| Location | Kirtlington, Oxfordshire |
| Age | 39 years |
| Cause of Death | In the Line of Duty |
| Date of Birth | 1970 |
| Date of Death | 01/07/2009 |
| Visitors | 1,099 since 03/07/2009 |
| Creator |
Lieutenant Colonel Rupert Thorneloe MBE, Commanding Officer of the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, died on Wednesday 1 July, 2009, in Afghanistan. He's the most senior British officer to lose his life fighting for his country in Afghanistan, since operations began in October 2001.
He was killed by an explosion (the same one which killed Trooper Joshua Hammond) while on convoy along the Shamalan Canal, which is near Lashkar Gah, Helmand Province, Afghanistan.
He was known personally by The Prince of Wales, who is Colonel of the Welsh Guards, who said he was "deeply saddened" by his death. A spokesman for the Prince said he would be writing a private letter to both Rupert's family and his regiment.
He was on a resupply convoy so that he could visit his men, who were conducting a major operation. The Viking armoured vehicle he was travelling in drove over an explosive device.
Bob Ainsworth, The Secretary of State for Defence said "Lieutenant Colonel Thorneloe's death is a hard blow to the Welsh Guards, to Task Force Helmand and to the British Army. I knew him myself, as a man of incisive thought, enormous professionalism and the greatest decency, who could not wait to leave the high-profile post in the Ministry of Defence where he had performed so impressively in order to take command of his Battalion on operations.
"He saw it as the best job he would ever do, but I know that his genuinely exceptional abilities would have ensured him a brilliant career. As his own thorough and thoughtful tributes to those who fell before him show, he led his men with energy, care, and pride – and he died leading his men.
"I cannot imagine a finer officer to have had in the front rank of the British Army, and his loss is all the harder."
He leaves behind his wife, Sally, and their daughters Hannah and Sophie.
BIG HUGS RUPERT
ღ .* ღ ღ* ღ . ♥ * . ♥ * . * ღ .* ღ ღ* ღ . ♥ * . ♥ * . * ღ .* ღ ღ* ღ .
♥ * . ♥ * .
⋱♰⋰ Angel Day ⋱♰⋰
⋱♰⋰ Your Angel Day in Heaven ⋱♰⋰
⋱♰⋰ Many tears will fall for you ⋱♰⋰
⋱♰⋰ You touched so many loving hearts ⋱♰⋰
⋱♰⋰ There’s so many missing you ⋱♰⋰
⋱♰⋰ As you now live in paradise ⋱♰⋰
⋱♰⋰ Its Heaven up above stay ⋱♰⋰
⋱♰⋰ Close to all your loved ⋱♰⋰
⋱♰⋰ ones For it’s you they ⋱♰⋰
⋱♰⋰ miss and love ⋱♰⋰
.
ღ .* ღ ღ* ღ . ♥ * . ♥ * . * ღ .* ღ ღ* ღ . ♥ * . ♥ * . * ღ .* ღ ღ* ღ .
⋱♰⋰ bigs hugs from me to you and your ⋱♰⋰
⋱♰⋰ family and friends that you miss you ever day ⋱♰⋰
⋱♰⋰ but in our hearts forever you will not be ⋱♰⋰
⋱♰⋰ forgoten you take care love from me ⋱♰⋰
⋱♰⋰ Sylvie mommy of Samantha ⋱♰⋰
⋱♰⋰ Belanger hugs and XXXX ⋱♰⋰
⋱♰⋰ bye for now good ⋱♰⋰
⋱♰⋰ night ⋱♰⋰
♥ * . ♥ * .
ღ .* ღ ღ* ღ . ♥ * . ♥ * . * ღ .* ღ ღ* ღ . ♥ * . ♥ * . * ღ .* ღ ღ* ღ .
♥ * . ♥ * .
....Goodnight and God Bless..........
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Sleep Tight......X X
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ღ .* ღ ღ* ღ . ♥ * . ♥ * . * ღ .* ღ ღ* ღ . ♥ * . ♥ * . * ღ .* ღ ღ* ღ .
Never Forgotten
Thinking of your family today especially.
Although we never met, I recently met your father - what a lovely man. The void your passing has left is evident - you were clearly a son to be proud of.
I'm sure I'm not alone in wanting to thank you, not only for your huge sacrifice, but for looking after the soldiers serving with you - including our own beloved son, who sadly joined you just 4 days after your passing.
Now it's your turn to be looked after, RIP brave man. Your sacrifice will NEVER be forgotten - we will be forever in the debt of all you brave soldiers. Sleep tight,
Alison (mother of the late L/Cpl Dane Elson)
Sally, Hannah & Sophie
We are all greatly indebted to your brave husband/father for the ultimate sacrifice he made in defence of the freedom we enjoy to choose our way of life. His death, like all the other young men and women who have died in Afghanistan, will not have been in vain. Requiescat in Pace. Lest we forget.
Britain's Finest
Look after the lads, you are all in our thoughts x.
We will not forget your sacrifice.
a soldier's mum x.
THE FINAL INSPECTION
The soldier stood and faced God,
Which must always come to pass.
He hoped his shoes were shining,
Just as brightly as his brass.
'Step forward now, you soldier,
How shall I deal with you ?
Have you always turned the other cheek ?
To My Church have you been true?'
The soldier squared his shoulders and said,
'No, Lord, I guess I ain't.
Because those of us who carry guns,
Can't always be a saint.
I've had to work most Sundays,
And at times my talk was tough.
And sometimes I've been violent,
Because the world is awfully rough.
But, I never took a penny,
That wasn't mine to keep...
Though I worked a lot of overtime,
When the bills got just too steep.
And I never passed a cry for help,
Though at times I shook with fear..
And sometimes, God, forgive me,
I've wept unmanly tears.
I know I don't deserve a place,
Among the people here.
They never wanted me around,
Except to calm their fears.
If you've a place for me here, Lord,
It needn't be so grand.
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don't, I'll understand.
There was a silence all around the throne,
Where the saints had often trod.
As the soldier waited quietly,
For the judgement of his God.
'Step forward now, you soldier,
You've borne your burdens well.
Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets,
You've done your time in Hell.'
Author Unknown~
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never forgotten
godbless and keep you safe in heaven and thakyou for making this awfull world a better place godbless and keep your family safe thankyouuuuuuuuuuu
Hero
A true hero, taken away from his family and friends.
Watch over your family and wrap your Angel Wings round them to give them strength at this truly difficult time.
R.I.P Rupert.
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