DIDCOT’S 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment will tomorrow bury Captain Daniel Read, who was killed in Afghanistan last month.

Capt Read, 31, died defusing a roadside bomb while on foot patrol in the Musa Qala region of Helmand province.

Just weeks earlier, he had returned to the front line after suffering injuries in another blast which killed a military policeman.

Capt Read, who leaves wife Lorraine, defused 32 roadside bombs during his service in Afghanistan.

His funeral is being held in Cornwall.

Meanwhile, the regiment has confirmed national reports that it is now one-fifth undermanned while on active service in Afghanistan.

Roadside bombs are now responsible for 90 per cent of servicemen’s deaths in Afghanistan, but the regiment can only field 80 per cent of its full strength, despite a recruitment drive.

The highly skilled experts take up to eight years to train, but often only serve on the front line for a maximum of two years.

Four members of the regiment have died in the last 16 months.

Staff Sgt Olaf Schmid was killed on the final day of a five-month tour of duty in Afghanistan last November; Capt Dan Shepherd died following an explosion last July; and George Medal winner Warrant Officer Gary O’Donnell died in September 2008.

Meanwhile, the bodies of two soldiers killed in Afghanistan are due to arrive at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, on Friday for a post mortem.

Corporal Liam Riley, 21, and Lance Corporal Graham Shaw, 27, both of 3rd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, died in an explosion on Monday in Helmand Province.

Hundreds of people are expected to line Headley Way to meet the cortege at 3pm.