War hero's proud brother, 18, follows in his sibling's footsteps to become paratrooper

A war hero's brother broke down in tears as he followed in his footsteps to become a paratrooper 12 years after his sibling died in Afghanistan.

Fin Doherty, 18, was formally handed his older brother's beret after completing a gruelling 19 week training course at Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire.

Pte Doherty burst into tears as it was presented to him by Sgt Major Adam Ireland, who fought alongside his brother. 

Pte Doherty was just six when Jeff Doherty, known as JJ, was killed in a Taliban ambush in 2008 just two days after his 20th birthday.

Fin Doherty proudly wearing his beret after completing a gruelling 19 week training course at Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire

Pte Fin Doherty (pictured with his brother, left) was just six when Jeff Doherty, known as JJ (right) was killed in a Taliban ambush in 2008 just two days after his 20th birthday

Months later Fin wore his fallen brother's beret at a parade and vowed from then to follow his idol into the Parachute Regiment.  

Pte Doherty told The Sun: 'It means everything to receive his beret. 

'I've always wanted to wear his beret so that it gets to see the things he would have done had his career not been cut short.

'Now I've got it in my possession and I'll keep true my promise to him.

'I stand in front of his grave every time I go and see him and I say 'I will make your beret see what it should have seen.

Fin Doherty, 18, (left, and as a young boy, right) has been formally handed his older brother's beret after completing a gruelling 19 week training course at Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire

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'Since he died in 2008 this is all I have ever wanted.'

Pte Doherty, of Southam, Warwickshire, first passed out of the Army Foundation College in Harrogate aged 17 - after being crowned Best Recruit. 

His commanding officer, Second Lieutenant Edward Watkins told The Sun: 'This is an exceptionally difficult course to come through.

'For someone like Pte Doherty it means that much more to him. He's coped with it tremendously well and he's come out shining. 

Pte Doherty's brother was killed in a Taliban ambush in Helmand province on June 12, 2008. He was on his first tour of duty with 2 Para Battle Group.

Speaking in a documentary released earlier this year, JJ's mother Joyce Doherty told how her son was the 'life and soul of everything' who was 'everybody's friend.'

Pte Doherty was just six when Jeff Doherty (pictured) known as JJ, was killed in a Taliban ambush in 2008 just two days after his 20th birthday

Original Link: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7754757/War-heros-proud-brother-18-follows-siblings-footsteps-paratrooper.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490