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Briton Jac Holmes died in Syria 'helping underdog', says mother | Briton Jac Holmes died in Syria 'helping underdog', says mother |
(35 minutes later) | |
A British man who died while fighting so-called Islamic State (IS) in Syria liked "helping the underdog", his mother has said ahead of his repatriation. | A British man who died while fighting so-called Islamic State (IS) in Syria liked "helping the underdog", his mother has said ahead of his repatriation. |
Sniper Jac Holmes, from Bournemouth, had been clearing landmines in Raqqa when he was killed in October. | Sniper Jac Holmes, from Bournemouth, had been clearing landmines in Raqqa when he was killed in October. |
He had been fighting with Kurdish militia the YPG since 2015. | He had been fighting with Kurdish militia the YPG since 2015. |
His mother Angie Blannin described him as "totally fearless" and said she did not oppose his killing of IS fighters. | His mother Angie Blannin described him as "totally fearless" and said she did not oppose his killing of IS fighters. |
The body of the 24-year-old, along with that of Portsmouth man Oliver Hall - who was also killed while fighting against IS - is due to arrive back in the UK on Wednesday. | The body of the 24-year-old, along with that of Portsmouth man Oliver Hall - who was also killed while fighting against IS - is due to arrive back in the UK on Wednesday. |
Ms Blannin, from Dover, Kent, said her son originally told her he was going to Syria to carry out "humanitarian work". | Ms Blannin, from Dover, Kent, said her son originally told her he was going to Syria to carry out "humanitarian work". |
After he was smuggled over the border and taken to a safe house she admitted thinking: "He's never going to last." | After he was smuggled over the border and taken to a safe house she admitted thinking: "He's never going to last." |
"I thought, he'll do the six months, he'll come back and that will be it," she told the BBC. | "I thought, he'll do the six months, he'll come back and that will be it," she told the BBC. |
"He'll have had enough by then because the sort of conditions that he was living in." | "He'll have had enough by then because the sort of conditions that he was living in." |
As a former IT worker Mr Holmes had no prior military training, but he became one of the longest-serving foreign volunteers in the conflict. | As a former IT worker Mr Holmes had no prior military training, but he became one of the longest-serving foreign volunteers in the conflict. |
He travelled to fight with the Kurds three times and fought in operations to push IS out of key towns and villages including Tel Hamis, Manbij, Tabqa and Raqqa. | He travelled to fight with the Kurds three times and fought in operations to push IS out of key towns and villages including Tel Hamis, Manbij, Tabqa and Raqqa. |
Ms Blannin says she never knew if he killed anyone. "He never talked about it, and I never asked him, it was one of those unspoken things," she said. | |
"I think Jac had, and always has had, a sense of helping the underdog - helping people - and he felt strongly about this. | |
"Morally, I don't have an issue if he's killed any Daesh [IS] fighters - not at all. | "Morally, I don't have an issue if he's killed any Daesh [IS] fighters - not at all. |
"I think if you speak to most people on the street they would say the same. Yes legally there is a grey area, but such is life." | "I think if you speak to most people on the street they would say the same. Yes legally there is a grey area, but such is life." |
Ms Blannin said she felt a "massive sense of relief" when Raqqa was liberated and said Mr Holmes had been planning to return home. | Ms Blannin said she felt a "massive sense of relief" when Raqqa was liberated and said Mr Holmes had been planning to return home. |
"This was the point that he wanted to get to and then, literally, that day he was going to leave. | "This was the point that he wanted to get to and then, literally, that day he was going to leave. |
"I was devastated beyond belief." | "I was devastated beyond belief." |
She paid tribute to her "cheeky lad who took this cause and kind of went with it". | She paid tribute to her "cheeky lad who took this cause and kind of went with it". |
"He did have a real sense of doing something for the greater good." | "He did have a real sense of doing something for the greater good." |
Mr Holmes was one of a number of British volunteers who travelled to fight against IS with the Kurds during the Syrian conflict. | Mr Holmes was one of a number of British volunteers who travelled to fight against IS with the Kurds during the Syrian conflict. |
The Home Office has warned against all travel to Syria. | The Home Office has warned against all travel to Syria. |