HERO soldier John Paxton Amer died fighting to save a comrade while doing the job he loved, his widow told today.
>> Leave your tribute messages for Sgt John Amer using the comment box at the bottom of this pageSue Amer paid tribute to her devoted husband, Acting Sergeant Amer, 30, who was killed in a blast in Afghanistan on Monday, saying: "The Army was John's world, he was mine."
Comrades described Sgt Amer, of 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards, as a "huge personality and a natural soldier", loved by his men.
The dad-of-one – who had been due to return home to Ryhope for Christmas – suffered fatal injuries trying to save a colleague in an explosion in Babaji, in Helmand Province.
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Sign our Forces Wall of HonourMum to his daughter Lisa, 13, his anguished wife said: "I have lost my true love. My heart has been broken."
"The whole world should know that John was the best father 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.
"He was my best friend. The pain of losing him is overwhelming."
Sgt Amer, who attended Southmoor School, enlisted in October 1996 and, after training, joined Number 2 Company in Munster, Germany, as part of an Armoured Infantry Battlegroup.
He completed tours of the Falkland Islands and Northern Ireland, before being posted to train recruits in Pirbright, Surrey.
He passed the Platoon Sergeants' Battle Course before taking over his Platoon, once again in Number 1 Company, before deployment to Afghanistan in October last year.
Comrades today paid tribute to their fallen friend.
Lieutenant Colonel Toby Gray, Commanding Officer 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards, said: "We have lost one of the very finest soldiers in the regiment."
Guardsman Carl Marriner said: "Sgt Amer was an inspiration to all that knew him.
