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Thorneloe father's defence anger Thorneloe father's defence fears
(10 minutes later)
The father of the highest ranking Army officer to be killed in Afghanistan has accused the government of failing to put defence first.The father of the highest ranking Army officer to be killed in Afghanistan has accused the government of failing to put defence first.
Lieutenant Colonel Rupert Thorneloe was killed in an explosion in Helmand province on 1 July with Trooper Joshua Hammond, 18.Lieutenant Colonel Rupert Thorneloe was killed in an explosion in Helmand province on 1 July with Trooper Joshua Hammond, 18.
In an interview with ITV News, his father Major John Thorneloe said "if we're not defended then we're lost".In an interview with ITV News, his father Major John Thorneloe said "if we're not defended then we're lost".
His comments follow growing criticism over resources for British troops.His comments follow growing criticism over resources for British troops.
Lt Col Rupert Thorneloe, 39, from Kirtlington, Oxford, was the commanding officer of the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards.Lt Col Rupert Thorneloe, 39, from Kirtlington, Oxford, was the commanding officer of the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards.
He is the most senior soldier to have been killed in action since Lt Col Herbert 'H' Jones in the Falklands in 1982.He is the most senior soldier to have been killed in action since Lt Col Herbert 'H' Jones in the Falklands in 1982.
Col Thorneloe and Trooper Hammond, from Plymouth in Devon, of 2nd Royal Tank Regiment, were travelling as part of a resupply convoy when a bomb blew up their armoured vehicle.Col Thorneloe and Trooper Hammond, from Plymouth in Devon, of 2nd Royal Tank Regiment, were travelling as part of a resupply convoy when a bomb blew up their armoured vehicle.
'Right means''Right means'
In an interview with ITV News at Ten, Maj Thorneloe said he believed the current government did not put defence first.In an interview with ITV News at Ten, Maj Thorneloe said he believed the current government did not put defence first.
"Any government in this country needs to put defence first," he said."Any government in this country needs to put defence first," he said.
"If we're not defended then we're lost and it's too late if you wake up and find that you haven't got the right means to defend yourselves.""If we're not defended then we're lost and it's too late if you wake up and find that you haven't got the right means to defend yourselves."
Maj Thorneloe went on to say he was unable to believe his son was dead until his body returned to the UK in a coffin.Maj Thorneloe went on to say he was unable to believe his son was dead until his body returned to the UK in a coffin.
"We had a telephone call to say that Rupert had been killed and it was something that I'll never forget, obviously," he said."We had a telephone call to say that Rupert had been killed and it was something that I'll never forget, obviously," he said.
"It's difficult to explain but one just felt that it couldn't possibly have happened. It was in fact only when I saw him in his coffin that I realised that he wouldn't come back again.""It's difficult to explain but one just felt that it couldn't possibly have happened. It was in fact only when I saw him in his coffin that I realised that he wouldn't come back again."
As the death toll in Afghanistan continues to rise, there has been a growing political debate over how well British troops are equipped.As the death toll in Afghanistan continues to rise, there has been a growing political debate over how well British troops are equipped.
The focus has fallen on helicopters, and criticism has come from opposition ministers, defence chiefs and the families of dead soldiers.The focus has fallen on helicopters, and criticism has come from opposition ministers, defence chiefs and the families of dead soldiers.
But the government has insisted the UK's armed forces are better equipped than ever.But the government has insisted the UK's armed forces are better equipped than ever.