Widow pays tribute to dead marine

Marine Davies leaves behind a young son, Matthew

The widow of a Royal Marine who was killed by a suspected 13-year-old suicide bomber in Afghanistan has paid tribute to her "caring husband".

Marine Damian Davies, 27, of Telford, Shropshire, died with two colleagues, Sergeant John Manuel and Corporal Mark Birch, in Helmand province on Friday.

His widow Joanne said that the death of her husband would leave "a huge hole" in her family's life.

She added that her young children would grow up to be proud of their father.

Ms Davies said: "Damian was the most wonderful caring husband and Daddy we could have ever wished for.

Dangerous job

"Although he wore his heart on his sleeve and would do anything for anyone he always put us first."

She added: "He loved his job and despite the danger and the long working hours out in Afghanistan he would always find time to make sure that we at home were OK."

Ms Davies also spoke of the last occasion where she saw her husband, who served with the Commando Logistics Regiment based at RMB Chivenor in north Devon, describing it as the "most wonderful and romantic time".

After Marine Davies returned to Afghanistan, Ms Davies revealed that she discovered she was pregnant with their second child.

She said: "Although I never spoke to him again I was so very thrilled to hear that although his duties had prevented him from contacting me, he had received my news and had proudly informed his colleagues on the front line that he was going to be a proud father once again.

"Damian is going to leave a huge hole in all of our lives but both his son and his unborn child will grow up to be proud of the Royal Marine father who was so tragically taken from them serving his country."

Earlier on Friday, in a separate incident, Lance Corporal Steven Fellows had been killed in an explosion had been killed in an explosion while on routine patrol in a Jackal armoured vehicle.

On a visit to Afghanistan, Gordon Brown said the men would "never be forgotten".