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Prince Charles joins widow's farewell to Helmand hero
Terry Kirby and Danny Brierley16 Jul 2009
To his colleagues, Lieutenant Colonel Rupert Thorneloe, commanding officer of the Welsh Guards, was one of the finest soldiers of his generation.
To his wife Sally and his daughters, Hannah and Sophie, he was not only “a born soldier” but also “a caring, adoring, loving” husband and father.
Today, a grieving Mrs Thorneloe was joined by the Prince of Wales, senior soldiers and politicians as her husband was given a full military funeral at the Guards Chapel in St James's.
Before the funeral, Mrs Thorneloe and other family members had a private meeting with the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall. The Prince, Colonel-in-Chief of the Welsh Guards, knew Lt-Col Thorneloe and has described his death as “heartbreaking”.
Mrs Thorneloe said after her husband's death that he had filled his family's life with “joy and happiness”, adding: “His charisma, compassion and enthusiasm for all in life will be so sorely missed by his family and many friends, but most of all by me who loved him so much.”
Lt-Col Thorneloe MBE, 39, commanding officer of the 1st Battalion the Welsh Guards, was killed by a Taliban bomb in Helmand province in Afghanistan on 1 July.
The service was conducted by the Rev Paul Wright, Chaplain to the Household Division, and included a tribute read by former Defence Secretary Des Browne — for whom he had worked as an assistant — and music by the band of the Welsh Guards.
Outside the neighbouring Wellington Barracks, as police searched cars and vans, crowds peered through the railings.
The officer died with 18-year-old Trooper Joshua Hammond when an improvised bomb was detonated under their Viking armoured vehicle. In a statement issued on his behalf today by the Ministry of Defence, his father John Thorneloe, himself a retired Major, thanked all those, including Gordon Brown and senior Army officers, who had paid tribute to his son.
The family also thanked the Royal British Legion and the public “for their outstanding presence” at Wootton Bassett and Oxford as the hearse carrying his body passed through the towns after its return to Britain last week.
He said: “Few officers had such a good understanding of why the British Armed Forces are in Afghanistan and what needs to be done. But he was not just a strategist. He had an excellent tactical knowledge and personal ability as well. He was a complete commander who put a huge amount into leadership of his battalion and battle group, including the families.
“A battalion could not ask for better.”
Reader views (8)
I agree with Kerry,this is the only time anyone from the ruling elite(Royalty or nulabour),has been to a funeral that I have seen.
These soldiers are dying for a country that is being systematically dismantled at home,what an evil con trick.
- Jimfred, London UK, 17/07/2009 07:42
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Kerry, Purley.
How dare you make such an inane, rude and insulting statement.
- Michael Sarafian, Murcia. Spain., 16/07/2009 17:58
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Kerry, Purley - Please read the article BEFORE you make such a stupid and uneducated comment.
May this poor brave man RIP and my thoughts are with his family.
- Mrs, London UK, 16/07/2009 16:33
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Kerry's comments show his ignorance of the fact Prince Charles is Colonel-in-Chief of the Welsh Guards and the late Lt-Col Thorneloe was Comanding Officer of the 1st Batt Welsh Guards when he met his untimely death at the hands of the enemy. Prince Charles was also a friend of long standing. No doubt Prince Charles has many public duties to perform, which he does unstintingly, and it would be impossible and impracticable to attend the funerals of the dead from other regiments who have their own Colonel's-in-Chief.
- Ralph, London, England, 16/07/2009 16:23
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Such a waste of a life but maybe this will get the Government's act into gear and provide our troops with more kit.
Kerry - the reason HRH Prince Charles went to the funeral of Lt-Col Thorneloe was because he is the Colonel-in-Chief of the Welsh Guards i.e. the same regiment. Yes they are "just as dead" as you so wonderfully put it but this has nothing whatsoever to do with class. Also to call him an ageing useless numbnut shows your complete lack of respect for the Monarchy. Well done - you must feel very proud of yourself.
- Proud, London, 16/07/2009 16:13
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KERRY, IT DOES NOT STINK AS YOU SAY.ALSO TO CALL PEOPLE NAMES WHO CANNOT BY LAW RESPOND TO YOUR CHILDISH COMMENTS JUST SHOWS WHAT KIND OF MENTALITY YOU HAVE.
Before you make comments, know your Facts.
Prince Charles is the Colonel in Chief of the Welsh Guards, an Honary position.As such he attends the functios of the Welsh Guards.
Other members of the Royal Family are Colonels in Chief of other Regiments.
In my last one, the Kings Regiment, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother was our Colonel in Chief, she also attended all our functions.
SO I WOULD SUGGEST YOU LEARN ABOUT THE ETIQUET OF THE ARMED SERVICES BEFORE YOU MAKE MORE STUPID COMMENTS.
- Captain Kong, Liverpool UK, 16/07/2009 16:07
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Er, how about because the Prince of Wales is Colonel of the Welsh Guards, this Commanding Officer's Regiment and he knew him personally. Whoever Kerry is shows a stunning lack of knowledge, how very impressive.
- Cj, London, 16/07/2009 16:06
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I do not wish to denigrate the memory of this fine officer, a great loss to our country and an even greater loss to his greiving family, but home come Charlie goes to his funeral and not to the funerals of the other ranks? this stinks, they are just as dead and died in the same cause (a bad one). this ageing useless numbnut should attend the funerals of everyone of our soldiers not just the upper class ones. Disgusting.
- Kerry, Purley, 16/07/2009 15:13
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