“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.
She was a talented professional and a highly respected officer, who 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 had known her.
She was known for her “effervescent character, her beaming smile and especially for sharing her ciggies,” he said. 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 from a roadside bomb, but “dusted herself down” and carried on trying to nullify the threat.
“It was 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 service was led by the regimental chaplain the Rev Dr Paul Swinn, and the Rev Roger Nelson, of St Peter’s Church.
Dr Swinn said: “It is so good to see so many people here to support Lisa’s family and her colleagues in what must be their most terrible time.”
Friends and colleagues of the heroic soldier also paid their own tributes and there was laughter as they recalled Lisa’s love of partying both in the UK and abroad and her constant smile.
Outside, hundreds listened in silence as the hour-long service was relayed through loudspeakers into St Peter’s Gardens.
Many of them had been at schools such as Greenside Infants, Almondbury Junior School and Almondbury High School with Lisa.
Many more were student colleagues at Greenhead College and at the University of Huddersfield, where she gained a 2:1 degree in human biology before enrolling at Sandhurst.
She served in Northern Ireland and previously in Afghanistan before being deployed for her final tour of duty only in March, three weeks before her death.
The crowd joined in the applause after the service as Capt Head was borne away for a private family burial.
