 Major Birchall was travelling in a Jackal (MWMIK) which was the second vehicle in a group of three which were involved in a routine patrol to deliver supplies and check on his men in the checkpoints around Basharan.Although he survived the initial blast and received immediate medical attention at the scene, Major Birchall died of his injuries before he could be extracted to medical facilities.Lieutenant Colonel Rupert Thorneloe MBE, aged 39, commanding officer of the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, and Trooper Joshua Hammond, who was 18 years old, of 2nd Royal Tank Regiment, died Wednesday 1 July 2009, after their BvS 10 Viking was destroyed in an explosion while the men were engaged in Operation Panchai Palang and were part of a resupply convoy heading toward troops in Babaji, north of Lashkar Gah, in Helmand Provence.