The pregnant wife of a Shropshire Royal Marine killed by a suspected 13-year-old suicide bomber in Afghanistan today paid an emotional tribute to “the most wonderful caring husband and daddy”.

Joanne Davies said the death of her 27-year-old husband Damian on Friday would leave a huge hole in her life and that of the couple’s 19-month-old son Matthew and their families.

• See also: Marine was to be a dad again
• See also: Pals tell of big-hearted Damian

Mrs Davies, speaking from her parents’ home in London Road, St Georges, Telford, said her husband had spoken to comrades about his delight that they were expecting their second child.

She said it was love at first sight when the couple met in June 2003 through Damian’s sister, Ceri, on a night out in Shrewsbury. The couple married in St Georges in June 2005. Matthew was born in May 2007.

The couple attended Wrockwardine Wood School, although Mrs Davies, who worked in accounts at the Shropshire Star, was five years older than her husband. 

The soldier was planning to leave the Marines after his tour of duty finished next year. Mrs Davies said: “He was just keeping his head down and said he would be home soon. We were just counting the weeks.”

Mrs Davies said she had confirmed her pregnancy in a letter to him. 

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 he was going to be a proud father once again.”

Marine Davies’s parents Maddison and Ken live in Wrockwardine Wood, Telford. He leaves brothers Carl, Warren – also a Marine – and Austin, and sister Ceri Haylor.

Meanwhile, Simon Vaughan, 24, of Hodnet, remains critical today in Birmingham’s Selly Oak Hospital after being badly injured in a car bomb explosion in Afghanistan. His mother, Lynne Vaughan, said she and his six brothers and sisters were making a CD to play messages of love and his favourite music.

By Jo Cunningham