Lee was man of my dreams, says pregnant widow of Afghanistan soldier

Sergeant Lee Davidson, 32, of The Light Dragoons, died last month after his Ridgeback vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb while patrolling with the Afghan Uniformed Police in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province.

A letter to Sgt Davidson, written and recorded by his wife Samantha, who is around seven months pregnant, was played at his funeral in Thorne, near Doncaster.

Mrs Davidson said: “I met the man of my dreams and I knew I would marry this man.”

She continued: “I promise to keep your memory alive. I love you Lee. We all love you.

“We had five and a half years of great fun, love and memories and I will tell our children all of them.

“One day we will meet again. Until we do, I’m never letting you go. Love you always and forever.”

Sgt Davidson’s sons, Jayden and Jamie, also attended the funeral at St Nicholas’s Church, where the soldier and his wife got married last year.

Hundreds of people lined the streets of the town and packed into the church to pay their respects to the serviceman.

As the funeral cortege approached, Royal British Legion standard-bearers raised and then slowly lowered their flags.

Pallbearers carried the coffin, draped in a Union flag and with Sgt Davidson’s hat and belt placed on top, into the church, followed by the soldier’s family.

A blue and white floral tribute in the hearse spelled out the word “Daddy”.

Mourners, many carrying single red roses, crowded into the churchyard to listen to the service over loudspeakers.

Sgt Davidson was the 427th member of UK forces to have died since operations in Afghanistan began in October 2001.

A letter written by Sgt Davidson himself was also read out.

James Walker, a close friend, said Sgt Davidson had left instructions for the letter to be read at his funeral.

He began: “If a vicar or one of my friends is reading this, all I can say is ‘Whoops, that wasn’t supposed to happen’.”

Sgt Davidson thanked everyone for coming and added: “Never forget me and, from time to time, have a pint for me.”

The letter contained messages to the soldier’s mother, three sisters and grandparents.

He also left messages for his wife and sons.

He said: “Jayden and Jamie, you boys have been my world since you were born and I will miss everything about you.”

Writing to his wife Samantha, the soldier said: “Thanks for being my rock, best friend, lover, therapist, mother and wife.

“I will miss you the most and I leave everything I own to you.

“Thank you for every day making me the happiest man alive. I love you.”