Tributes to British soldiers killed in Afghanistan blast
High-ranking British commander killed alongside young trooper
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By James Christie. |  |
Friday, 03, Jul 2009 04:55
The highest-ranking British soldier to die in action since the Falklands war has been killed alongside a young trooper after an explosion.
A statement from the Ministry of Defence confirmed Lieutenant Colonel Rupert Thorneloe MBE, commanding officer of the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, and Trooper Joshua Hammond, of 2nd Royal Tank Regiment, died in Helmand province in Afghanistan on Wednesday.
The blast, which takes the number of British deaths in Afghanistan since 2001 to 171, also injured six other servicemen.
Lt Col Thorneloe and Trooper Hammond died near Lashkar Gah yesterday after an improvised explosive device detonated under their Viking armoued vehicle as it travelled in convoy along the Shamalan Canal.
The pair had been involved in a resupply convoy to allow Lt Col Thorneloe to visit his men engaged in a major operation in hostile territory.
General Sir Richard Dannatt, chief of the General Staff, said the deaths of Lt Col Rupert Thorneloe Trooper Hammond was a "devastating blow".
"Trooper Hammond was a first class tank crewman who epitomised the spirited and determined approach to operations expected of Royal Armoured Corps soldiers," he continued.
"Lt Col Thorneloe was an outstanding Commanding Officer and a born leader, who I knew well.
"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."
Gen Sir Dannatt added: "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 was commissioned into the Welsh Guards in 1992 and served in Northern Ireland, Germany and Iraq, as well as serving in high-ranking positions within the Ministry of Defence. He is survived by wife Sally and daughters Hannah and Sophie.
Trooper Hammond had enlisted in the Army aged 16, attending the Army Foundation College in Harrogate, and was deployed in Canada with the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment before changing squadron for deployment to Afghanistan.
He was engaged to be married at the time of his death, just weeks before his 19th birthday.
A statement from 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."
Lt Col Thorneloe is the highest-ranking British officer to be killed in action since Lt Col Herbert 'H' Jones, during the Falklands war in 1982.
Secretary of state for defence Bob Ainsworth said Lt Col Thorneloe was a man of "incisive thought, enormous professionalism and the greatest decency"
"As his own thorough and thoughtful tributes to those who fell before him show, he led his men with energy, care, and pride – and he died leading his men," he added.
"I cannot imagine a finer officer to have had in the front rank of the British Army, and his loss is all the harder.
"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 a good and much-loved man whose contribution and presence will be hugely missed by all those who knew him."