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'I never had a doubt James would come home. I never worried, not even once'
THE mother of a South Yorkshire soldier killed in a roadside blast in Afghanistan has paid tribute to her hero son - and says she "never had a doubt" that he would come home before his tragic death.
James Leverett, aged 20, of Rawmarsh, Rotherham, died just over three weeks ago while on a vehicle patrol with the Royal Dragoon Guards in Helmand province.
The fallen soldier's mum Sharon Leverett, 36, said her son "wanted to get every minute out of life", and was looking forward with girlfriend Tiffany Lound to the birth of their baby boy - a child he will never meet.
An emotional Sharon also said she was struggling to think about James' full military funeral, due to take place at midday today at Sheffield Cathedral.
He will be buried in Rawmarsh, followed by a wake at the town's Star pub.
Click here to see the full cortege route.
The grieving mum said: "He would do anything for anyone.
"He was independent, determined and friendly. He wanted to better himself."
Sharon said James first mentioned joining the Army about a year before he signed up aged 18.
"He didn't dream about joining, it was never a childhood thing of his.
"It was one of those spur of the moment things - but he did think about it before he did it. It happened so fast."
She said she never tried to talk her son out of joining the Armed Forces.
Click here to read tributes to James and leave your own message in our online book of condolence
"I can't answer for every mum, but I think they probably all feel the same. They don't want any of their kids to join a job like that. You're proud and scared at the same time. I just encouraged him. You've got to let them make their own choices.
"He seemed to enjoy it, and there was never any bad news. He used to come home at weekends."
James attended Rawmarsh Comprehensive School, and later worked for an industrial cleaning firm.
He had just completed a four-week work experience placement at a plasterers' before starting his basic Army training at Winchester.
"He didn't like school but he went every day. He was a bit of a rogue. But he didn't get thrown out, he stuck at it. The friends he's still got now he had had since infant school."
She said James was close to his three brothers Neville, 19, Lewis, 15, Jack, 10 and stepdad Tony Weighell, 41, who works at Sheffield Forgemasters. His father Neville, 38, lives in New Zealand, where he works for Rolls-Royce.
"He had three families. Us, his friends, and the Army," Sharon said.
"He was lucky to have three families like that. When James was born he was walking early, crawling early. It was like he was never a child.
He was a little man."
Sharon said she "never worried" about James' safety in Afghanistan, where he was attached to 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles Battle Group.
He was also "proud as punch" about being recommended for promotion to the rank of Lance Corporal.
"I knew what sort of person James was. I never had a doubt that he would come home. I never worried, not once. I'm proud because he was doing what he wanted to do. That's kept me strong, knowing how brave he was to get on that plane.
"If he tried to talk to me about it, I would just say 'You're going to be all right'. I don't think he worried that this was going to happen either."
Sharon also said that the Army are "losing too many people" in Afghanistan, adding: "I think this is not our war."
"I don't know all the facts, I'm not an MP. Obviously something needs to be sorted, we're losing too many people out there.
"Too many families are going through what I'm going through.
"I do think we should not be there. I do think this is not our war. But I could say a lot."
James' childhood sweetheart Tiffany is "nervous" about giving birth to the couple's baby boy in September, she said. Tiffany plans to call the baby James in honour of his father.
"It was his bet to have a boy," Sharon said. Tiffany and James had been told they were expecting a girl after a hospital scan, but James wagered 50 that the baby would be a boy.
The day after James' death, devastated Tiffany discovered she was carrying a boy after all. James also left her a sealed note to be opened only if he died serving his country, telling her: "Don't cry. Just put all your energy into bringing up our baby."
"He was over the moon about the baby," Sharon said. "That's still really upsetting. We are all there for each other. We're drawing strength from James. Rawmarsh has been great, we've had lots of support.
"I don't think about the funeral because if I do I will probably just crack up."
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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