Lieutenant Lily-Mae Fisher, Britain’s only female Royal Navy commando, has been identified as one of the three victims of the helicopter crash in Devon on Wednesday. The 31-year-old, who was based in Yeovil, Somerset, served in the Royal Navy since May 2019.
A Life of Service and Achievement
Lt Fisher described serving her country as a “massive privilege and a huge honour”. Her groundbreaking role as the sole British female Royal Navy commando drew praise from NATO. She grew up in Virginia Water, Surrey, and graduated from Imperial College London in 2016 with a degree in geology.
Her military journey began in 2012 when she joined the University Army Officer Training Corps, followed by the University Air Squadron in 2013. Before her naval career, she worked as an exploration geologist for BP for two years, resigning in 2018 to accept a commission in the Royal Navy around a year later.
Commando Training and Sporting Excellence
Among her helicopter flying training, Lt Fisher represented Great Britain at the European Age Group Triathlon Championships in 2021. After a supporting role with a specialist maritime unit, she completed the gruelling 16-week All Arms Commando Course at the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines, a feat achieved by very few women.
Speaking last year, she said: “The body achieves what the mind believes. I love to test myself and challenge myself constantly.” She added: “If the call was to ever come to go to war, it is my responsibility and my duty to serve in the armed forces, be it in peacetime or at wartime.”
When asked if a woman could pass the Royal Marines course, she told the BBC: “Absolutely. Absolutely, I do think it is possible to pass it.” She noted: “It took me five years to get into the Navy because I kept failing… Just commit 100% to it if you want to be a Marine, if you want to do the commando course – you’ve got to commit with everything you’ve got, and it is possible. It’s not an impossible task.”
Further Roles and Personal Interests
Lt Fisher was selected as a watch keeper during the UK military’s response to the Channel migrant crisis, responsible for securing and recovering migrants to prevent deaths at sea. She posted on social media about her achievements, including stepping into the cockpit of a Merlin helicopter for the first time in August last year.
Outside her military career, she participated in ultra-marathons worldwide and appeared as a contestant on ITV shows Take Me Out and Ninja Warrior UK.
