By Sarah Newstead

Last updated at 15:19, Friday, 23 July 2010

The body of an Aspatria soldier, killed by a bomb blast in Afghanistan, has been flown back to the UK.

David Monkhouse

Royal Dragoon Guards medic Sgt David Monkhouse, 35, died while on foot patrol in Helmand province on Saturday.

His body was repatriated to RAF Lyneham, Wiltshire, yeserday along with those of three other fallen soldiers. Following a private ceremony, the cortege passed through the nearby town of Wootton Bassett with mourners lining the streets to pay their respects.

This week, one of Sgt Monkhouse’s former teachers paid a tribute to the “popular” pupil who had become a friend.

Shakir Rajput, 53, head of science at Aspatria’s Beacon Hill School, told The Cumberland News of his devastation at Sgt Monkhouse’s death and said: “He was a tremendous lad – very bright, motivated and really the heart and the soul.” The pair had kept in touch over the 19 years since Sgt Monkhouse left school aged 16 to join the Junior Leaders’ Regiment in Bovington.

“He was so easy to get on with and popular among pupils and staff,” said Mr Rajput. Later, the officer would drop by to chat about his life whenever he was on leave, occasionally bringing his daughter, Daisy-Twinkle.

“He was here on his last leave and popped in to say hello. We talked about the dangers he faced.

“He was saying ‘I’m not in the front-line, I’m quite far back’. I said ‘nowhere is safe, David’.

“But never in a million years did I think he would not come back. He always seemed so sure.

“He was saying he had nearly finished his stint in the army and was looking forward to starting a new life. He was going to buy a farm and live the good life.

“Then he wrote to me a few months later saying he had changed his mind and wanted to be a teacher.

“He would have been ideal, he had so much to give.”

Sgt Monkhouse sent several letters to his former teacher describing his life as a soldier.

He would talk of everyday life in Afghanistan, of listening to street dogs bark while the Taliban were “sleeping”.

Mr Rajput said that from a very early age, Sgt Monkhouse felt a strong calling to the armed forces.

The teacher keeps a picture of his former pupil, in his army uniform, on the wall in his classroom. “I am devastated and all my thoughts are with his family.”

Mr Rajput joined the many others who have paid tribute to the popular soldier.

Sgt Monkhouse leaves his mother, Bobby, sister, Deborah, partner Fiona, and daughter.

The family, who live at Fell View, Aspatria, described him as “an exceptional soldier and loving and devoted parent”.

Lieutenant Colonel James Carr-Smith, commanding officer of the Royal Dragoon Guards said: “While Bob’s passion for soldiering and medicine was significant, it did not come close to his love for his daughter, Twinkle.

“She was his everything. She can be hugely proud of her father, for he was a great man.”

A class one medical technician, Sgt Monkhouse also served on four tours in Northern Ireland and in Iraq in 2007.

First published at 14:14, Friday, 23 July 2010
Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk