Paying respects to a doting dad killed by roadside bomb (From Witney Gazette)

Paying respects to a doting dad killed by roadside bomb

7:00am Wednesday 12th September 2012 in News By Debbie Waite, Features writer

SERGEANT Lee Davidson was looking forward to returning home to England for the birth of his third child – a daughter.

But tomorrow his body will be flown back into RAF Brize Norton , bringing the total number of UK dead in Afghanistan to 427.

Sgt Davidson, 31, from Doncaster, North Yorkshire, was killed on Sunday when his vehicle hit a roadside bomb while on patrol with the Afghan Uniform Police in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand.

Sergeant Davidson had been deployed to Afghanistan on April 16 as the Troop Sergeant of Support Troop in A Squadron, the Light Dragoons. But in June, he and his men were formed into a Police Advisory Team, as part of the Police Mentoring and Advisory Group.

It was a job he was immensely proud of.

A devoted husband to wife Samantha and doting father to his two boys, Jayden and Jamie, the family were eagerly awaiting the birth of a third child, a daughter.

Mrs Davidson said: “My gorgeous husband Lee, we all can’t believe you have gone. You are my best friend, lover and the best husband and father I could have ever wished for. You really are the total package – good looking, kind, loving, generous and the best dad I have ever known.”

Lieutenant Colonel Sam Plant, Commanding Officer, The Light Dragoons called Sgt Davidson “a simply superb soldier and a wonderful man.” He added: “He was the most natural leader of men and soldiers flourished under his command – he set the perfect tone and example and cared deeply for his soldiers’ welfare.

Sgt Davidson’s body will arrive at RAF Brize Norton at about 1.30pm tomorrow and his cortege will pass the Carterton Memorial Garden between 4.00pm and 4.30pm, reaching the John Radcliffe Hospital for a post mortem examination at about 5.30pm.

As always, hundreds of local people, as well as civic leaders and local dignitaries, are expected to gather in Carterton to pay their respects, while the mayor Adrian Coomber, will host members of Sgt Davidson’s extended family at the Memorial Garden.

Mr Coomber said: “Carterton continues to provide tremendous support on the days of repatriations, particularly since we accepted the enormous responsibility in September 2011.

“I am enormously proud of how the community has responded.