Menu
03/07/2009
Tributes For Two Soldiers Killed In Afghan Blast
The British regiment commander who died in an Afghanistan bomb blast was the most senior ranking officer to have been killed since the Falklands War.
Lieutenant-Colonel Rupert Thorneloe, 39, the commanding officer of the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, was killed when the Viking armoured tracked vehicle he was travelling in was caught up in an explosion in Helmand province.
Trooper Joshua Hammond, 18, of 2nd Royal Tank Regiment was also killed, and six soldiers were wounded, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed.
The pair were killed by an explosion whilst on convoy along the Shamalan Canal, near Lashkar Gah, in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
General Sir Richard Dannatt described Lt Col Thorneloe as an "outstanding commanding officer" who was at the "leading edge of his generation".
He added: "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 remarkable spirit as a team."
A Clarence House spokesman said the Prince of Wales, who is colonel of the Welsh Guards and is understood to have known Thorneloe well, was "deeply saddened" by his death and would be writing privately both to his family and to his regiment.
Secretary for State for Defence, Bob Ainsworth, also praised Lt Col Thorneloe for "his enormous professionalism and the greatest decency".
He added that Trooper Joshua Hammond was "by all accounts an exemplary soldier, popular with his comrades and a true family man".
"Tributes to his bravery, skill and commitment to his friends and family paint a picture of good and much-loved man whose contribution and presence will be hugely missed by all those who knew him".
News of the British fatalities came as American forces launched a massive pre-dawn operation in Taliban-controlled areas of Helmand.
Nearly 4,000 US Marines and 650 Afghan troops are involved in the offensive.
The deaths take the total number of UK troops killed in Afghanistan since 2001 to 171.
(JM/BMcC)
Lieutenant-Colonel Rupert Thorneloe, 39, the commanding officer of the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, was killed when the Viking armoured tracked vehicle he was travelling in was caught up in an explosion in Helmand province.
Trooper Joshua Hammond, 18, of 2nd Royal Tank Regiment was also killed, and six soldiers were wounded, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed.
The pair were killed by an explosion whilst on convoy along the Shamalan Canal, near Lashkar Gah, in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
General Sir Richard Dannatt described Lt Col Thorneloe as an "outstanding commanding officer" who was at the "leading edge of his generation".
He added: "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 remarkable spirit as a team."
A Clarence House spokesman said the Prince of Wales, who is colonel of the Welsh Guards and is understood to have known Thorneloe well, was "deeply saddened" by his death and would be writing privately both to his family and to his regiment.
Secretary for State for Defence, Bob Ainsworth, also praised Lt Col Thorneloe for "his enormous professionalism and the greatest decency".
He added that Trooper Joshua Hammond was "by all accounts an exemplary soldier, popular with his comrades and a true family man".
"Tributes to his bravery, skill and commitment to his friends and family paint a picture of good and much-loved man whose contribution and presence will be hugely missed by all those who knew him".
News of the British fatalities came as American forces launched a massive pre-dawn operation in Taliban-controlled areas of Helmand.
Nearly 4,000 US Marines and 650 Afghan troops are involved in the offensive.
The deaths take the total number of UK troops killed in Afghanistan since 2001 to 171.
(JM/BMcC)
Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
03 May 2011
Ian Tomlinson Unlawfully Killed, Finds Jury
An inquest jury has ruled that Ian Tomlinson was unlawfully killed at the G20 protests in London. Mr Tomlinson, 47, died after he was struck by a baton by Pc Simon Harwood on 1 April 2009 during the London protests. The jury determined the officer used "excessive and unreasonable" force on Mr Tomlinson who was not taking part in the protests.
Ian Tomlinson Unlawfully Killed, Finds Jury
An inquest jury has ruled that Ian Tomlinson was unlawfully killed at the G20 protests in London. Mr Tomlinson, 47, died after he was struck by a baton by Pc Simon Harwood on 1 April 2009 during the London protests. The jury determined the officer used "excessive and unreasonable" force on Mr Tomlinson who was not taking part in the protests.
22 July 2009
Bomb Disposal Officer Killed In Afghanistan Is Named
The British bomb disposal expert killed in Afghanistan by a roadside bomb on Monday has been named as Captain Daniel Shepherd. Capt Shepherd was serving with the Joint Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group when he died following an explosion in Nad-e-Ali district in Helmand Province, Southern Afghanistan.
Bomb Disposal Officer Killed In Afghanistan Is Named
The British bomb disposal expert killed in Afghanistan by a roadside bomb on Monday has been named as Captain Daniel Shepherd. Capt Shepherd was serving with the Joint Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group when he died following an explosion in Nad-e-Ali district in Helmand Province, Southern Afghanistan.
18 November 2010
Irish Guardsman Dies In Afghan Firefight
The Stormont First Minister Peter Robinson has this morning expressed his sympathy to the family of a soldier from the 1st Battalion Irish Guards who has been killed in Afghanistan. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced that he was shot in an ambush while patrolling in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand Province yesterday afternoon.
Irish Guardsman Dies In Afghan Firefight
The Stormont First Minister Peter Robinson has this morning expressed his sympathy to the family of a soldier from the 1st Battalion Irish Guards who has been killed in Afghanistan. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced that he was shot in an ambush while patrolling in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand Province yesterday afternoon.
24 June 2004
Death toll on British roads rises by 2% in 2003
The number of deaths on Britain's roads rose by 2% between 2002 and 2003, according to the latest figures released from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) today. Statistics found that road deaths were up from 3,431 in 2002 to 3,508 in 2003. However, the total number of people killed or seriously injured fell by 6% to 37,215 people.
Death toll on British roads rises by 2% in 2003
The number of deaths on Britain's roads rose by 2% between 2002 and 2003, according to the latest figures released from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) today. Statistics found that road deaths were up from 3,431 in 2002 to 3,508 in 2003. However, the total number of people killed or seriously injured fell by 6% to 37,215 people.
07 September 2006
Commander calls for more Nato troops for Afghanistan
Nato's top commander has urged member nations to provide more troops in Afghanistan to support the current battle against Taliban militants. General James Jones said that the military alliance had been surprised by the "level of intensity" of attacks in southern Afghanistan since Nato troops moved into the region in July.
Commander calls for more Nato troops for Afghanistan
Nato's top commander has urged member nations to provide more troops in Afghanistan to support the current battle against Taliban militants. General James Jones said that the military alliance had been surprised by the "level of intensity" of attacks in southern Afghanistan since Nato troops moved into the region in July.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:Any afternoon showers soon dying out to leave a dry evening with clear spells at first, but coastal low cloud, mist or fog then spreads in from the northwest. Minimum temperature 8 °C.
