Ely, England, UK
Army, CPL, The 2nd Royal Tank Rgt
7/10/2009, Afghanistan, Nad e-Ali district
Corporal Scott was born in Ely and grew up in Littleport and March in Cambridgeshire, he spent his latter years in King’s Lynn where he married Nicola (Nikki) in February 2008 and was father to Kai and Brooke. His death affected all those who knew him, both at home and his colleagues. He was one of the youngest tank commanders in the British Army. Lee was killed by an explosion while taking part in Operation Panther’s Claw, just north of Nad-e Ali, Helmand province, on the morning of Friday 10 July 2009.
Nikki Scott, Lee’s wife:
“Lee was not only my husband but my best friend, ask anyone who was lucky enough to have met Lee and they’d all tell you the same, he was the most loving, kindest, thoughtful person you could ever meet.He was so full of life and permanently had a cheeky grin on his face. I am so proud to be his wife. As well as the army, his family were his life.
“He was the best daddy to Kai and Brooke and he will live on through them. Lee will always be in our thoughts and hearts and greatly missed by his Dad, Mum, Kelly, Dean and Denise. This is a devastating loss to the whole family.”
Lieutenant Colonel Marcus Simson, Commanding Officer 2 Royal Tank Regiment, said:
“He proved himself once again on operations in Iraq in 2007 and his performance as a Lance Corporal was such that in 2008, still aged 25, he was selected to become a Tank Commander; unheard of for someone so junior. Corporal Scott was promoted again into his current rank in October 2008 and he deployed to Afghanistan at the beginning of June this year, commanding a Viking Section. Courageous and a born leader, Cpl Scott was killed on 10th July 2009, aged just 26, leading his team from the front; a first class combat soldier.
“Known as ‘Scotty’, Cpl Scott was known throughout this small family regiment as a professional and an enthusiast. He was also known for his cheerfulness, his infectious smile and for his laughter. Whether commanding his tank, leading his section in Afghanistan, skydiving or just mucking around, Scotty was at the centre of things, loving life and making it better for everyone else. His was a career full of promise. But first and foremost, Scotty was a family man. He was proud beyond words to be a husband to Nikki and a father to his son, Kai, and his daughter, Brooke. If he loved soldiering, it was nothing to his love for them.
“Cpl Scott’s death is a very difficult blow for us to accept. That he died on patrol doing the job he loved, amongst his friends, provides only small comfort. He was the perfect role model for every Tankie and we, the regiment, were proud to know him and are poorer for his loss. Our thoughts at this time are with his family and friends, but most particularly with his lovely wife Nikki and his children.”