Lieutenant Colonel and leader of the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards killed in Afghanistan
Lieutenant Colonel Rupert Thorneloe MBE, Commanding Officer of the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, died on Wednesday 1 July, 2009, in Afghanistan.
He was the most senior British officer to be killed in action since operations in Afghanistan began in October 2001.
He was killed by an explosion - along with Trooper Joshua Hammond- whilst on convoy along the Shamalan Canal, near Lashkar Gah, in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.
The Prince of Wales, who is Colonel of the Welsh Guards, knew Lt Col Thorneloe personally and was said to be "deeply saddened" by his death. A Clarence House spokesman said the Prince would be writing privately both to his family and to his regiment.
Lt Col Thorneloe, 39, left the Battle Group Headquarters on a resupply convoy so that he could visit his men, because they were conducting a major operation in hostile territory.
He was travelling in a Viking armoured vehicle, but an explosive device was detonated under this vehicle and Lt Col Thorneloe and Tpr Hammond were killed by the blast.
Secretary of State for Defence, Bob Ainsworth, said: ...
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