The body of a Shropshire marine, who was looking forward to becoming a father for the second time when he was killed in a bomb attack in Afghanistan, was today flown back to England.

• See also:  Tragedy of blast victim Marine

The body of a Shropshire marine, who was looking forward to becoming a father for the second time when he was killed in a bomb attack in Afghanistan, was today flown back to England.

Damian Davies’s body arrived at RAF Lyneham this morning where his devastated wife, Joanne, who was joined by her parents and her late husband’s parents, had travelled. 

The nearby town of Wootton Bassett was later due to come to a standstill, with many shops closed, as Mr Davies’ coffin and those of his two colleagues, also killed in the blast last Friday, were brought through in a ceremonial procession.

Mrs Davies had discovered she was pregnant before her husband was killed and told him in an “e-bluey”.

His colleagues said he was over the moon and despite it being early days had told everyone.

Mrs Davies described him as a devoted daddy to their 19-month-old son Matthew.

Devastated friends and family members have left floral tributes outside the home of Mr Davies’s parents, Maddison and Ken, in Wrockwardine Wood. 

Mr Davies’s brother, Warren, who is also a marine, had requested to be a pallbearer to carry his brother’s coffin today but Ministry of Defence bosses decided it would be best for him to be with his family at such a distressing time. 

Mr Davies also leaves brothers Carl and Austin and sister Ceri Haylor. 

Meanwhile, critically injured Hodnet soldier Simon Vaughan, 24, was due to undergo surgery to close a wound on his leg today at Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham after he was wounded in a roadside bomb explosion in Afghanistan earlier this month.