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Colonel H son 'to replace Afghan hero Lt Col Rupert Thorneloe'
Kiran Randhawa and Robert Fox03.07.09
The highest ranking British officer killed in action in almost three decades could be replaced by the son of the last most senior soldier to die in war.
The position of commanding officer of the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards may be taken over by Lt Col Rupert Jones, whose father Lt Col "H" Jones VC was the last British infantry commander to be killed in action.
Lt Col Rupert Thorneloe was killed when his armoured vehicle was blown up by a roadside bomb in southern Afghanistan on Wednesday.
As tributes poured in today for the married father of two from Kirtlington, near Oxford, a source said Lt Col Jones, 40, the commanding officer of the 4th Battalion the Rifles who is already serving in the country, could be transferred across.
"He's an outstanding and very charming young officer," a senior general said. "He could fit the bill for the next few weeks. Otherwise the Guards will have to get some more officers out from the UK and they have not been in operations."
Prince Charles described the death of Lt Col Thorneloe as "completely heartbreaking". In paying tribute to the 39-year-old, he said he had been "mortified" after hearing of his death. The prince, colonel-in-chief of the Welsh Guards, said his "heart is very much with" the officer's family.
Lt Col Thorneloe, who has been described as "a superb soldier", was killed with 18-year-old Trooper Joshua Hammond, of 2nd Royal Tank Regiment, near Lashkar Gah in Helmand province.
Prince Charles said: "I was horrified to say the least about both deaths. Having been to visit the Welsh Guards at Aldershot before they left to go to Afghanistan, having met the families and having met Col Rupert's wife, my heart is very much with them.
"It's completely heartbreaking. To lose a commanding officer who was such an inspiring person is an awful tragedy. As you can imagine, the shock and horror that has affected the whole of the regiment family was quite dramatic."
General Sir Richard Dannatt, Chief of the General Staff, said Lt Col Thorneloe was at the "leading edge of his generation", while his wife Sally said he would be "sorely missed".
He had left the Battle Group Headquarters and was in a resupply convoy on his way to visit his men, who were conducting a major operation in hostile territory.
An improvised explosive device was detonated under his Viking armoured vehicle at about 3.20pm local time, taking the number of British servicemen and women who have died in Afghanistan since operations began in October 2001 to 171.
An inquiry is under way to establish why Lt Col Thorneloe was travelling in a Viking. The vehicles are supposed to be restricted to low-risk areas pending their replacement by the more heavily armoured Warthogs next year.
Mrs Thorneloe said he was her "very best friend". "Our daughters Hannah and Sophie will have to grow up without their beloved daddy, although I will see a part of him in them every day.
"I could not have asked for a more caring, adoring and loving husband and father. I know he led from the front and would not have had it any other way. He cared deeply about his men as he did about so many."
Gordon Brown also paid tribute to Lt Col Thorneloe and Trooper Hammond. "They were very professional soldiers, they were serving in the most difficult terrain," he said.
Reader views (22)
Kerry,Purley, Your logic is beyond me! You quite rightly mention the men who fell during world war one. What you probably are not aware of is that pro rata, the British army officer corp, suffered heavier casualties. Lt Col Thorneloe was a Guardsman first- the loss of a Commanding Officer is a grievous blow, for he like the Sergeant Major are the head and the heart respectively of the battalion. Whatever rank we held we were all Guardsmen.
- Wills, Soton
Children of single parents can be spared for this meaningless & thankless war by meaningless leaders like Tony Blare down the line. Today I understand the meaning of Tommy?
- Asad, Abu Dhabi
I disagree with the war in Afghanistan, but not with the soldiers who are ordered to fight it. It is a slur on this country that we should send men and women to fight without the proper equipment.
- Herbert, London, England
Looks like this armoured vehicle should be called a coffin...an outrageous scandal. The manufacturer who has made millions with this Sardine Tin should be taken to court.
- Edouard, Toulouse, France
Am Ex army who served in Afghan and NI . The major difference between the vechiles we used in NI and in afghan is that the taliban are using weapons grade munitions , these are much muhc more powerful than the "fertilizer bombs " used against us by PIRA . When i was in afghan we discovered 100's of tonnes of discarded kit left behind by the russians ..of course the taliban have made good use of these
RIP to the two comrades who died
- Dave, London Uk
Terrible for Trooper Hammond's family that his death is no more than a footnote in the extensive story of an officer killed. Lt Col Thorneloe's death is as tragic as all of those who have died for their country in Afghanistan, but no more than.
- John, Glasgow, UK
With all the Technology available today why are bombs still killing our troops in Afghanistan? Come on Boffins show the world you still can sort this problem out.
- John Thorpe, Chatham Kent
Carl, London. I agree with Soldier's Gran on this one - I have worked in the MoD and seen budgets cut year on year. Can I suggest you spend a couple of nights in typical soldier's barracks - if you can put up with the discomfort for that long - before you have a go at someone just because she criticises your beloved Gordon!
- Phil, London, UK
As a serving US soldier, I want to thank the UK for its commitment to the war on terror. It is sad to hear that you have lost two of your finest citizens. God bless them both and their families.
- Bill Heard, Camp Speicher, Iraq
I believe the Army chooses their vehicles and not the PM, therefore if any vitriol is to be aimed at anyone it should be the senior officers of that Army!! To blame Brown is stupid, repugnant and typical of the Tory scum who squeal when a senior officer, (no matter how brave or dedicated he might be), gets killed just for some political point scoring. I have just come back from the Somme to honour the uncounted thousands who died there, sent to their deaths by the same Tories (and Liberals) who are squealing now and those "marvellous" senior officers, like Haigh, who actually didn't give a damn about their troops.
Having said all that, why are we there? I couldn't care less about the Taleban. There is not one Afghani who is worth the life of one British trooper.
- Kerry, Purley
Its a great pity that our 'Political Masters' (Shysters more like it), such as Dear Leader McRuin, Mr Meddlesome and other didn't stand to, take the Uniform, the Rifle and stand on that wall along with our Men and Women of our Armed Forces.
But of course they won't, because they are all Shysters. Labour, or any Socialist based system have a loathing of tradition and all that is good. However, that being said, that is their right. After all, we are all entitled to our opinions.
However, they are still Shysters!
(Definition:- A person who acts in an unethical, and dispicable way in law and in politics).
- Uncle Vanya, East Anglia Area UK
All, since the loss of Col Thorneloe and Trooper Hammond most have speculated that if they had been moving around Helmand Province in a more suitable Armoured vehicle, then things MIGHT have been very different today than what they were at lest 48 hours or so ago, possibly? Most are blaming the Prime Minister for allowing this vehicle to be deployed to Afghanistan. Most of the media are now asking why the Col was travelling in this type of vehicle. Well, firstly, Col Thorneloe was only doing the job he loved most of all, “Command and Leadership”. Secondly, The Col would have of wanted to have been at the forefront of the Battalions Operations with his men on the ground on this very sad day. Knowing the Col, has all Welsh Guardsmen do, he would have ran to the front line if he had thought that that would have got him there quicker! Col Thorneloe was a great Leader, Commander and a great morale booster for all that served under him. ALL please stop these attacks on whose fault it is or who is to blame for the vehicle that they used and why this vehicle is deployed in Afghanistan! The fact of the matter is that now our Great Country has yet again lost another two of our brave Soldiers in a place that is so, so far away! ALL please now think of their families and friends; let us now keep them in our thoughts for the hard days, weeks and times ahead, for their sakes! Col Thorneloe and Trooper Hammond were truly great men, great Commanders and Leaders. God Bless Them both.
- Jonathan Mott, Ex Rsm, Watford, Great Britain
This is 100% down to Gordon Brown and his ridiculous loathing of Gen Sir Richard Dannatt, one of the greatest Generals to lead the British Army in an exceptionally long time.
Richard Dannatt retires early this year having been forced out by Gordon and his useless Government for daring to speak out about constant budget cuts and the total and utter disregard that the Government has for the British armed forces. They are under funded, don't have the right kit and are forced to live in sub-standard housing - for which they have to pay 'market' rent. Soldiers one and all respect Gen Dannatt and the fact that he stands up for them.
I take issue with the statement that there is news coverage because Lt Col Thornloe was the most senior Officer to die. The media in this country has in recent months devoted much space to the many soliders and airmen who have died in this conflict, regardless of their rank. In general I have limited respect for the media in this country, but they have certainly been stepping up to the plate to bring us these stories of massive underfunding and needless loss of life.
My thoughts and prayers go out to Lt Col Thornloe's family - he died doing a job that he clearly loved and was exceptional at and I doubt he joined the army thinking he would ever see 'active' service, let alone die in a foreign war.
Gordon Brown - you are responsible for the fact that we are losing great soldiers in their droves - your treatment of them is criminal.
- Army Child, London
While these valiant men were putting their lives on the line, our police lay flowers to remember some dogs they (the police) killed. Strange perspective.
- Ian, Reading, England
Soldier's Gran, let's stick to mourning the dead rather than your ill informed and frankly incorrect politicing. Have some respect.
- Carl, London
Prototypical Englishman - of course it's Brown's fault! Who do you think has continually cut the forces budget sending brave men to their deaths in kit and equipment that are unfit for purpose and, when they come home, housing them in crumbling, draughty barracks most people wouldn't keep their dogs in.
- Soldier'S Gran, London, UK
Can i say, it is partially Brown's fault, as the soldier was travelling in a vehicle known to be vulnerable to IED. Brown is the PM and the man with the power to do something, if he wanted to he could buy the best armoured vehicles and more helicopters - he hasn't. Thus far he has done very little to protect our people. Perhaps this is why he fails in the public eye, no one believes him?
- Euan, London
This is undoubtedly a tragedy not only for the poor people concerned, but also their families, but why such great tributes just because one was an officer - ordinary troups risk and give their lives every day with barely a mention from Gordon or Charles - is it because they think officers are more worthy of remembrance than the rest of our boys?..I'd be insulted if I'd lost a member of my family out there
- David, Southampton
Euan,
This is hardly Brown's fault. Your vitriol is irrelevent to this story. Let's stay focused on the futility of war, the waste of a young life and the loss of a family man.
- Prototypical Englishman, Wormwood Scrubs
Every time I hear the sad news of another British soldier's death it invariably seems to be as a result of a 'roadside bomb' or some other means of attacking troops in vehicles. -Why can't the Gov't supply vehicles 'fit for purpose'' or better still, get the patrols off the roads? -Our troops just seem to be used as 'aunt sally's' and deserve better protection.
- Huggy, Cumbernauld Scotland
Two of the brightest and the best. God rest them.
- Carl, London
Terribly sad, if only Mr Brown would provide our men and women with the best armoured vehicles for protection and more helicopters he might have some credibility still left in him.
- Euan, London
