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| UK Lt Colonel dies in Afghanistan | UK Lt Colonel dies in Afghanistan |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The highest ranking Army officer to be killed since the Falklands War is one of the two latest British casualties in Afghanistan, officials have confirmed. | The highest ranking Army officer to be killed since the Falklands War is one of the two latest British casualties in Afghanistan, officials have confirmed. |
| The Ministry of Defence said Lt Col Rupert Thorneloe, 39, from Oxfordshire, commanding officer of the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, died on Wednesday. | The Ministry of Defence said Lt Col Rupert Thorneloe, 39, from Oxfordshire, commanding officer of the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, died on Wednesday. |
| Trooper Joshua Hammond, 18, from Plymouth, of 2nd Royal Tank Regiment, died in the same explosion. | Trooper Joshua Hammond, 18, from Plymouth, of 2nd Royal Tank Regiment, died in the same explosion. |
| It brings the number of British deaths in Afghanistan since 2001 to 171. | It brings the number of British deaths in Afghanistan since 2001 to 171. |
| 'Unbreakable spirit' | |
| Six other soldiers were injured in the blast. | Six other soldiers were injured in the blast. |
| Interview with Lt Col Thorneloe | |
| News of the latest fatalities came on the same day as the US army announced it had launched a major offensive against the Taliban. | News of the latest fatalities came on the same day as the US army announced it had launched a major offensive against the Taliban. |
| Last week, UK troops launched their own push to drive the Taliban out of strongholds in and around Babaji, north of Lashkar Gah, in Helmand. | Last week, UK troops launched their own push to drive the Taliban out of strongholds in and around Babaji, north of Lashkar Gah, in Helmand. |
| Lt Col Thorneloe and Trooper Hammond died near Lashkar Gah when an improvised explosive device was detonated under their Viking armoured vehicle. | Lt Col Thorneloe and Trooper Hammond died near Lashkar Gah when an improvised explosive device was detonated under their Viking armoured vehicle. |
| They had been part of a resupply convoy heading towards troops engaged in hostile territory. | They had been part of a resupply convoy heading towards troops engaged in hostile territory. |
| Gen Sir Richard Dannatt, Chief of the General Staff, said Lt Col Thorneloe was "an outstanding commanding officer". | Gen Sir Richard Dannatt, Chief of the General Staff, said Lt Col Thorneloe was "an outstanding commanding officer". |
| "His courageous, thoughtful stewardship of 1st Battalion Welsh Guards since October last year has seen them superbly prepared for the demands of Afghanistan, both in terms of their professional capability and their unbreakable spirit as a team," he said. | "His courageous, thoughtful stewardship of 1st Battalion Welsh Guards since October last year has seen them superbly prepared for the demands of Afghanistan, both in terms of their professional capability and their unbreakable spirit as a team," he said. |
| "At the leading edge of his generation, his loss will be felt deeply not only by his family but also by his soldiers and others, who like me, had the privilege to serve with him." | "At the leading edge of his generation, his loss will be felt deeply not only by his family but also by his soldiers and others, who like me, had the privilege to serve with him." |
| Lt Col Thorneloe, who was from Kirtlington, near Oxford, was in charge of more than 1,000 soldiers. | Lt Col Thorneloe, who was from Kirtlington, near Oxford, was in charge of more than 1,000 soldiers. |
| Lt Col Thorneloe's wife said his death was a "devastating blow" | Lt Col Thorneloe's wife said his death was a "devastating blow" |
| He leaves his wife Sally and their two daughters, Hannah and Sophie. | He leaves his wife Sally and their two daughters, Hannah and Sophie. |
| His wife said: "Rupert was my very best friend and his death is a devastating blow. | His wife said: "Rupert was my very best friend and his death is a devastating blow. |
| "Rupert loved the Army. He was a born soldier - an inspiration." | "Rupert loved the Army. He was a born soldier - an inspiration." |
| She said her husband "felt privileged" to command his battalion, adding that he "led from the front and would not have had it any other way". | She said her husband "felt privileged" to command his battalion, adding that he "led from the front and would not have had it any other way". |
| Regimental Lieutenant Colonel of the Welsh Guards Sandy Malcolm said he inspired "confidence, trust and huge respect". | Regimental Lieutenant Colonel of the Welsh Guards Sandy Malcolm said he inspired "confidence, trust and huge respect". |
| "He was the consummate professional, charismatic, possessed an intellect that was as sharp as you can get, able to absorb issues large and small, and he was utterly charming," Lt Col Malcolm said. | "He was the consummate professional, charismatic, possessed an intellect that was as sharp as you can get, able to absorb issues large and small, and he was utterly charming," Lt Col Malcolm said. |
| 'Superb soldier' | 'Superb soldier' |
| Trooper Hammond enlisted in the Army aged just 16 and died only a week before his 19th birthday. He was engaged to be married. | Trooper Hammond enlisted in the Army aged just 16 and died only a week before his 19th birthday. He was engaged to be married. |
| In a statement, his family said: "Joshua was a tremendous son. He was proud to be a soldier and died doing a job he loved. | In a statement, his family said: "Joshua was a tremendous son. He was proud to be a soldier and died doing a job he loved. |
| "We are devastated by the loss of Joshua, who was a loving son. We are proud of the fact that Joshua was prepared to do his duty, helping the people of Afghanistan." | "We are devastated by the loss of Joshua, who was a loving son. We are proud of the fact that Joshua was prepared to do his duty, helping the people of Afghanistan." |
| Lt Col Marcus Simson, Commanding Officer 2nd Royal Tank Regiment, said that after only a month in theatre Trooper Hammond had already "proved himself to be a superb soldier". | Lt Col Marcus Simson, Commanding Officer 2nd Royal Tank Regiment, said that after only a month in theatre Trooper Hammond had already "proved himself to be a superb soldier". |
| "Fit, courageous and robust, he was the first to volunteer, the first to muck in and the first to offer help to others. But he was so much more than that," he said. | "Fit, courageous and robust, he was the first to volunteer, the first to muck in and the first to offer help to others. But he was so much more than that," he said. |
| "For he was at the heart of everything that was going on. He was full of laughter, was always ready to listen and he cared deeply about his mates." | "For he was at the heart of everything that was going on. He was full of laughter, was always ready to listen and he cared deeply about his mates." |
| Lt Col Thorneloe is the highest ranking officer in the British armed forces to die in Afghanistan. | Lt Col Thorneloe is the highest ranking officer in the British armed forces to die in Afghanistan. |
| He is also the most senior soldier to have been killed in action since Lt Col Herbert 'H' Jones in 1982. | He is also the most senior soldier to have been killed in action since Lt Col Herbert 'H' Jones in 1982. |
| Lt Col Jones was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions as commanding officer of 2nd Battalion, the Parachute Regiment, during the Battle for Goose Green during the Falklands conflict. | Lt Col Jones was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions as commanding officer of 2nd Battalion, the Parachute Regiment, during the Battle for Goose Green during the Falklands conflict. |
| 'Greatest decency' | 'Greatest decency' |
| A Clarence House spokesman said the Prince of Wales, who is Colonel of the Welsh Guards, was "deeply saddened" by Lt Col Thorneloe's death. | A Clarence House spokesman said the Prince of Wales, who is Colonel of the Welsh Guards, was "deeply saddened" by Lt Col Thorneloe's death. |
| It is understood Prince Charles knew him well and his spokesman said he would be writing privately to both his family and his regiment. | It is understood Prince Charles knew him well and his spokesman said he would be writing privately to both his family and his regiment. |
| Tribute paid to two British soldiers | Tribute paid to two British soldiers |
| Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth, said Lt Col Thorneloe led his men "with energy, care, and pride". | Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth, said Lt Col Thorneloe led his men "with energy, care, and pride". |
| "I knew him myself, as a man of incisive thought, enormous professionalism and the greatest decency, who could not wait to leave the high-profile post in the Ministry of Defence where he had performed so impressively in order to take command of his battalion on operations," Mr Ainsworth said. | "I knew him myself, as a man of incisive thought, enormous professionalism and the greatest decency, who could not wait to leave the high-profile post in the Ministry of Defence where he had performed so impressively in order to take command of his battalion on operations," Mr Ainsworth said. |
| "He saw it as the best job he would ever do, but I know that his genuinely exceptional abilities would have ensured him a brilliant career. | "He saw it as the best job he would ever do, but I know that his genuinely exceptional abilities would have ensured him a brilliant career. |
| "I cannot imagine a finer officer to have had in the front rank of the British army, and his loss is all the harder." | "I cannot imagine a finer officer to have had in the front rank of the British army, and his loss is all the harder." |
| Mr Ainsworth added that Trooper Hammond was "by all accounts an exemplary soldier, popular with his comrades and a true family man". | Mr Ainsworth added that Trooper Hammond was "by all accounts an exemplary soldier, popular with his comrades and a true family man". |
| In an interview with the BBC in February, shortly before deployment to Afghanistan, Lt Col Thorneloe said he expected the mission to be "extraordinarily demanding". | In an interview with the BBC in February, shortly before deployment to Afghanistan, Lt Col Thorneloe said he expected the mission to be "extraordinarily demanding". |
| "I think we view this as the most challenging mission that we as a battalion will face since the Falklands in 1982." | "I think we view this as the most challenging mission that we as a battalion will face since the Falklands in 1982." |