Kirtlington
The War Memorial
IN MEMORY OF THE MEN OF THIS PARISH WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR 1914 – 1918 CAPT E G DASHWOOD LT W J DASHWOOD 2ND LT L A DASHWOOD SGT L A PRATT SGT F SIMMONDS CPL A EDGINGTON CPL R MOSTO PTE W EDGINGTON PTE C GILES PTE J HAYWARD PTE S HAYWARD PTE G HERBERT PTE W T KING PTE A LAMBOURNE PTE H LAMBOURNE PTE L RAINBOW AB C WALTON RN PTE W T WALTON PTE G H WISE 
A separate plaque
IN GRATEFUL MEMORY OF THOSE IN THIS VILLAGE LOST ON ACTIVE SERVICE IN OTHER CONFLICTS 1925 F/O E J DASHWOOD RAF NW FRONTIER 2009 LT COL R S M THORNELOE WELSH GUARDS AFGHANISTAN 
A plaque in the Church
TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN MEMORY OF THE MEN OF THIS PARISH WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR AND THE SECOND WORLLD WAR 1914 - 1918 H BUCKLEY not on the memorial E G DASHWOOD L A DASHWOOD W J DASHWOOD A EDGINGTON W EDGINGTON C GILES J HAYWARD S HAYWARD G HERBERT W T KING A LAMBOURNE H LAMBOURNE R MOSTO L A PRATT L RAINBOW F SIMMONDS C WALTON W T WALTON G H WISE 1939 -1945 W A CATO A W JARVIS H W J JOHNSON J DE G TATHAM-WARTER 
A marble plaque inscribed
ALSO OF THEIR YOUNGEST SON EDWARD JOHN BORN MAY 6TH 1902 FLYING OFFICER ROYAL AIR FORCE KILLED ON ACTIVE SERVICE ON THE NORTH WEST FRONTIER INDIA MARCH 21ST 1925 AND BURIED IN THE CEMETERY AT TANK 
Arthur Edgington 1918
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The Fallen in WW1
Humphry Paul Stennett BUCKLEY Captain, 7th Battalion, The East Yorkshire Regiment, 50 Brigade, 17th Division. He died from his wounds on 29 July 1917. He was 22. He was the son of Rev. Eric Rede and Gertrude Buckley. He was at one time (1901 census) Vicar of Kirtlington He is remembered on bay 4 and 5 of the Arras Memorial Ernest George DASHWOOD Captain. 1st/4th Battalion, The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, 145 Brigade, 48th (South Midlands) Division He was killed in action on 12 May 1915 shortly after the regiment had arrived in Belgium. He was 35. Five sons of Sir George J E Dashwood, 6th Bart. and Lady Mary M Dashwood served in WW1. Three were killed Ernest, Lionel and Wilfred. Robert and Henry survived. He is buried in grave III F 2 Cemetery, Rifle House Cemetery, near Ploegsteert, Belgium Additional information His address for Probate was Ludwell Farm, Woodstock which is repeated in the plaque in Wootton Church. The plaque also records that he was buried in Ploegsteert Wood. His name also appears on the Wootton Memorial Lionel Albert DASHWOOD Second Lieutenant, 2nd Battalion, The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, 5 Brigade, 2nd Division. He was killed in action at the Battle of Festubert on 16 May 1915. He was 27 Five sons of Sir George J E Dashwood, 6th Bart. and Lady Mary M Dashwood served in WW1. Three were killed Ernest, Lionel and Wilfred. Robert and Henry survived. Lionel is remembered on panel 26 of the Le Touret Memorial He is also listed in Duns Tew Wilfred James DASHWOOD Lieutenant, 1st Battalion, Grenadier Guards, 3rd Guards Brigade, Guards Division. He was previously with 18th (Public Schools) Battalion, The Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment). He died of the wounds he received during the fighting at Pilckem Ridge during the Battle of Ypres on 2 August 1917. He was 34 Five sons of Sir George J E Dashwood, 6th Bart. and Lady Mary M Dashwood served in WW1. Three were killed Ernest, Lionel and Wilfred. Robert and Henry survived. He is buried in grave II G 22 Dozinghem Military Cemetery, Belgium Additional information His address for Probate was 1 Fleet Street, London He is also listed in Duns Tew Arthur EDGINGTON Lance Corporal, 4th Battalion The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. Army no. 201991 He died on 20 November 1918. He was 21 He was the son of late Mr and Mrs John Edgington. In the 1911 census he is recorded as living in Kirtlington with his Grandfather. He is buried in the churchyard of St. Mary’s Church, Kirtlington Additional information He died after the Armistice and the cause of his death is not known W EDGINGTON Not yet identified Charles Douglas GILES Private, 42nd Company, Machine Gun Corps (Infantry). Army no. 19893. He was formerly with The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, Army no. 10948 He died from his wounds on 20 September 1916. He was 19 He was the son of William and Elizabeth Giles, The Mill, Kirtlington. He is buried in grave IV E 15 Heilly Station Cemetery, Mericourt L'abbe Additional Information Birth Place: Froghall but born at Ledwell according to CWGC Residence: Kirtlington Enlistment Location: Oxford The date of his death is also recorded as 18 September 1916 James Henry HAYWARD Private, 70th Company, Machine Gun Corps (Infantry). Army no. 8156. He was formerly with The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, Army no. 19098 He was killed in action on 1 October 1916 in the fighting on the Somme. He was 24 He was the son of John R & Elizabeth Hayward of Kirtlington. He is remembered on pier and face 5C and 12C of the Thiepval Memorial Additional Information Born: Kirtlington Residence: Kirtlington Enlistment Location: Birmingham Sydney HAYWARD Private, 4th (Queen’s Own) Hussars, 3rd Cavalry Brigade, 2nd Cavalry Division. Army no. 35118 He was killed in action on the Somme on 31 March 1918. He was 20 He was the son of John R & Elizabeth Hayward, South End, Kirtlington. He is remembered on panel 3 of the Pozières Memorial Additional Information Birth Place: Kirtlington Residence: Kirtlington Enlistment Location: Dublin Gerald Horatio HERBERT Private, 1st Battalion, Welsh Guards, 3rd Guards Brigade, Guards Division. Army no. 3048 He was killed in action during the Battle of Pilckem Ridge on 31 July 1917. He was 37 He was the husband of Susannah Herbert of Burnley He is buried in grave II D 19 Artillery Wood Cemetery Additional Information Birth Place: Kirtlington. Enlistment Location: Burnley His birth registration in 1880 states Horatio Gerald HERBERT William Thomas KING Private, 1st/4th Battalion, Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, 234 Brigade, 75th Division. Army no. 45286. He was formerly with The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, Army no. 24367 He died on 6 October 1918. He was 33 He was the son of Mary M King, The Green, Kirtlington and the late Isaac T King. He is buried in grave O 262 War Memorial Cemetery, Cairo Additional Information Birth Place: Kirtlington Residence: Kirtlington Enlistment Location: Bicester Arthur William LAMBOURNE Private, 1st Battalion, The Border Regiment, 87 Brigade, 29th Division. Army no. 260707 He was killed in action in Flanders on 22 October 1918. He was 21 He was the son of Arthur and Susan Lambourne He is buried in grave L 1 Heestert Military Cemetery Additional Information Birth Place: Kirtlington Residence: Kirtlington Enlistment Location: Oxford Harry LAMBOURNE Private, 5th Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, 42 Brigade, 14th Division. Army no. 10529 He was killed in action on 25 September 1915. He was 23 He was the son of Susan and the late William Lambourne, South End, Kirtlington. He is remembered on panel 37 and 39 of the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres Additional Information Birth Place: Kirtlington Residence: Kirtlington Enlistment Location: Oxford Richard William MOSTO Private, 1st Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment), 16 Brigade, 6th Division. Army no. L/6712 He was killed in action on 15 September 1916 during the Battle of Flers-Courcellette. He was 31 He was the husband of Victoria Musto He is remembered on pier and face 5D of the Thiepval Memorial Additional Information Birth Place: Trinity, Oxford Residence: Oxford Enlistment Location: Canterbury, Kent Lionel Allan PRATT MSM Acting Sergeant, Royal Army Medical Corps attached to 1st Army Gas School. Army no. 33975 He died from his wounds on 23 June 1918. He was 28 He was the son of Henry and Jessie Pratt and the husband of Ethel Blanche Pratt of Kirtlington He is buried in grave IV L 44 Aubigny Communal Cemetery Extension Additional information Birth Place: Hampstead Enlistment Location: Oxford The Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) was instituted on 19 December 1845 for the British Army, to recognise meritorious service by non-commissioned officers. Recipients were also granted an annuity, the amount of which was based on rank. During 1916–1919, army NCOs could be awarded the medal immediately for meritorious service in the field. They could also be awarded the medal for acts of non-combat gallantry. Leonard RAINBOW Private, 2nd Battalion, The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, 5 Brigade, 2nd Division. Army no. 8139 He was killed in action during the Battle of Langemarck on 21 October 1914. He was 18 He was the son of Robert and Eliza Rainbow He is remembered on panel 37 and 39 of the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres Additional Information His birth registration and the 1911 Census show his name as Lindo Rainbow Birth Place: Shipton under Wychwood Residence: Shipton under Wychwood Enlistment Location: Oxford Frank SIMMONDS Private, 10th Battalion, Princess Louise's (Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders), 97 Brigade, 32nd Division. Army no. S/9599 He was killed in action on 30 September 1918 in the fighting at the St Quentin Canal. He was 23 He was the son of the late Urban J Simmonds and of Fanny Simmonds of Kirtlington. He is buried in grave A 7 Joncourt British Cemetery, Pas de Calais Additional Information Birth Place: Kirtlington Residence: Oxford Enlistment Location: Dorking Christopher WALTON Private, 8th Battalion, King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment), 76 Brigade, 3rd Division. Army no. 202148 He died from his wounds, probably received in the fighting at Albert, on 24 August 1918. He was 20. He was the son of Ernest and Emily Walton of Littlemore He is buried in grave L 4 St. Hilaire Cemetery Extension, Frévent. Additional Information Birth Place: Littlemore Enlistment Location: Oxford William Thomas WALTON Private, 8th Battalion, Princess Charlotte of Wales's (Royal Berkshire Regiment),1 Brigade, 1st Division. Army no. 30396. He was formerly with 2nd Battalion, The Gloucestershire Regiment, Army no. 3405 He was killed in action on 3 December 1916. He was 19 He was the son of William and Hannah Walton, Yew Tree Cottage, Kirtlington. He is remembered on pier and face 11D of the Thiepval Memorial Additional Information Birth Place: Kirtlington Residence: Kirtlington Enlistment Location: Oxford George Henry WISE Private, 296th Mechanical Transport Company, Royal Army Service Corps. Army no. DM2/163326. He died on 15 July 1917 probably from disease. He was 24 He was the son of James and Martha Wise He is buried in grave IV G 22 Basra War Cemetery, Iraq Additional Information Birth Place: Great Milton Enlistment Location: Oxford Residence: Oxford The Fallen in WW2 William Arthur CATO Assistant Cook, HM Trawler Manor, Royal Naval Patrol Service. RN no. LT/MX 93622 He died in action on 9 July 1942. He was 20 He was the son of Ernest and Emily Cato of Kirtlington He is remembered on panel 10, column 2 of the Lowestoft Naval Memorial Additional Information HM Trawler Manor was part of convoy WP-183 which was attacked by e-boats and aircraft in the English Channel south of Portland and Weymouth on 9 July 1942. German E Boats of the Second Flotilla attacked the convoy. At 0120 the Commodores ship the old coaster Kongshaug was torpedoed forward of the bridge on the starboard side and sank in 30 seconds. The tanker Pomella was hit twice by torpedoes from S67 and abandoned. The Dutch coaster Reggestroom, the Rosten, Bokn and the escort trawler Manor were also sunk. The Gripfast escaped to Portland with Rosten survivors but was sunk by German aircraft. There was only one survivor from HM Trawler Manor. He was Cyril Horace Joseph Foal who had been picked up by HM trawler Ruby. First HMT Manor was hit by a tremendous explosion and she settled by the stern. Foal was flung backwards against the Asdic recorder. Two more explosions rocked Manor and soon the bridge was under water. Foal escaped through a window and clung to a piece of wood before rescue came. None of the other crew were found. A W JARVIS Not identified Henry William James JOHNSON Leading Aircraftman, 200 Squadron, Royal Air Force. RAFVR no. 1181715 He died on 29 September 1942. He was 22 He was the son of William and Ada Johnson and the husband of Kathleen Mary Johnson of Hayes. He is buried in grave 4 F 8 Fajara War Cemetery, The Gambia Additional Information The aircraft were Lockheed Hudson and the squadron was based in Jeswang, Gambia flying anti-submarine patrols I have not established how he died John De Grey TATHAM-WARTER MC Major, Queen's Bays (2nd Dragoon Guards) Royal Armoured Corps. Army no. 66063. He was killed in action at El Alamein on 2 November 1942. He was 27. He was the son of Henry De Grey and Kathleen Maud Tatham-Warter of Kirtlington and the husband of Babette I. Tatham-Warter of Staplehurst, Kent He is buried in grave X J 6 El Alamein War Cemetery Additional Information From The Times 20 May 1943 Major John de Grey Tatham-Warter, MC, The Queen's Bays, killed in the Battle for Egypt, was the elder son of the late Henry de Grey Tatham-Warter and of Mrs Tatham-Warter, Portway House, Kirtlington. Educated at Wellington and at Sandhurst, which he left as senior under officer, he joined The Queen's Bays in 1935. He served in France in 1940 and went to the Middle East in 1941, being awarded the MC. He was adjutant of the regiment for two and a half years before getting command of a squadron. He married Babette, daughter of Major-General H F Salt, in 1941. MB writes: "John Tatham-Warter was endowed with a natural gift for games and with a passion for fitness and all out-of-door life. He played squash rackets for Wellington and for Sandhurst and polo for The Bays, both in the subalterns' and regimental teams. He was above the average as a shot, and climbed mountains in Switzerland and rock faces in Cumberland and Wales. His vital personality will be sadly missed in the Cattistock and Blackmoor Vale, and by his many friends in all walks of life. His modesty, energy, and keenness in everything he undertook, whether work or play, was a delight to his older friends and an inspiration to his contemporaries." The Fallen in WW2 who are not on the Memorial Frederick Henry TYRRELL Private, B Company, 8th Battalion, Princess Charlotte of Wales's (Royal Berkshire Regiment), 53 Brigade, 18th Division. Army no. 37783. He was formerly with The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, Army no. 28950 He was killed in action on 23 October 1918 in the Battle of the Selle. He was 35 He was the son of John and the late Annie Tyrrell and the husband of Mary A Tyrrell of Nethercote, Tackley. He is buried in grave XI A 16 Highland Cemetery, Le Cateau Additional Information Birth Place: Kirtlington, Enlistment Location: Oxford Living in Kirtlington in 1891, Oxford in 1911 Arthur William HOLTON Stoker 2nd Class, HMS Nile, Royal Navy RN no. C/KX 105917 He died probably from disease on 28 September 1940. He was 23 He was the son of Ann Holton and the husband of Eileen Betty Holton of Kirtlington He is buried in grave 8 K 12 Kirkee War Cemetery, India Additional Information HMS Nile was a shore establishment And two who fell in other times Edward John DASHWOOD Flight Lieutenant, Royal Air Force He was killed on active service on 21 March 1925. He was 23 He was the son of sons of Sir George J E Dashwood, 6th Bart. and Lady Mary M Dashwood who had already lost three sons in WW1 He is buried in Tank Cemetery, Pakistan Addition information His death occurred in “Pink's War” which was an air to ground bombardment and strafing carried out by the Royal Air Force, under the command of Wing Commander Richard Pink, against the mountain strongholds of Mahsud tribesmen in South Waziristan in March and April 1925. The defence of the North-West Frontier Province was an important task for British India. In July 1924 the British mounted operations against several of the Mahsud tribes in southern Waziristan and the military commander RAF made the unprecedented decision to conduct air operations against the tribesmen without the support of the army. Bristol Fighters and de Havilland DH. 9As from Nos. 5, 27 and 60 squadrons were deployed to the airstrips at Miranshah and Tank. Operations commenced on 9 March 1925 and the RAF squadrons strafed tribal mountain strongholds to crush the rebellion. On 1 May 1925, the tribal leaders sought an honourable peace bringing the short campaign to a close. After the campaign, the India General Service Medal with the Waziristan 1925 bar was awarded to the 46 officers and 214 men of the Royal Air Force who took part. It was by far the rarest bar given with an India General Service Medal. 14 men were mentioned in despatches, including Flying Officers Edward Dashwood and Noel Hayter-Hames, who both lost their lives. Rupert Stuart Michael THORNELOE MBE (17 October 1969 Copied from the official Army website: https://www.army.mod.uk/infantry/regiments/16114.aspx On 1 July 2009 Lt Col Thorneloe left the Battle Group Headquarters on a resupply convoy so that he could visit his men, because they were conducting a major operation in hostile territory. He was travelling in a Viking armoured vehicle, but at 15.20 hours local time an improvised explosive device was detonated under this vehicle. Lt Col Thorneloe and Tpr Hammond were killed by the blast. Lt Col Thorneloe was commissioned into the Welsh Guards in 1992. At regimental duty he served as a Platoon Commander and Company Second-in-Command both in the UK and on operations in Northern Ireland, as Adjutant in London, and as a Company Commander, again in the UK and on operations in Northern Ireland. Extra-regimentally he spent a year as an Intelligence Liaison Officer with the Royal Ulster Constabulary Special Branch (in South Armagh); a year as an Intelligence Analyst at the Permanent Joint Headquarters (Northwood); two years as the Operations Officer of 1st (UK) Armoured Division (in Germany and Iraq); and two years in the MOD as Military Assistant to the Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (Policy) and, latterly, Military Assistant to the Secretary of State for Defence. He assumed command of the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards on 28 October 2008. He was a very keen polo player until the age of 28. Since then his primary interests have been sailing and game shooting. His wife Sally said: "Rupert was my very best friend and his death is a devastating blow. 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. While he was with us our lives were filled with joy and happiness, they will never be the same again. Hannah always said the best bit of Daddy was his coming home and that will never happen again. Rupert loved the Army. He was a born soldier - an inspiration." "I know he felt privileged to command his battalion on operations and thought so highly of them and their families left behind. 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. 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." Brigadier Tim Radford, Commander Task Force Helmand, said: "Rupert Thorneloe was, quite simply, a superb Commanding Officer. He was an inspiration to his men, and they loved him for it. He cared deeply for them and the whole Welsh Guards family. He died as he lived his life, leading from the front. As his Brigade Commander, I valued his leadership, his honesty and his enormous moral and physical courage. He was destined for greatness in the Army. As a friend for 12 years, I will remember him as a devoted husband to Sally and a most wonderful father to Hannah and Sophie. I shall miss him dreadfully." Colonel Sandy Malcolm, Regimental Lieutenant Colonel Welsh Guards, said: "Lieutenant Colonel Rupert Thorneloe was an outstanding man and an officer destined for the top and the regiment has lost one of their very finest. He cared passionately for the men under his command and what his battalion were doing in Afghanistan. "He had all the qualities that made him special. He was the consummate professional, charismatic, possessed an intellect that was as sharp as you can get, able to absorb issues large and small and he was utterly charming. He had time for everyone and would always go that extra mile to ensure that everything he did was 100 per cent or more. We were all the beneficiaries of his wisdom and advice." "Whether in the regiment or in the many demanding appointments held in the Army he touched all with his infectious enthusiasm, sense of humour and sheer professionalism. He was acutely aware of the dangers his battalion in Afghanistan faced having already seen a number of his men killed in action and injured in battle on the tour. But he led from the front, inspiring confidence, trust and huge respect from those under his command who will all miss him greatly, as we will at home." "His death is a huge loss to us all and all our thoughts and prayers are with his wonderful family who we are giving as much support to as possible at this difficult time. We will always remember him as one of our very best. He was a simply remarkable man and officer and a great Welsh Guardsman." Major Andrew Speed, the Battalion Second-in-Command, said: "I was very fortunate to be the second-in-command to a truly talented officer. To see him in operation was an inspirational sight. His attention to detail and his drive were extremely impressive. When we were flagging through late nights and early mornings he still had the resilience to push on. As a man he did not seek personal gain. His motivation was always for the Welsh Guards, his men and his family. This was his focus and this is what drove him to work as he did." "He was compassionate and caring and despite working us hard he always had words of encouragement and he always took time out to laugh and joke keeping our morale high even in the toughest of circumstances. I shared an office with him for the last nine months. It was a privilege that I will never forget because sitting there listening to him in action taught me more than any staff course ever could." "To lose such a man while on operations is a considerable blow. But it is a blow that will not discourage us. We have been moulded into an effective team by a great leader who would have wanted us to complete our task in Afghanistan. It is a task that he passionately believed in and we will not let him down in the relentless pursuit of the goals that he set us." "His wife Sally and his two daughters Hannah and Sophie are in our thoughts and prayers because our loss, although great, is nothing in comparison to theirs." Major Guy Stone, one of the Company Commanders, said: "Lieutenant Colonel Rupert Thorneloe was not only a truly great friend but an outstanding man for whom to work. "He was kind, very thoughtful, utterly decent, and someone who had complete loyalty from and deep admiration of all his Company Commanders. He was the perfect military guide for us all and there was no better moral compass. He would always listen and never forgot a thing. He adored the Welsh Guards: the Regiment, the Battalion but especially his Guardsmen. We knew, as a battalion warned for Afghanistan, that we were in the very best of hands." "His great intellect, thoroughness and deep care for those under his command gave us huge confidence. He never missed a trick and he was even always one step ahead of the most mischievous Guardsman. He amazed us with his enviable capacity for work. We all know that Colonel Rupert's reputation was undoubted from the highest echelons of the Army, and indeed the Government, having worked closely for the Secretary of State for Defence. But above all this, and what hurts most of all, is that he was a very loving husband to Sally and father to Hannah and Sophie." "I had the very deepest respect for him and I will miss him enormously, but now he would want us to continue with added determination and drive with his cry 'all of one company'." Major Martyn Miles, the Battle Group Logistics Officer, said: "Lieutenant Colonel Rupert Thorneloe MBE was a superb Welsh Guardsman who loved his battalion. He died leading his men from the front, and I for one have felt his loss enormously having served with him on many occasions including beside him as the Regimental Sergeant Major when he held the appointment of Adjutant." "Since our arrival in Helmand province, the Battle Group has achieved amazing things under the command of Colonel Rupert. He was confident that within our time we would increase and deepen security within our area of responsibility [AOR]." "Col Rupert was a great soldier himself, and a great leader of men, an example to other Commanding Officers. Every incident that happened with our AOR he praised his men for their professionalism and dedication to duty and encouraged them to carry on." "The battalion will now carry on as he would have wanted us to do, as a family regiment. We will draw from the great strength within using pride, determination and the love for the Commanding Officer. We will drive forward to achieve the objectives that he felt so passionate about. He will be truly missed by all ranks that were lucky enough to serve under his command. My thoughts and prayers are with Sally and the two young daughters Hannah and Sophie. God Bless." Captain James Aldridge, the Adjutant, said: "Being Colonel Rupert's Adjutant was hard work, but it was also very rewarding. There were many late nights, but I had the privilege of watching and learning from a highly capable man. He demanded the highest standards from those under his command, but justifiably, as he also set the highest standards himself. He would never take the easy option, but would always spend the extra time to work out what the best solution would be for the battalion, and also for the individuals concerned. He could not have been prouder of the regiment, nor cared more deeply for its members." "He would never have asked anyone to do anything he was not prepared to do himself, and he died doing just that - leading from the front. He will be sorely missed by the battalion, and all who knew him." Captain Ed Launders, the Operations Officer, said: "Lieutenant Colonel Thorneloe was a man apart; he combined an astute military brain with real compassion for the men under his command and a unique ability to spot opportunities where others would not. He led the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards Battle Group with the steadiest of hands in often the most difficult of circumstances; he was utterly committed to his men, and to bringing about lasting improvement to the lives of the people of Afghanistan." "I have served under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Thorneloe as a Platoon Commander in his company, and as his Operations Officer in Afghanistan. It has been a real privilege to witness a true master at work. His intelligence and imagination, combined with selfless determination, left the rest of us in his wake. His humanity and good humour means that he will leave behind a happy and bonded team with an utter determination to succeed. I will remember him for his kindness, humour and ability to get the very best out of his team. He will be sorely missed." Warrant Officer Class 1 (Regimental Sergeant Major) Michael Monaghan said: "Words cannot express the sadness that has been felt by the loss of the Commanding Officer. My immediate thoughts are for his family and they have my deepest sympathy." "I knew the Commanding Officer since he was a young Platoon Commander and the first encounter I had with him was as a result of his considerable qualities as an officer when he was selected to lead the battalion's team for the Cambrian Patrol competition. "The Commanding Officer was the ultimate professional in everything he did and no stone was left unturned in his quest to ensure that everything was done correctly in order to improve the lives, more often than not at the expense of his personal life, of the men in their careers and personal circumstances." "The Commanding Officer was an extremely talented leader and was the kind of man that you would follow anywhere knowing that you were in very capable hands. He will be greatly missed by all of the battalion and I will always remember him for everything that he did for the men and the kindness that he showed to everybody. He was a truly great man." |