A GREAT LEADER ..AND A LOVING FATHER; Tributes to fallen British officer.

Byline: CHRIS HUGHES

THE grieving widow of Lieutenant-Colonel Rupert Thorneloe yesterday described him as an inspirational commanding officer who insisted on leading from the front.

Tearful Sally said Welsh Guard Thorneloe, who was killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan, was the ultimate professional. She added: "Rupert loved the Army. He was a born soldier, an inspiration. I know he led from the front and would not have had it any other way. He cared deeply about his men."

Thorneloe, 40, was in a vehicle when the bomb exploded in Babiji, Helmand Province, on Wednesday. Trooper Joshua Hammond, 18, from the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment, was also killed.

Thorneloe, a friend of the Welsh Guards' Colonelin-Chief Prince Charles, has two daughters.

Sally added: "Rupert was my very best friend and his death is a devastating blow. 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. Hannah always said the best bit of daddy was his coming home and that will never happen again."

Prince Charles had joined Thorneloe, his officers and men at their barracks in Aldershot to wish them well days before they left for Afghanistan. A spokesman said yesterday he was "deeply saddened".

He added: "Prince Charles knows LtCol Thorneloe and was quite close to him and the regiment. He will be writing to Lt-Col Thorneloe's family."

Head of the Army General Sir Richard Dannatt said Thorneloe and Hammond embodied the courage and professionalism of our forces in Afghanistan. He said: "Trooper Hammond was a first-class tank crewman. Lt-Col Thorneloe was an outstanding CO and a born leader, who I knew well.

"At the leading edge of his generation, his loss will be felt deeply not only by his family but also by his soldiers and others, who like me, had the privilege to serve with him.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of both these highly capable soldiers."

A month before being deployed to Afghanistan Thorneloe had said during an interview: "We are pretty well prepared but it will be a challenging tour and the biggest challenge will be to win the hearts and minds of the Afghan people."

Thorneloe is the highest-ranking frontline British Army fatality since Colonel H Jones, who was killed during the Falklands conflict in May 1982. He was seen as one of the most promising young soldiers to reach commanding officer level. In 2006, while still a major, he was awarded the MBE. Hammond, 19 next week, joined the Army three years ago.

He volunteered to change squadron so he could deploy to Afghanistan. His family said: "Joshua was a tremendous son. He was proud to be a soldier and died doing a job he loved. We are devastated."

Hammond's comrade and friend, Trooper Ben Probets, said: "Josh was one of the few great people in this world.

He was only 18, with his birthday coming up in eight days, but in these short 18 years he achieved what some people could achieve in a lifetime."

Commanding officer Lieutenant-Colonel Marcus Simson said: "He proved himself to be a superb soldier. Fit, courageous, and robust, he was first to volunteer, muck in and offer help to others."

A total of 171 British service personnel have died in Afghanistan since the campaign against the Taliban began in 2001.

The latest deaths came on the same day the Queen unveiled an award to go to families of troops who have fallen in action. It followed a two-year campaign by the Mirror.

Voice of the Mirror: Page 10

Massive US attack on the Taliban

By CHRIS HUGHES

THE US led a major pre-dawn strike against the Taliban yesterday, finally delivering President Barack Obama's longawaited surge.

Black Hawk, Chinook and Apache helicopters swarmed across Helmand as thousands of US Marines were dropped, with thousands more following in Humvees.

Operation Khanjar - Strike of the Sword - is the most devastating operation against Afghan extremists since the Russians fought there in the 80s.

British troops have held the line in the far south of Helmand for over a year.

But this operation aims to seize the lower Helmand River valley - Taliban heartland. Military insiders say if it works, commanders hope to accomplish within hours what Nato failed to do in years.

The US is particularly keen to secure the region ahead of Afghanistan's presidential election on August 20.

Hundreds of British Royal Marine Commandos pushed into the area weeks ago to gather intelligence.

US Marines commander Brigadier-General Larry Nicholson said: "The intent is to go big, strong and fast."

Last night, as US forces pushed Taliban fighters south, British troops secured villages behind the new front lines.

The US yesterday confirmed one of its troops was caught by the Taliban in eastern Afghanistan on Tuesday after wandering off post with three Afghan soldiers.

CAPTION(S):

REGIMENT Welsh Guards SENIOR Colonel H Jones was killed in 1982 LET'S RUMBLE Marine ready to fight A ROLE MODEL Rupert Thorneloe on patrol in Afghanistan DOTING DAD Rupert with daughters Hannah and Sophie