COMRADES, families and members of the public yesterday remembered five British soldiers killed in five bloody days of fighting in Afghanistan.
Hundreds of people turned out to pay their respects as the bodies of two of the men – including the highest-ranking Army officer to die on operations since the Falklands – were returned to the UK.
Tributes were also paid to three soldiers killed in separate incidents in southern Helmand Province.
All five men were taking part in Operation Panchai Palang, or Panther’s Claw, a massive mission to improve security ahead of the Afghan presidential election next month.
Lieutenant Colonel Rupert Thorneloe, 39, the commanding officer of the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, and Trooper Joshua Hammond, 18, of 2nd Royal Tank Regiment, died in a blast near Lashkar Gah, in Helmand, on Wednesday.
