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inmemoriam

Lance Corporal Lee Thomas Davies, 1st Bn Welsh Guards, deployed to Afghanistan on 21 March 2012 as part of a Police Advisory Team within the Police Mentoring Advisory Group. He was based in Patrol Base Attal in the Lashkar Gah District of Helmand Province. On Saturday 12 May 2012, Corporal McCarthy and Lance Corporal Davies deployed as part of a Police Advisory Team to attend a meeting at the local Afghan Uniformed Police headquarters near Patrol Base Attal in the Lashkar Gah district of Helmand province. Their commanding officer attended the meeting whilst the remainder of the team provided security. It was at this point that they were attacked with small arms fire and both Corporal McCarthy and Lance Corporal Davies were shot and fatally injured.


Lance Corporal Lee Thomas Davies was born on 15 October 1984 in Carmarthen. After
school he was self employed before starting his career at the Infantry
Training Centre Catterick in October 2009. He successfully passed out
from Catterick in April 2010, joining the Welsh Guards. On 10 May 2010
he was posted to 1st Battalion Welsh Guards at Lille Barracks in
Aldershot. During his time in the Battalion he quickly stood out as a
natural leader and he was selected to attend the Lance Corporal
promotion cadre, subsequently promoting in December 2011.

Lance Corporal Davies was an exemplary member of the Welsh Guards. He
was an extremely popular and respected member of his company and
platoon. A gifted junior non-commissioned officer, he had earned the
respect of all he worked with.

Lance Corporal Davies had a bright future ahead of him - his
professionalism, leadership and unswerving sense of duty would have
carried him far. He will, justly, be remembered among the ranks of the
bravest of the brave.

The family are devastated at the loss of Lee and wish to be left alone
to grieve at this time.

Lieutenant Colonel Dino Bossi, Commanding Officer 1St Battalion Welsh
Guards said:

"Lance Corporal Lee Davies loved being a soldier - it was who he was. He
passed out from the Infantry Training Centre Catterick in April 2010. He
swiftly made a name for himself for his enthusiasm, fitness and
professionalism as an infantry soldier and in less than two years was
promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal. To have made such a profound
impact so early in his Army career speaks volumes about the quality of
the man we have lost today. Lance Corporal Davies was very much the up
and coming Junior Non-Commissioned Officer; he had big plans and the
personal qualities to make his ambitions a reality. He was a sports
fanatic, both watching and playing and would throw himself into any
outdoor activity. His passion for motor-sports would see him up until
all hours to watch a rally or a grand prix. In his personal life Lance
Corporal Davies was a live wire who enjoyed nothing more than a night on
the town. He was the living embodiment of the Army's work hard, play
hard ethos.

"On duty he was a consummate professional; whether 'strutting his stuff'
on public duties in London or on operations here in Afghanistan. It is
in Afghanistan that the depths of his talents became obvious to all. He
was a formidably talented team commander, in his element in this complex
and unforgiving environment. The Welsh Guards have lost a man of
inestimable promise, a fine Guardsman who lived and breathed the values
and standards of the Foot Guards. He will be missed by all of us. Our
thoughts and sympathies go out to his family."

Lieutenant Colonel Alex Potts, The King's Royal Hussars, Commanding
Officer Combined Force Lashkar Gah, said:

"Lance Corporal Lee Davies was a key figure in a thoroughly professional
and successful Police Advisor Team, who are working at the very heart of
our mission. His contribution has been significant and the team are
rightly proud of what they have achieved. We will continue his good work
with the determination that was his trademark."

Major Julian Salusbury, Company Commander, Number 2 Company, 1st
Battalion Welsh Guards, said:

"Lance Corporal Davies was an outstanding Welsh Guardsman. Newly
promoted after little more than two years service, he made the jump from
guardsman to junior non-commissioned officer with characteristic flair,
professionalism and not a little good humour. And that marked him out as
a man - cheerfulness in the face of adversity; a ready smile and a
friendly word. His catch phrase, first heard by me in the pouring rain
and cold of Aldershot training area, 'I love my job', was not only said
to raise his friends' morale but it was also the truth. Lance Corporal
Davies loved being a guardsman and was the proudest of proud Welsh
Guardsmen.

"Committed, capable and thoroughly dependable, he well understood his
role in Afghanistan. He could not have been more suited to helping the
Afghan police achieve a better, safer life for the Helmandi people.
Considerate and utterly selfless, Lance Corporal Davies accepted the
inherent risks of being a soldier and has paid the ultimate price.

"I am proud and humbled to have commanded such a fine, decent and
compassionate man. Our sadness is the keenest felt by a soldier and our
thoughts and prayers are with Lance Corporal Davies' family and friends.
His good work lives on - he will not be forgotten.

"Cymru Am Byth."

Lieutenant Ben Bardsley, Police Advisory Team Commander, Number 2
Company, 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, said:

"Lee', '27', 'Twent' - as Lance Corporal Davies was often fondly
referred to, Police Advisory Team 3 knew that the same helpful, friendly
and endearing face would respond. He was willing to help, always showing
selfless commitment at every opportunity.

"Having recently promoted in time to deploy on Op Herrick 16, he quickly
assumed his important role in the team with ease. In the month since
arriving at Patrol Base Attal, Lance Corporal Davies not only carried
out his duties to the highest standard but continued to excel and make
the role his own. In camp he was a rock for not only the Guardsman and
NCOs but also for me. On the ground he showed all the skills,
communication, grip and determination expected of an Infantry section
commander and in doing so he commanded those around him to the highest
of standards.

"As well as being a highly competent soldier who I am proud to have
called my own, he was a kind and gentle man who has left a big whole in
our lives - he is sorely missed.

"At this difficult time my thoughts go out to his family and friends for
whom such a tragic event is so difficult to bear. However, they can
take strength knowing that Lance Corporal Davies gave his life doing
what he loved amongst those who held him in the highest of regards.

"A Regimental brother has been lost. May he rest in peace.

"Cymru Am Byth."

Captain Rob Bird, Second in Command, B Squadron, Combined Force Lashkar
Gah, The King's Royal Hussars, said:

"On behalf of the whole of B Squadron, I would like to convey our
sincerest condolences to the family of Lance Corporal Davies. A giant of
a man, he was an integral part of the Welsh Guards Police Advisory Team
who had become fully absorbed into the Squadron over the last few weeks.
He had an unfaltering sense of dedication towards his job, particularly
maintaining the close professional bond between the Police Advisory
Team, B Squadron and the Afghan Police, who as we are, are deeply
shocked by the chain of events which led to his death. He was a lynchpin
of the tight-knit bond the Police Advisory Team had developed and our
thoughts are with his family at this troubling time."

Warrant Officer Class Two Paul Dunn, Company Sergeant Major, Number 2
Company, 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, said:

"Lance Corporal Davies was a truly professional soldier, a true leader
who his men looked up to. I am proud to have served with him and we will
all miss him so much. My thoughts are with his family and friends. Rest
in Peace."

Sergeant Rob Heath, Second in Command Police Advisory Team, Number 2
Company, 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, said:

"Lance Corporal Davies made my job as a Platoon Sergeant very, very
easy. Give him a task and it would be completed to the highest standard.
Give him a problem and he would always find a solution that many would
struggle to think of. He was diligent, fit and always led from the
front. He played a key part in our team and will be missed from now and
forever. We have lost our dear friend and one of the best Lance
Corporals to have ever worn the cap badge of the Welsh Guards. Our
thoughts are with his friends and family at this sad time. Rest in peace
my friend and fellow NCO.

"Cymru am Blyth."

Guardsman Matthew Jones, Police Advisory Team, Number 2 Company, 1st
Battalion Welsh Guards, said:

"For someone I hadn't known that long I felt like I'd known him for
ages. He was funny, smart and rarely complained about anything. However
when he did we always ended up in hysterics. No matter how big or small
the jobs that came his way were he always gave 100% and got the job
done. He was definitely and always will be one of the lads. Our thoughts
are with his family and friends back home."

Guardsman Josh Foley, Police Advisory Team, Number 2 Company, 1st
Battalion Welsh Guards, said:

"I've known Lance Corporal Davies for just over a year now and in that
time I have gathered some really good memories of him. He was always
there to help with anything that you wanted. I will never forget the day
that I had to service my vehicle and he got straight in there and
rounded up some of the lads to help. We managed to get the job done even
though it took all day but we did it. Lance Corporal Davies was very
good at his job and was a good friend. He will never be forgotten."

Guardsman Timothy Roe, Police Advisory Team, Number 2 Company, 1st
Battalion Welsh Guards, said:

"There's only one word to describe Lance Corporal Davies: Legend! He was
one of those lads that anyone could get along with. He was such a good
lad to have around and full of banter. He is going to be truly missed by
everyone especially in the Police Advisory Team. My thoughts are with
his family at this time."

Guardsman Jonathon Reeves, Police Advisory Team, Number 2 Company, 1st
Battalion Welsh Guards, said:

"Words cannot express how I feel at this sad time. Lance Corporal Lee
Davies was a very good friend, a great leader and an astonishing
soldier. His loss is huge to me, the boys and the Battalion. Most of all
though is the loss to his family who my condolences go out to. Our
thoughts are with you at this time. Rest in peace, mate."

Latest from icasualties.org

British military casualties - Editorial policy

In the service of our country.

Eulogies for all personnel killed on UK operations in Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere are posted as soon as they have been released by the UK Ministry of Defence. Each eulogy we publish for men down in operations brings a lump to the throat. We are losing the best of the best. Politicians must ensure that, when the newspaper cuttings have faded, their sacrifice has had some meaning, has helped bring about a good result. Anything else would be a waste for which they will be eternally condemned.

There is invariably at least a 24 hour gap between the official release of news of an event and the naming of the dead. This is to allow families to be informed and proper eulogoies to be produced. Occasionally families request no euologies or comment. We abide by guidance we receive on such sensitive matters. We regret that information on those who sacrifice almost as much through grave injury is seldom released by the MoD for operational reasons, and so we are unable to pay tribute.

 

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