From Service to Civvy Street: Gillian Lyall’s Journey of Care, Courage and Recovery

In this episode, we are joined by Gillian Lyall, a former British Army nurse who served for 16 years in the Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps, reaching the rank of Major. Raised in Northern Ireland and a member of the Queen’s University Officers’ Training Corps while studying at Queen’s University Belfast, Gillian went on to deploy on operations across several theatres, providing vital medical care in demanding operational environments. Her military career was ultimately cut short following a diagnosis of complex post-traumatic stress disorder, and the transition into civilian life brought its own challenges as she navigated life beyond the Armed Forces. Today, Gillian works as a registered nurse with Help for Heroes, supporting veterans and their families while drawing on both her professional expertise and her personal experience of service and recovery. In this conversation, Gillian shares her story of military service, transition, resilience and her continued commitment to supporting the veterans’ community.