Ex-South Craven student killed in Afghanistan (From Keighley News)

Ex-South Craven student killed in Afghanistan

9:06am Monday 17th September 2012 in Keighley

A soldier killed in Afghanistan was a former pupil of South Craven School at Cross Hills.

Sergeant Gareth Thursby, 29, and a colleague were killed by a man dressed as an Afghan policeman.

Married father-of-two Sergeant Thursby and Private Thomas Wroe, 18, were shot dead in the south of Nahr-e Saraj district, Helmand province on Saturday.

They both served in 3rd Battalion, The Yorkshire Regiment (Duke of Wellington’s).

The men were killed at a checkpoint when a man dressed as a local Afghan policeman pretended to be injured so they would help him, defence sources said.

Sgt Thursby is survived by his wife Louise, from Cross Hills, and two children, Joshua and Ruby.

Louise said: "Gareth was the love of my life. He was an amazing husband and father, happy, full of life and kind hearted with a passion for his work and family. He was brave, hardworking, a loving husband who was a devoted father to his children. Our hero."

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.”