Post by cammy on Jul 3, 2009 0:16:33 GMT 1
The commander of a British regiment has been killed in Afghanistan, the first to have died in active service since the Falklands war 27 years ago.
Lieutenant Colonel Rupert Thorneloe, of 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, was killed on Wednesday by what defence officials described tonight as a "huge bomb" that shattered the armoured Viking tracked vehicle he was travelling in.
The explosion also killed Trooper Joshua Hammond, from 2nd Royal Tank Regiment, and injured six other troops.
The soldiers were in a convoy heading for Lashkar Gah, capital of Helmand province, after completing the second phase of Operation Panchai Palang (Panther's Claw). Thorneloe was sitting at the back of the Viking.
The operation which British commanders hope will be a decisive campaign against the Taliban in the populated and strategically important heartlands of Helmand province, is continuing.The British convoy was returning from Babaji, north of Lashkar Gah bordering Helmand river, and Gereshk. Defence officials described Wednesday's attack was a big blow to the army. They are well aware of the propaganda the Taliban could make out of the death of the senior officer.
British commanders are also hoping the Helmand push will be a decisive campaign against the Taliban.
General Sir Richard Dannatt, the head of the army, tonight led tributes to the Welsh Guards commander.
Brigadier General Eric Tremblay, spokesman for Nato's International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) in Afghanistan, said: "I wish to convey our most sincere sympathies to the family members and friends of these brave soldiers.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with them in this most difficult time. Isaf's efforts are dangerous and difficult but we are committed to helping build a safe and prosperous Afghanistan and we will succeed in this endeavour."
Spokesman for Task Force Helmand, Lieutenant Colonel Nick Richardson, said: "The loss of these brave soldiers has hit us all very deeply; we grieve for them at this very sad time."
He added: "Our thoughts and prayers are with their families, friends and colleagues who feel the greatest loss." The Ministry of Defence said the soldiers' next of kin had been informed.
The last commander of a British regiment to be killed in action was Lieutenant Colonel Herbert "H" Jones of 2 Battalion, Parachute Regiment . He died while charging Argentinian positions near Darwin in the 1982 Falklands war. He was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross.
For the past week, some 500 British and Danish troops have been engaged in one of the biggest operations in southern Afghanistan, supported by American gunships and Canadian helicopters.
Panther's Claw is a joint operation with Khanjar (Strike of the Sword) involving 4,000 newly-arrived US Marines and 650 Afghan troops elsewhere in Helmand.
The deaths of the two soldiers took the number of British servicemen and women who have died in Afghanistan since the beginning of military operations there in October 2001 to 171.
A total of 18 have been killed during the last two months. On 18 June, Major Sean Birchall, also of the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, was killed by an explosion while on patrol in Basharan, near Lashkar Gah.
Viking vehicles are made of reinforced steel and have been credited with saving the lives of many British soldiers in Afghanistan. The vehicle "retains mobility even if a track is damaged by a mine", the MoD website said when it was introduced to Afghanistan two years ago.
May you Both Rest in Piece (Cammy)
Lieutenant Colonel Rupert Thorneloe, of 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, was killed on Wednesday by what defence officials described tonight as a "huge bomb" that shattered the armoured Viking tracked vehicle he was travelling in.
The explosion also killed Trooper Joshua Hammond, from 2nd Royal Tank Regiment, and injured six other troops.
The soldiers were in a convoy heading for Lashkar Gah, capital of Helmand province, after completing the second phase of Operation Panchai Palang (Panther's Claw). Thorneloe was sitting at the back of the Viking.
The operation which British commanders hope will be a decisive campaign against the Taliban in the populated and strategically important heartlands of Helmand province, is continuing.The British convoy was returning from Babaji, north of Lashkar Gah bordering Helmand river, and Gereshk. Defence officials described Wednesday's attack was a big blow to the army. They are well aware of the propaganda the Taliban could make out of the death of the senior officer.
British commanders are also hoping the Helmand push will be a decisive campaign against the Taliban.
General Sir Richard Dannatt, the head of the army, tonight led tributes to the Welsh Guards commander.
Brigadier General Eric Tremblay, spokesman for Nato's International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) in Afghanistan, said: "I wish to convey our most sincere sympathies to the family members and friends of these brave soldiers.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with them in this most difficult time. Isaf's efforts are dangerous and difficult but we are committed to helping build a safe and prosperous Afghanistan and we will succeed in this endeavour."
Spokesman for Task Force Helmand, Lieutenant Colonel Nick Richardson, said: "The loss of these brave soldiers has hit us all very deeply; we grieve for them at this very sad time."
He added: "Our thoughts and prayers are with their families, friends and colleagues who feel the greatest loss." The Ministry of Defence said the soldiers' next of kin had been informed.
The last commander of a British regiment to be killed in action was Lieutenant Colonel Herbert "H" Jones of 2 Battalion, Parachute Regiment . He died while charging Argentinian positions near Darwin in the 1982 Falklands war. He was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross.
For the past week, some 500 British and Danish troops have been engaged in one of the biggest operations in southern Afghanistan, supported by American gunships and Canadian helicopters.
Panther's Claw is a joint operation with Khanjar (Strike of the Sword) involving 4,000 newly-arrived US Marines and 650 Afghan troops elsewhere in Helmand.
The deaths of the two soldiers took the number of British servicemen and women who have died in Afghanistan since the beginning of military operations there in October 2001 to 171.
A total of 18 have been killed during the last two months. On 18 June, Major Sean Birchall, also of the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, was killed by an explosion while on patrol in Basharan, near Lashkar Gah.
Viking vehicles are made of reinforced steel and have been credited with saving the lives of many British soldiers in Afghanistan. The vehicle "retains mobility even if a track is damaged by a mine", the MoD website said when it was introduced to Afghanistan two years ago.
May you Both Rest in Piece (Cammy)