but that didn’t stop him. He refused to be anything but a paratrooper and was so proud when he achieved it. For him, it was all about making a difference in the world. When he was on tour, he’d send letters telling me about the local children and how they would all share chocolate from his ration pack.”
Tommy and his friend on duty together
Although Tommy died when his children were young, the family still have lots of ways they remember and remain connected to him.
“Keira keeps his ashes in a necklace that she wears every day so that he’s always with her. We also attend Remembrance parades every year and Tommy’s battalion still invite us to their events, so we know we’re still part of that family. He also has a memorial bench in Glasgow city centre, which was partly paid for with money raised by his Judo club.”
In addition, Tommy’s son, Dylan, recently went on a week-long boating experience in America with Tommy’s battalion, which he was asked to attend in honour of his dad.
“The battalion still treat us like Tommy is here and always include us in their events. On the Christmas that Tommy died, a bunch of his mates from the battalion put some money together and bought the kids presents. They just turned up at the door on Christmas Day and stayed to watch them open them. It was so heartfelt and made a massive positive impact on the kids. Even though Tommy is dead, he’s still part of their family and we’re still part of theirs. Dylan turns 18 soon and I’ve already had a bunch of people from the battalion ask if they can take him out for his first pint.”
Dylan and Keira presenting a poppy wreath in their dad's memory
Dylan and Keira-Leigh joined Scotty’s Little Soldiers in 2014 and have been supported by the charity ever since, benefitting from Scotty Breaks, grants and access to one-to-one bereavement support. They have also attended a number of Christmas parties, where they were able to meet hundreds of bereaved military children who understand what they’ve been through.
“Scotty’s supported us when our family was broken and massively helped us get back on our feet,” says Stacy. “We’ve moved around a lot but they’ve always been on hand to help the children settle into their new schools, always offered emotional support, always been there. All the events and Scotty Breaks are just amazing, too. It’s so nice to not have to worry about packing anything, you just go and it’s all there for you. It’s great to know you’ve got a little escape waiting for you if you ever need it.”
Tommy with his children
