Eulogy - Corporal Wayne Birnie, 1 RIFLES
Cpl Wayne Birnie joined the Army in June 2007. Completing his Phase 1 training at the Army Training Regiment (Bassingbourn) he initially joined the Royal Logistics Corps and spent the first year of his career based in Camberley. Very quickly Cpl Birnie decided to transfer to the Infantry and, after completing the Combat Infantryman’s Course in Catterick, joined 1st Battalion The Rifles in Chepstow in September 2008.
Within two months of arriving in Chepstow, Cpl Birnie deployed to Afghanistan on Operation HERRICK 9 where 1 RIFLES’ role was to mentor and advise members of the Afghan National Army. Cpl Birnie spent time based in Camp BASTION and FOB DEHLI near Garmsir, both in Helmand Province. He was injured by enemy mortar fire early on in his deployment and was evacuated back to the UK. True to character, his comrades remember him smiling and rolling a cigarette even as he was stretchered off the battlefield. Having recovered in the UK, Cpl Birnie moved to the Mortar Platoon in Support Company deploying with them on exercises in the UK before moving to C Company as a driver. In 2011, the Battalion deployed once again to Afghanistan on Operation HERRICK 14 and, although Cpl Birnie himself did not deploy, he occupied a vital role in the Battalion’s Rear Operations Group, supporting the Battalion on operations from the UK.
In 2012, Cpl Birnie deployed to London on Operation OLYMPICS as part of UK Defence’s support to the civilian authorities for the 2012 Olympic Games. Working in Weymouth and central London supporting events as wide ranging as the Sailing on the South Coast and Beach Volleyball on the Mall, he contributed to 1 RIFLES work to ensure the security and success of the 2012 Olympics.
In 2014, Cpl Birnie moved to Headquarter Company as a driver in the Motor Transport Platoon. Here he played a vital part of supporting numerous 1 RIFLES exercises across the UK and deployed for a month to the United States. In 2016 he deployed on Operation SHADER as part of the UK’s contribution to the campaign to defeat Da’esh – the so-called Islamic State. Cpl Birnie was based in Camp Arifajan in Kuwait where he was part of an Allied and UK logistics hub which was critical to supporting 1 RIFLES and wider activity across the Middle East. Whilst not the most glamorous of roles, Cpl Birnie applied himself with his trademark diligence and professionalism, always accompanied with a wry smile and his dry sense of humour.
In 2017, Cpl Birnie successfully completed an arduous Junior Non-Commissioned Officer Cadre run by 1 RIFLES in Otterburn, Northumbria. Despite being one of the older members of the course, his work ethos and drive shone through, and he passed what is universally regarded as a difficult and demanding course. Promoting to Lance Corporal in December 2017 he deployed within days to Kenya, supporting the Battalion on a training exercise in the north of the country. Returning from East Africa he joined B Company in February 2018 as their Arms Kote storeman responsible for the Company’s weapons and equipment. Later that same year he deployed with the Company on Exercise ALBANIAN LION conducting demanding training with the Royal Marines and Albanian Army in the mountains of Albania.
In February 2019, Cpl Birnie deployed to the Falklands Islands on a 6-month tour as an acting Corporal with the Joint Falklands Logistic Unit working as a technical storeman. After this period detached from 1 RIFLES, he returned to B Company in August supporting the Company in a range of exercises across the UK. Having qualified as an All-Arms Ammunition Storeman he was then promoted to substantive Corporal in February 2020 and joined A Company as their Company storeman responsible for their equipment and supplies.
Later that year, Cpl Birnie was formally posted out of 1 RIFLES for the first time since he had arrived 12 years earlier. Moving to Catterick he joined the School of Infantry as an Ammunition Storeman supporting the training of infantry soldiers over the following two years.
Returning from Catterick to Chepstow in late 2022, Cpl Birnie joined Headquarter Company, 1 RIFLES. He was then quickly deployed back to Yorkshire spending 3 months supporting the training of Ukrainian soldiers on Operation INTERFLEX as part of the UK’s support to the defence of Ukraine following Russia’s illegal invasion in 2021. On this task, as ever, Cpl Birnie quickly made an impression and was highly regarded professionally and personally by his peers and colleagues. On completion of this nationally important role, Cpl Birnie joined B Company as their storeman where he threw himself into the task of supporting the Company in its preparations for a two-year deployment to Cyprus. Once again, his diligence and professionalism shone through and he quickly became a critical part of the Company and the driving force behind preparations for the unit move. Cpl Birnie was looking forward to moving with the Company to Cyprus and it is a tragedy that he will not be alongside the Battalion.
Cpl Birnie had been a part of 1 RIFLES for the last 15 years – there were very few who didn’t know him. He leaves behind an impressive operational and professional legacy, and an even more impressive list of friends. He will be sorely missed.
Lieutenant Colonel Colin Oliver MBE, Commanding Officer, 1 RIFLES, said:
“Cpl Birnie was a huge 1 RIFLES personality. Of his impressive 16 years in the Army he spent the vast majority of his time with us in Chepstow; he was very much part of our family. With the rare distinction of having served in every single Company in the Battalion, there were very few people who didn’t know Cpl Birnie. There were fewer still who, whilst they might not always know it, hadn’t been supported by him in one way or another. The spirit and operational effectiveness of Infantry Battalions like 1 RIFLES are built on the foundations of personalities like Cpl Birnie – working diligently and tirelessly behind the scenes, in sometimes unglamorous but always vital and demanding roles. Cpl Birnie’s impressive record speaks for itself and he played an important part in many of the Battalion’s recent achievements including Operation HERRICK in Afghanistan, Operation SHADER in the Middle East, and support to the civil authorities in the UK such as Operation OLYMPICS. On top of all that, Cpl Birnie was a friend to many in 1 RIFLES. The significant portion of his life spent in Chepstow and his record of service across every Company in 1 RIFLES, means that this is very much a loss for the entire Battalion. Professional, diligent and always a friendly face, Cpl Birnie will be missed by all those who knew him but leaves a legacy of which they should be proud”.
Major Paddy Keating MBE, Officer Commanding B Company, 1 RIFLES, said:
“Cpl Birnie had not been with B Company for very long, but he had already made a big impression. Thorough, hard-working, and professional, Cpl Birnie always simply got the job done without fuss and often with a wry smile that let you know everything would be alright. He had already become a key Company personality, and his popularity across the Battalion and vast experience meant he was immediately central to our team. Only in the last few weeks he had been the driving force behind preparing B Company for our move to Cyprus and simultaneously handing over all our equipment to an incoming Unit. He had taken these significant challenges in his stride, never flustered, or overwhelmed, and never complaining – the epitome of a thinking Rifleman in his own unique and impressive way. We were incredibly lucky to have had him as part of the B Company family and it is a tragedy that he won’t now be coming with us to Cyprus. we mourn his tragic loss. Our thoughts are with his family, his girlfriend, and his numerous friends across the Battalion. Swift and Bold”.
Major Si Burkill, SO2 J5 HQ British Forces Cyprus, and Cpl Birnie’s Platoon Commander on Operation HERRICK 9, said:
“Cpl Birnie was in my first Platoon. He was a fantastic soldier who deployed on HERRICK 9 with B Company, 1 RIFLES. I distinctly remember evacuating him with legs full of shrapnel after a mortar attack onto our Patrol Base. He was the only man that I had ever seen rolling a cigarette, with a smirk on his face, whilst a medic was trying to patch him up. He was a tough cookie, with a great sense of humour.”
Warrant Officer Class 2 Brett Gloyn, Company Serjeant Major B Company, 1 RIFLES, said:
“Cpl Wayne Birnie had an infectious personality, he was liked by all in 1 RIFLES and everyone who came across him in the wider Army. He was calm, occasionally not so cheerful, and often charming in his own way. Having only worked with Cpl Birnie for a few months it was very easy to see that he was a diligent and swept up Rifleman, and this was even more evident in the way he had prepared the B Company accounts to be handed over prior to our move to Cyprus. He quickly earned my respect through his work ethic and professionalism.
Having Cpl Birnie in the Company has been an absolute pleasure that we will not forget. He will be sorely missed be all ranks, my thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends during this difficult time. Rest in peace fellow Rifleman.”
Colour Serjeant Shawn Gamble, Company Quarter Master Serjeant B Company, 1 RIFLES, said:
“Wayne was a straight-talking man but behind it all he had a great sense of humour and was selfless and hard working. Wayne has had a great impact on me as a friend and a work colleague. He helped me through some challenging times, and I will sorely miss him. RIP my friend”.
Cpl Honey, Cpl Johnston and Rfn Facey, HQ Company,1 RIFLES, said:
“Dear Wayne, we are not good at writing… or words… or putting anything down to string a sentence together, lots of this was written with a half-eaten crayon so please bear with us.
Sat together thinking what to write, and we all came to the agreement that a lot will need to be censored.
Wayne would usually have something to say, he had more come backs than Madonna. Keeping him under control was like trying to calm down a puppy. He will be greatly missed because the imprint he left on anyone he came across, there are many stories we could tell, but right now I think he’s caused enough mischief. But Wayne was the most loving, genuine kind person we knew. No matter how bad the situation, he always put everyone else before himself. We are lucky and grateful to call him our brother, not a brother in arms but a true brother.
Wayne, we love you with our whole hearts and cannot think of how hollow our lives will be without your crazy ideas and mental laugh. Just want to say thank you Wayne for what you have done for everyone close to you. Your wings were ready, but our hearts were not. We love you”.