At 19, Rifleman Cyrus Thatcher was one of the youngest victims of the Afghan war. These letters – given to The Independent by his family – reveal the excitement of a teenager sent to fulfil his dream, and his maturity in confronting the possibility that he might not make it home

In the spring of this year, the 2nd Battalion, The Rifles deployed to Afghanistan. Halfway through the battalion's tour, it has lost nine soldiers, with dozens injured.

Of those to have given their lives, four were teenagers. Here Rifleman Cyrus Thatcher, who was 19 when he was killed by an explosion near Gereshk seven weeks ago, tells his own story, through letters home and the last letter he left behind to bid farewell to his family – his mother Helena, father Robin and brothers Zac, 21, and Steely, 17.

Following are the words of a proud soldier described by his officers as possessing "a rucksack full of potential", and by his friends as a rascal always cracking jokes and helping to keep morale high. Most of all, they are the words of a young son to his mum, dad and brothers.

"What is the point of an inquiry behind closed doors? No family would be happy with that. We already feel that we have been lied to by the government. We don't want any more lies. We would be prepared to go to Downing Street if the inquiry is not transparent."
Rose Gentle

Gordon Brown was under intense pressure last night to throw open a new inquiry into the Iraq war to the public as families of soldiers who died, and anti-war MPs, reacted with horror to suggestions it would be held largely in secret.

Cabinet sources said the prime minister would announce an inquiry early this week, probably on Tuesday. Its structure would be "similar but not identical" to the Franks inquiry into the 1982 Falklands war, which was held behind closed doors.

Last night, as families of the dead said they would march on Downing Street if any of its deliberations were kept secret, Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg stoked the controversy saying he would boycott the entire investigation if it was not open, wide in its remit and did not report speedily.

We now have a group for siblings that have lost a brother or sister, mum or dad in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Recently we had our second meet-up and they had such a good time - their hotel and travel arrangements are all paid for.

Parents can get people to talk to but the kids find it hard - they don't want to talk about it in case they upset their family. That's why we have this group.

If you know of some siblings that would like to meet up please get them to contact me.

My daughter has a web page for the siblings.

Those that attended our last weekend meet-up said it was good to talk to other kids that are going through the same thing.

Its not just all talk they can have some fun too!

Hope you are all well

Rose Gentle

LONDON (Reuters) - British soldiers serving abroad are protected by Human Rights laws, the Court of Appeal ruled on Monday in a verdict the government warned could have serious implications on overseas operations.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said it was very concerned about any attempt to insert lawyers into the chain of command in the heat of battle.

Three judges dismissed challenges by the government to a High Court ruling last year over the death of Private Jason Smith, who died of heatstroke in Iraq while serving with the Territorial Army, the Press Association reported.

"The state must make reasonable efforts to provide protection to soldiers wherever they are. It's not a particularly onerous duty," lawyer Jocelyn Cockburn, who represents Smith's family, told reporters.

Pauline Graham was told that politicians did not have sufficient funds to get vital equipment to troops fighting in the Middle East.

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The grandmother of Gordon Gentle, who was killed serving his country in Iraq, has spoken of her anger at the unfolding controversy over MPs' expenses.

Pauline Graham was told that politicians did not have sufficient funds to get vital equipment to troops fighting in the Middle East.

She believes lives could have been saved if taxpayers' money had been better spent.

She told STV News: "What I would say to those MPs who've stolen our taxpayers' money is to pay it back. Pay it to people that need it. I mean, give it to the troops."

Three soldiers killed in Afghanistan on a day when four men died have been named by the Ministry of Defence.

Sgt Ben Ross, from 3rd Regiment, Royal Military Police, and Cpl Kumar Pun, from the 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles, died in a suicide attack.

Rifleman Adrian Sheldon, 25, from 2nd Battalion The Rifles, died in a separate explosion on Thursday.

Cpl Sean Binnie, 22, of the Black Watch had already been named as having been shot. All died in Helmand Province.