A war hero’s proud brother has insisted he’s made of the ‘same stuff’ as his sibling after completing his training to join the Parachute Regiment, 12 years after the late soldier died in Afghanistan.
Fin Doherty, 18, from Warwickshire, was formally handed his older brother’s beret after completing his 19-week training course at Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire in December last year.
Pte Doherty was just six when Jeff Doherty, known as JJ, was killed in a Taliban ambush in 2008, two days after his 20th birthday.
He appeared on Lorraine today, with his mother Joyce to speak about his decision to become a paratrooper.
Joyce told how despite trying ‘absolutely everything’ to encourage Fin to take a different path, her son was ‘determined’ to follow in the footsteps of his idol.
Fin Doherty, 18, from Warwickshire has insisted he’s made of the ‘same stuff’ as his sibling, war hero Jeff Doherty. He is pictured on Lorraine with his mother Joyce
Fin was was formally handed the beret of his older brother JJ (pictured) after completing a gruelling 19 week training course last year
Speaking of the moment he teared up upon receiving his beret, Fin said: ‘I was lucky enough to be given my brothers beret, I knew it was his straight away.
‘When I put it on, the reason I cried, is the first thing that went through my head, is “We’re made from the same stuff”, and nobody can take that away from me.’
His mother Joyce went on to explain: ‘Nothing was ever going to sway him in the other direction
‘We tried! We tried absolutely everything to make him do anything but this but, what determination.’
Jeff Doherty, known as JJ (right) was killed in a Taliban ambush in 2008 just two days after his 20th birthday
Pte Fin Doherty (pictured with his brother) was just six when JJ died, and says ‘nothing could have changed his mind’ about following in his brother’s footsteps
Fin first passed out of the Army Foundation College in Harrogate aged 17 – after being crowned Best Recruit, and told how there was never ‘anything that could change his mind’ about joining the army.
He said: ‘From when JJ used to come home, he would let the house know he was a paratrooper.
‘Just never shook the dream, I’ve always said it’s what I wanted to do, I was never gonna change my mind.’
However despite his mother being ‘really happy’ and proud of her son’s determination, she admitted she is ‘terrified’ of her son joining the army.
Fin first passed out of the Army Foundation College in Harrogate aged 17 – after being crowned Best Recruit. He is pictured proudly wearing his beret after completing a gruelling 19 week training course at Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire
She spoke of her late son JJ, and remembered how he would ‘boost morale’ anywhere he went and ‘loved life’, while insisting that being a paratrooper was ‘really important’ to him.
The mother told: ‘We’re so proud of him obviously, everything he’s achieved and he’s done it with such determination.
‘I’m really happy he’s done as well as he has. But it’s also really sad and we’re all a bit terrified.’
Speaking of her late son, she said: ‘JJ was the life and soul, he really was. He was the best morale boost ever.
Fin insisted that while he he was inspired by his late older brother, he wanted his place in the regiment just as his sibling did
She spoke of her late son JJ, and remembered how he would ‘boost moral’ anywhere he went and ‘loved life’, while insisting that being a paratrooper was ‘really important’ to him
‘No matter where he was, in the army, at home, he was really happy. He loved life and loved being a paratrooper, it was really important to him.’
Fin insisted that while he he was inspired by his late older brother, he wanted his place in the regiment just as his sibling did.
He said: ‘I wanted it for myself as much as he did when he was in my shoes and I really wanted it. If he was still here I would still be doing what I was doing.’