THE BODY of a Hampshire hero killed during a gunfight in Afghanistan is expected to be flown home at the end of the week.

The news comes as it was revealed that brave bomb disposal expert Sapper William Blanchard was a much-loved Warsash Scout leader who inspired a generation of Sea Scouts.

Plans are under way to pay a special tribute to the 39-year-old at this year’s Remembrance Service in the village and a group of Scout leaders will make the pilgrimage to Wootton Bassett later this week to pay their respects when his body returns to the UK.

As reported in yesterday’s Daily Echo, the popular Territorial Army soldier was fatally shot while trying to disarm a suspect device in Helmand Province on Saturday.

His widow Suzanne Blanchard, his ex-wife Sue Rees-Blanchard and his two stepchildren Tom, 19 and Lucy came together 24 hours later to remember the “wonderful” dad and husband at St Mary’s Church, Warsash.

Before moving to Gosport three years ago, the Univer-sity of Southampton graduate lived in the village, where he was assistant Scout leader for the 1st Warsash Sea Scouts for around ten years, taking on the role when his stepson Tom joined.

His friend Alistair Davidson, group Scout leader, said: “He was superb and so patient with all the children. He just loved being with the kids and they absolutely loved him.

“He was a gentle man and a gentleman. You would trust him with your life.

“He was quite a quiet man, but he had such a great dry sense of humour that he would always come up with a pertinent comment.

“Everything he did he did it with a twinkle in his eye.”

Alistair has set up a group online for people to post their tributes to Sapper Blanchard, which he will compile and put into a book of condolences.

Prime Minister David Cameron joined the tributes.

Speaking at Prime Minister’s Question Time in the House of Commons, Mr Cameron praised the “unbelievable acts of personal courage and sacrifice” of Britain’s armed forces.

He said: “They are the bravest of the brave. We will not forget what he did.”

Leader of the Opposition Ed Miliband added: “He died doing the bravest and most heroic work and we send our deepest condolences to his family.”

Sapper Blanchard, who outside the TA was a radiation protection officer, had volunteered for the 101 (City of London) Engineer Regiment (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) in 2007 and was deployed to Afghanistan in September, having volunteered for mobilisation and joined 61 Field Squadron (Explosive Ordnance Disposal).