The most senior British officer to be killed in Afghanistan had warned about the risks posed to his troops by a shortage of helicopters. Lt Col Rupert Thorneloe, who commanded the 1st Battalion, Welsh Guards, died in July when his convoy was hit by a roadside bomb. Trooper Joshua Hammond died in the same attack. It has emerged that Lt Col Thorneloe had written to the Ministry of Defence warning that a lack of helicopters meant that too many trips were being made by road, leaving forces vulnerable to improvised explosive devices. The memos were leaked by an official to the Conservative MP and former officer Adam Holloway. Mr Holloway and Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, Chief of the Defence Staff, examine the quality of the Ministry of Defence's resources.