News Release issued by
the COI News Distribution Service on 28 September 2009
The MoD is proud
to announce that a Commanding Officer who served with the Welsh
Guards was awarded a posthumous bravery medal this afternoon.
Lieutenant Colonel Rupert Thorneloe of the 1st Battalion Welsh
Guards, who was killed by an explosion in Afghanistan, has been
awarded the Estonian Defence Forces Distinguished Service Decoration.
The award was presented to Lt Col Thorneloe’s widow, Mrs Sally
Thorneloe, at a private ceremony in London’s Wellington Barracks -
Regimental Head Quarters of the Welsh Guards - which was attended
by Chief of the Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup;
Chief of Defence of the Estonian Defence Forces, Lieutenant
General Ants Laaneots; Lt Col Thorneloe’s parents, Major and Mrs
Thorneloe and his sister, Jessica.
Accepting the award, Mrs Thorneloe said: “Before deploying to
Afghanistan as the Commanding Officer of the 1 st Battalion Welsh
Guards my husband, Rupert, thought it important to meet all the
soldiers he would command on operations in Helmand Province. Of
course this included the Estonian contingent. I knew this would
mean not seeing him just before Easter, but he always put his
soldiers first and it was one of the characteristics which made
him such a capable and compassionate commander. Those first steps
were crucial in nurturing a strong relationship between him and
“his Estonians” as he later liked to refer to them.
“That initial bond of trust and respect, forged in that first
visit, grew strong and true throughout his time in command in
Helmand. He often remarked how proud he was of his Estonians and
what terrific friends and brothers-in-arms they had become. He
grew to love them dearly.
“He would be humbled and proud in equal measure to be awarded
this decoration from the Estonian Defence Forces.”
Chief of the Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup
paid tribute to Lt Col Thorneloe, saying: “I was very saddened to
learn of the tragic death of Lieutenant Colonel Rupert Thorneloe
in Afghanistan in July. He was an exceptional officer and he is
greatly missed by his colleagues and deeply mourned by his family.
I am touched that the Chief of Defence of the Estonian Defence
Forces has decided to award, posthumously, the Estonian Defence
Forces Distinguished Service Decoration to Rupert for battlefield
service, and has taken the trouble to present the award personally
at a private event to Rupert’s widow, Sally, this afternoon.”
The award was presented by Chief of Defence of the Estonian
Defence Forces, Lieutenant General Ants Laaneots in recognition of
Lt Col Thorneloe’s bravery and the support that he provided to
Estonian troops.
He said: “Estonians very quickly recognise and appreciate others
who demonstrate the attributes of honour, integrity, comradeship
and respect for others. It became very clear to me, and other
Estonians, who met Lieutenant Colonel Rupert Thorneloe, that he
was one of those who possessed and valued these attributes.
Because of his outstanding personal and professional skills as a
soldier and as a commanding officer, which became well known to
the Estonian contingent in Helmand, as well as in the Estonian
defence community in general, his tragic loss came as a shock and
continues to be strongly felt.
Whilst I know there is nothing that can compensate for the loss
of a loved one and a valued comrade in arms, I hope this, my
personal award, will serve as a reminder and impress upon you, as
he did on us, how much we, in the Estonian Defence Forces,
appreciated knowing him in life, and how deeply heartfelt we
continue to feel his passing.“
Notes to Editors
For further information, please contact Mohammed
Hussein at the MOD Press Office on 0207 218 2661.
Pictures of the presentation are available at
defencenewsimagery.mod.uk
Contacts:
Geri Mahoney Moore
Phone: 020 7218 7958
geri.mahoney-moore113@defence.gsi.gov.uk