Acting Sgt John Amer, from the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards, was killed in Afghanistan on Monday 30 November, 2009, saving the life of one of his men.

The 30-year-old was fatally wounded as he went to help a colleague who had been wounded in another explosion moments earlier, in the Babaji area of central Helmand province.

His widow, Sue, said: "I am devastated by the loss of my loving husband John. I have lost my true love, my heart has been broken. The whole world should know that John was the best father that our daughter could have wished for.

"This cruel world has taken a hero who touched the hearts of everyone he met, a very special man who brought joy and laughter. The Army was John's world, he was mine. He was my best friend, the pain of losing him is overwhelming."

He also left a daughter, Lisa.

A Sunderland man, he enlisted in 1996 and after training joined Number 2 Company based at Munster, Germany.

He moved with the Battalion back to Windsor in 1998 to experience his first of many state ceremonial occasions and public duties.

At the end of the year he deployed with his Company to the Falkland Islands for a four-month tour: He quickly marked out his plot as a future Non-Commissioned Officer.

A tour of Northern Ireland preceded promotion and he deployed to South Armagh on the Millennium Tour over the winter of 1999/2000.

Shortly after returning to Windsor he passed the Junior Non-Commissioned Officer cadre.

More public duties followed, but the Battalion was soon preparing for operations once again, this time a two-year residential tour to Londonderry in Number 1 Company.

After a very short period as a Lance Corporal he attended the challenging Section Commanders' Battle Course in Brecon, and passed with ease.

At the end of the Londonderry tour, Sergeant Amer was promoted to Lance Sergeant.

He was posted to train recruits in Pirbright and after returning from there he passed the Platoon Sergeants' Battle Course before taking over his Platoon, once again in Number 1 Company. It was with this Platoon that he deployed to Afghanistan in early October 2009.

Lieutenant Colonel Toby Gray, Commanding Officer 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards, said: "He was loved by his men, cherished by his friends and respected by his seniors.

"I have known him for 13 years and I have had the privilege of serving with him, as he progressed from Guardsman to Platoon Sergeant. He lived by the maxim ‘work hard, play hard'.

"His grip and tenderness were keenly on display. He was like the benevolent uncle, respected and loved by them all. His soldiers were happy and proud to serve with a man with integrity, honour and one of the keenest senses of humour in the Battalion.

"We have lost one of the very finest soldiers in the regiment. He died saving a comrade and doing the job he both loved and excelled at. To the last, he was thinking of others.

"As a brother in arms, there was no-one better. He leaves a gap in our hearts never to be filled."

The Ministry of Defence said: "Sergeant Amer was a huge personality and a natural soldier. He was loved by his men, respected by his seniors and cherished by all.

"Whether on parade at Buckingham Palace, teaching recruits in training, socialising in the Mess or, most recently, training his Platoon and leading his Multiple on complex counter-insurgency operations, Sgt Amer was the consummate professional.

"He was the epitome of a modern, caring, intelligent and hugely courageous Senior Non Commissioned Officer and he was forever a Coldstreamer.

"It was fitting that Sergeant Amer died saving the life of one of his men, for it was for them that he served. Sergeant Amer will be missed forever and remembered for the many happy times."