Midlands marine killed by schoolboy bomber in Afghanistan
Midlands marine Damian Davies, killed in Afghanistan
Four Royal Marines killed in Afghanistan, including one from the Midlands, were named by the Ministry of Defence last night.
Sergeant John Manuel, Corporal Marc Birch and Marine Damian Davies, from Telford, Shropshire, were killed by a suspected suicide bomber aged just 13 in Helmand Province yesterday afternoon.
Earlier in the day, Lance Corporal Steven Fellows died from injuries suffered when an explosion hit his vehicle while on patrol in Sangin.
The incidents brought the number of British military deaths in Afghanistan since the start of operations in 2001 to 132.
Marine Davies leaves behind a young son Matthew and wife Joanne, who is expecting their second child.
His squadron commander, Major Marcus Taylor, said he was an experienced and popular member of the unit.
“Marine Davies was always at the forefront of activity and the first to volunteer from his troop no matter how difficult or dangerous the mission,” he said.
“A proud husband and father, Marine Davies will leave a void in many lives that will be impossible to fill.
“Cruelly and tragically taken from us, he will be greatly missed by all who had the privilege to know him.”
Corporal Ben Parks and Marine Lee Douglas, his comrades in the troop, said he was a “Bootneck’s Bootneck” - a Marine’s Marine.
“No matter what the task he would make sure it was seen through to the end, never afraid of getting his hands dirty and not happy unless it was completed perfectly,” they said.
“Damo was always talking of his wife Joanne and son Matthew; he loved and adored them with all his heart, and what a huge heart he had.
“He will be greatly missed by all who had met and worked with him.”
Defence Secretary John Hutton said his sympathy was with Marine Davies’ wife and son.
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