The Army announced on Thursday night that it had lost a commanding officer in action for the first time in 27 years in the course of a major operation in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

Lt Col Rupert Thorneloe, commanding officer of the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, was killed in action north of Lashkar Gah in Helmand province, during Operation Panchai Palang, an operation to drive the Taliban out of an area linked to the opium trade.