Rupert Thorneloe
Rupert Stuart Michael Thorneloe | |
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War in Afghanistan
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Awards | Member of the Order of the British Empire |
Early life and education
Thorneloe was born on 17 October 1969 at
Military career
On 6 September 1991, Thorneloe was
Thorneloe was promoted to
In 2005, as the division was due to take over the role of
Thorneloe was promoted to
Death
Thorneloe was killed by the Taliban in Operation Panther's Claw while riding in an 18-vehicle convoy when an improvised explosive device exploded under his BvS 10 Viking armoured vehicle.[18] The explosion also killed Trooper Joshua Hammond of the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment[18] and injured six other soldiers.[19] The deaths of Thorneloe and Hammond brought the total number of fatalities of British Forces personnel in Afghanistan since 2001 to 171.[19] Thorneloe had successfully argued that the Brigade plan for Panther's Claw was too ambitious and should be modified. He opted to witness the front line himself.[20]
As of July 2009[update], Thorneloe was the first British Army CO and most senior officer to have been
Thorneloe's death reinvigorated debate over the adequacy of military equipment supplied to British forces in Afghanistan, with charges focusing on the alleged lack of
Thorneloe's funeral was held on 16 July 2009. The hearse carrying his coffin passed through
Thorneloe is featured extensively in the book Dead Men Risen: The Welsh Guards and the Defining Story of Britain's War in Afghanistan (Quercus, 2011)[27] by Toby Harnden, which won the 2012 Orwell Prize for Books.[28] A poetry competition is held at Cothill House every year in his honour.[29]
References
- ^ Harnden, Toby, Dead Men Risen: The Welsh Guards and the Real Story of Britain's War in Afghanistan, 2011, p.343.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Lieutenant-Colonel Rupert Thorneloe". The Daily Telegraph. London. 3 July 2009. Retrieved 4 July 2009.
- ^ "John Thorneloe Obituary (2019) - Faringdon, Berkshire - The Times". www.legacy.com. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
- ^ Cothill Memorial Pavilion
- ^ "A student who exemplifies the virtues of a soldier-scholar". In Touch. 2009. p. 47.
- ^ "No. 52754". The London Gazette (Supplement). 23 December 1991. p. 19766.
- ^ "No. 52905". The London Gazette (Supplement). 27 April 1992. p. 7380.
- ^ "No. 53022". The London Gazette (Supplement). 27 April 1992. p. 13952.
- ^ a b c d "Lieutenant-Colonel Rupert Thorneloe: Commanding Officer 1st Welsh Guards". The Times. London. 6 July 2009. Retrieved 6 July 2009.
- ^ Harnden, Toby, Dead Men Risen: The Welsh Guards and the Real Story of Britain's War in Afghanistan, 2011, p.xvi.
- ^ A tribute to my friend Lieutenant Colonel Rupert Thorneloe, killed in Afghanistan by Toby Harnden
- ^ "No. 54060". The London Gazette (Supplement). 12 June 1995. p. 8192.
- ^ "No. 54271". The London Gazette. 8 January 1996. p. 372.
- ^ "No. 54610". The London Gazette. 17 December 1996. p. 16633.
- ^ "No. 55627". The London Gazette (Supplement). 17 December 1996. pp. 10608–10609.
- ^ "No. 58092". The London Gazette (Supplement). 8 September 2006. p. 12271.
- ^ "No. 58752". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 July 2008. p. 9837.
- ^ a b "Lieutenant Colonel Rupert Thorneloe and Trooper Joshua Hammond killed in Afghanistan". Ministry of Defence. 2 July 2009. Retrieved 4 July 2009.
- ^ a b c "Tribute to 'outstanding' soldiers". BBC News. 3 July 2009. Retrieved 4 July 2009.
- ^ Harnden, Toby, Dead Men Risen: The Welsh Guards and the Real Story of Britain's War in Afghanistan, 2011, p.xxiii.
- ^ "Crash Victims Named". mod.gov.uk. 6 May 2009. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
- ^ Evans, Michael (4 July 2009). "Lieutenant-Colonel Rupert Thorneloe's death reignites equipment row". The Times. London. Retrieved 6 July 2009.
- ^ Harnden, Toby, Dead Men Risen: The Welsh Guards and the Real Story of Britain's War in Afghanistan, 2011 p. 245
- ^ "Funeral for Afghanistan officer". BBC. 16 July 2009. Retrieved 16 July 2009.
- ^ "Role of Honour". Veterans UK. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
- ^ "British Army Officer Killed in Afghanistan Honoured by University of Reading". University of Reading. 6 July 2012. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
- ^ Harnden, Toby, Dead Men Risen: The Welsh Guards and the Real Story of Britain's War in Afghanistan, 2011
- ^ "Dead Men Risen". Orwell Foundation. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
- ^ "A day of poetry honours ex-pupil killed in Afghanistan". Oxfordshire Guardian. 5 November 2014. p. 2. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
External links
- Thorneloe, Sally (3 July 2009). "Death of Lt Col Rupert Thorneloe: wife's statement". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 6 July 2009.
- Blair, Alexandra (6 July 2009). "Open letter to Lieutenant-Colonel Rupert Thorneloe's daughters, from the daughter of a murdered officer". The Times. London.