A/Sgt John Amer died in Afghanistan on Monday. The 30-year-old's daughter is a pupil at a Farnborough secondary school
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Aldershot soldier 'died saving comrade's life'
By Jack SommersDecember 04, 2009
AN Aldershot soldier was killed in Afghanistan on Monday while saving the life of a comrade, the Ministry of Defence said.
Acting Sergeant John Amer, of the 1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards, was killed in an explosion in the Babaji area of in Helmand.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said on Tuesday that he had died “saving the life of one of his men,” but did not give further details of what happened.
The married 30-year-old father was the third member of his battalion and the 12th soldier from Aldershot killed in Afghanistan this year.
He was also the 99th British soldier killed there this year from a total of 236 killed since 2001.
'Overwhelming loss'
Sgt Amer is survived by his widow Sue, and their daughter Lisa, who goes to school in Farnborough. Mrs Amer said she was “devastated by the loss.”
“I have lost my true love, my heart has been broken,” she said.
“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.”
'Work hard, play hard'
Lieutenant Colonel Toby Gray, commanding officer of 1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards, said: “There was only one thing bigger than Sgt Amer’s nose and that was his enormous heart. 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’.
“I last spoke and chatted with him last week. As ever, he was at the centre of maintaining the morale of the guardsmen in his platoon; whether ensuring they were fully prepared and briefed for the next patrol, checking on their welfare or just bantering with them.
“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.”
Sgt Amer was from Sunderland and joined the army in 1996. He served in Germany and Northern Ireland and rose through the ranks to train new recruits at Pirbright.
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