The commander of a British regiment has been killed in Afghanistan, the first officer of such senior rank to have died in action since the Falklands war 27 years ago.
Lieutenant Colonel Rupert Thorneloe, commanding officer of the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, was killed along with 18-year-old Trooper Joshua Hammond, of 2nd Royal Tank Regiment, about 8km north of Lashkar Gah in Helmand province on Wednesday.
The men were travelling in a Viking armoured vehicle which was hit by an improvised explosive device (IED).
The Prince of Wales said today he was “completely mortified” when he heard about the death of his friend.
General Sir Richard Dannatt, Chief of the General Staff, said Lt Col Thorneloe, of Kirtlington, near Oxford, was at the "leading edge of his generation" while his wife Sally said the 39-year-old father-of-two would be "sorely missed".
He had left the Battle Group Headquarters and was on a resupply convoy in order to visit his men who were conducting a major operation in hostile territory, the Ministry of Defence said.
An improvised explosive device was detonated under his vehicle, killing him and Trooper Hammond, and taking the number of UK servicemen and women who have died in Afghanistan since operations began in October 2001 to 171.
A Clarence House spokesman said the Prince of Wales, who is Colonel of the Welsh Guards, was "deeply saddened" by his death and would be writing privately both to his family and to his regiment. It is understood Charles knew Lt Col Thorneloe well.
Agencies