Tributes for Shropshire marine killed by teenage bomber

Dec 15 2008 By Emma McKinney

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has condemned the Taliban as “cowardly” for using a 13-year-old apparent suicide bomber to spark an explosion which killed a Shropshire Royal Marine.

Damian Davies, who was about to become a father for the second time, was killed alongside two colleagues in the terror blast in Afghanistan.

Tributes poured in for the 27-year-old, of Telford, Shropshire, who was described as the “perfect husband” to his pregnant widow Joanne, who he married only last year, and a doting father to the couple’s son, Matthew.

Marine Davies, who was with the Commando Logistics Regiment, died alongside Kosovo veteran Sgt John Manuel, 38, of Gateshead, Tyne & Wear, and recently-married Cpl Marc Birch, 26, of Kingsthorpe, Northamptonshire, who were both serving with 45 Commando.

The news comes after a fourth man Lance Corporal Steven Fellows, 26, from High Wycombe, died in a separate incident during a patrol earlier the same day when his vehicle bore the brunt of an explosion.

Their deaths bring the number of British military fatalities in Afghanistan since the start of operations in 2001 to 132.

Affectionately known as Damo to his friends, Marine Davies was hailed a hero on a group set up on social networking website Facebook.

Cpl Ben Parks wrote: “In work Damo was the first to volunteer no matter what the task and 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.

“Damo was always talking of his wife and son – he loved and adored them with all his heart, and what a huge heart he had.

“Damo will be remembered as a great friend and a perfect husband and father. He will be greatly missed by all who had met and worked with him.

“Rest in peace Royal.”

Alison Grayson added: “Damo, we have lost such an amazing friend. Love you and will miss you so much.”