RUTHFULLY YOURS

The 28 year-old had a healthy son five weeks prematurely last week, after saying she was not aware of her pregnancy.The Fiji-born solider, from 12 Regiment Royal Artillery, arrived back in Britain from Camp Bastion on Friday and is recovering in hospital.

The daughter of a former policeman in the Fijian town of Nadi, she was captain of the country’s women’s football team from 2007 to 2009.Messages including “welcome to motherhood” were yesterday being posted on her Facebook site, where she reportedly has more than 1,200 friends.

Her friends said she was overjoyed about becoming a mother.

The birth stunned military chiefs and occurred just a few days after the camp, where the majority of Britain’s 9,500 soldiers, including Prince Harry, are deployed, was attacked by Taliban insurgents.

They destroyed six aircraft, killed two US Marines and wounded five British servicemen in the attack.

The Bombardier, who was fighting the Taliban, had complained of stomach pains before medical staff at Camp Bastion informed her she was having a baby.

It is understood the baby was conceived before she began the six-month tour. The gunner was in her 34th week of pregnancy when she went into labour.

Before she was deployed to Afghanistan she noticed she was putting on weight despite tough physical training. Her job in the field involved providing covering fire for troops fighting insurgents.

She left Fiji last year to realise her dream of joining the British Army, the Mail on Sunday reported.

A friend, who asked not to be named, told the newspaper: “Everyone is congratulating her and is really happy for Lynette.

“We are absolutely stunned at her amazing news.

“She can’t believe it and neither can we. Her life is going to totally change.”

She added: “I can’t wait to see her. She is getting a lot of support from all her friends and family in Britain and in her regiment.

“She loves the Army and was very keen to fight in Afghanistan. She is determined and committed. Now I am sure she will put her son first.”

The outstanding athlete rose to become the captain of the country’s women’s football team and was considered one of the country’s leading sportswomen.

She was reported to be the “heroine” of her team, the Nadi Jetsetters, where she was a striker and prolific goalscorer while she also played at international level against Tonga and Australia.

“She was always so enthusiastic and energetic,” said Kamal Swamy, her football coach.

“I was disappointed when I discovered she had left Fiji. I only found out when I tried to call her up for the 2011 South Pacific Games.”

The newspaper quoted sources in the Pacific Island that she used to send money from her Army wages to support hard-pressed friends in her home country.