Builder moves to Syria to join fight against ISIS despite having no military training
Tim Lock, 39, is thought to be the first British civilian with no military background to up sticks and take the fight to the sick terror group
A BUILDER who left his life behind to join the fight against ISIS claims he has been relying on common sense to stay alive - since he has no military training.
Tim Lock, 39, is thought to be the first British civilian with no military background to up sticks and take the fight to the sick terror group.
"I had long since stopped seeing Daesh as human, so I had no empathy for them."
After seeing an endless stream news reports about the atrocities committed by the Islamist terror group, Tim decided in August 2014 that something had to be done.
He said: "I thought, ‘This is the worst thing that’s happening in the world and everyone says they’re appalled but they don’t do anything about it.’
“I started to question myself.
"I’m saying that people should be doing stuff but what am I doing about it?”
Tim didn't even tell his parents about his plans, secretly building up a stockpile of body armour and other military kit in his spare bedroom as he planned his unofficial tour of duty.
“It’s amazing what you can buy on eBay when you know where to look,” he said.
And it was only once he'd sold his bachelor pad that he filled his parents in, although their desperate attempts to persuade him to stay fell on deaf ears.
Using the cover story of a Turkish holiday to avoid arousing suspicion, Tim flew out to the war zone to join a volunteer Christian militia at around the same time as ISIS put a £100,000 bounty on the heads of any nearby westerners.
His first tour saw him faced with the threat of explosive attacks and sniper fire, and Tim had only taken a brief firearms training course to prepare himself for what he faced there.
Armed with a black market AK47 assault rifle and a Glock pistol, Tim found himself staring death in the face as ISIS mortars pinned him down on the front line.
He said: "With no previous military experience it was all about using common sense and keeping level-headed.”
On his second tour, which started in November, Tim, joined IDET, a volunteer unit of western veterans, to help push back the terror group's advance.
Admitting that he missed home whilst on the front line, Tim said that the ISIS atrocities he had lived through kept him going.
He added: “I met people who have had to leave Syria and Iraq because Daesh have just rolled in and taken over.
“Of course it affects you.”
Back in the UK since March, Tim has no money to his name and nowhere to live - and has been repeatedly questioned about his activities in Kurdistan.
But the veteran, who will pour all book profits back into the fight against IS, said: "People have been very kind and helped me out.
“It’s been very humbling.”
He said: “I’ll be out there for my 40th birthday, destroying some Daesh hopefully – that will be a good birthday present.”
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