Tributes to highest ranking officer to die in war

Published on Thursday 2 July 2009 21:51

THE most senior British serviceman to be killed in action in Afghanistan was described last night as "a superb Commanding Officer" who was "destined for greatness".

Lieutenant Colonel Rupert Thorneloe, commanding officer of the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, was killed along with 18-year-old Trooper Joshua Hammond, of 2nd Royal Tank Regiment, about five miles north of Lashkar Gah in Helmand province on Wednesday.

Lt Col Thorneloe became Britain's most senior war casualty since the Falklands.

General Sir Richard Dannatt, Chief of the General Staff, said Lt Col Thorneloe he was at the "leading edge of his generation" while his wife Sally said the 39-year-old father of two would be "sorely missed".

He had left the Battle Group Headquarters and was on a resupply convoy in order to visit his men who were conducting a major operation in hostile territory, the Ministry of Defence said.

An improvised explosive device was detonated under his Viking Armoured vehicle at about 3:20pm local time, killing him and Trooper Hammond, and taking the number of UK servicemen and women who have died in Afghanistan since operations began in October 2001 to 171.

Gen Sir Richard said his death was "a devastating blow to the Welsh Guards Battle Group and to the army as a whole".

His wife Sally said he was her "very best friend" and added: "Our daughters Hannah and Sophie will have to grow up without their beloved Daddy, although I will see a part of him in them every day.

"I could not have asked for a more caring, adoring and loving husband and father."

Describing her husband as "a born soldier" and "an inspiration", she said: "I know he led from the front and would not have had it any other way. He cared deeply about his men as he did about so many.

"His charisma, compassion and enthusiasm for all in life will be so sorely missed by his family and many friends, but most of all by me who loved him so much."

A Clarence House spokesman said the Prince of Wales, who is Colonel of the Welsh Guards, was "deeply saddened" by his death and would be writing privately both to his family and to his regiment. It is understood Charles knew Lt Col Thorneloe, of Kirtlington, near Oxford, well. Brigadier Tim Radford, Commander of Task Force Helmand, said he was "quite simply, a superb commanding officer" who was "destined for greatness".

Other senior officers described him as a "true master at work" and "a truly great man".

Major Andrew Speed, the Battalion Second in Command, said the loss of Lt Col Thorneloe was "a considerable blow" but "a blow that will not discourage us".

Lt Col Thorneloe is one of only eight army commanding officers who have died on operations in command of their units since 1948. The last one was Lt Col Herbert 'H' Jones VC OBE, who was commanding 2 Para in the Falklands Campaign when he was killed at Goose Green on 28 May, 1982.

The last UK commanding officer – across all services – to be killed on operations was Wing Commander Thomas Nigel Elsdon, of 27 Squadron RAF (Tornado GR1) on 17 January, 1991.