British Army Sergeant Gareth Thursby

29-year-old British Army Sergeant Gareth Thursby, of 3rd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment (Duke of Wellington's) (3 YORKS) was one of two soldiers shot and killed by a rogue Afghan Local Policeman in Checkpoint Tora in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province on 15th September 2012. The other soldier killed was Private Thomas Wroe.

Sergeant Gareth David Thursby joined the British Army in August 1999. After completing his training in early 2000, he joined 1st Battalion The Duke of Wellington's Regiment. His first deployment was to Kosovo in 2003 followed by Iraq in 2005. 

He passed the Section Commander's Battle Course to qualify for a posting to the Army Training Regiment as an instructor. Subsequently, he returned to 3rd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment as a section commander. 

In October 2010 he was promoted to sergeant and assumed his role as a platoon sergeant in Alma Company. Sergeant Thursby was deeply respected by all that worked with him and all that knew him. His professionalism and strength of character were his hallmark, as was his commitment to his men. His unswerving loyalty, moral courage and sense of duty were an example to all. 

Lieutenant Colonel Zachary Stenning MBE, Commanding Officer, 3 YORKS, said: "We have lost one of our finest, Sergeant Gareth Thursby. His nickname 'Bull' epitomised everything; he was strong, confident and unbelievably robust. He was admired and deeply respected by his soldiers and peers for his soldiering skills, physical strength and forthright honesty. Utterly professional, his standards were legendary." 

Sergeant Thursby leaves his wife, Louise, and two children, Joshua and Ruby.