Post by Paul on Dec 2, 2011 7:55:10 GMT 9.5
A soldier's best friend: Family of British para killed by sniper in Afghanistan welcome home the stray dog who never left his side
By Emily Allen
Last updated at 3:33 PM on 1st December 2011
A grieving family fulfilled their soldier son's final wish of rescuing the dog he befriended in Afghanistan just months before he was killed.
The parents of paratrooper Conrad Lewis wept with joy as they greeted their son's best friend Peg who bounded up to them after completing six months in quarantine.
Conrad was killed by a Taliban sniper in Helmand Province on February 9 this year, just two months before he was due home.
Constant companion: Conrad Lewis on patrol in Qudrat, Afghanistan with his beloved dog Peg. He fed the dog his rations and she never left his side, even accompanying him during fierce fire fights against Taliban insurgents
Before his death Conrad adopted the dog and nicknamed her Peg - short for Pegasus - in honour of the Para's winged horse emblem.
He fed the dog his rations and she never left his side, even accompanying him during fierce fire fights against Taliban insurgents.
Conrad wanted to keep Peg as a pet after his tour of duty but was killed weeks before he was due home.
His family were determined to honour their hero son's wishes and rescued the dog from the war-torn country.
Animal charity Nowzad paid £4,000 and enlisted the help of the Afghan army who hid Peg in a bag, flew her in a military helicopter and then drove her to a dog shelter in Kabul.
Vets gave her clearance to fly the 3,500 miles to Britain and after arriving in quarantine, she was visited at least twice a week by Conrad's family and his girlfriend Georgina Harris, 21.
The family have now since paid Nowzad back the money.
Home: Tony and Sandi Lewis from Warwickshire with Peg who they say has made herself right at home since she left quarantine. She went on her first British walk this week
Yesterday Conrad's parents Tony and Sandi took Peg out for her first walk on British soil at their home in Claverdon, Warwickshire.
A day earlier the family, and sister Siobhan, 17, collected Peg from the Bayton Lodge International Quarantine Kennels in nearby Bulkington.
Mr Lewis, 49, said: 'So many people have worked so hard to bring Peg back from Afghanistan, we are extremely grateful to them.
'We've been waiting six months to bring Peg home with us but it's been worth the wait. Conrad's spirit is very much here in Peg. She is the link to everything he did out there.
'Bringing Peg home today is a fulfillment of a commitment we made.
Peg with a painting of Conrad who planned to bring her home with him but was killed by a sniper
'We don't know what the coming weeks and months will bring but we are looking forward to it. The most important thing is that Peg is home in time for Christmas.
'Peg has slipped in right at home. It feels like she has been with us for 20 years.
'We have a large picture of Conrad resting against the wall and Peg walked over to it and seemed to bow her head. It was very touching.'
Peg joined the family's nine-year-old British Bulldog Fergie, named after Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson.
Mrs Lewis, 48, said: 'We've all been so excited about having Peg home, she is coming into a very loving family.
'We felt Conrad looking down on us when we collected her.'
Conrad, the lead scout for his section, was described by the MoD as 'an intelligent individual' and 'exceedingly competent soldier'.
Part of the family: Tony and Sandi Lewis take Peg for her first walk. They said: 'We felt Conrad looking down on us when we collected her'
He met Peg when he was posted with A Company, 3 Para, to Checkpoint Qudrat in Helmand Province in October last year.
In one of his first letters home Conrad told his family about Peg and described how she would go out on patrol with the unit and sleep among the soldiers.
When Conrad returned home for leave at Christmas he told his family he wanted to bring her home at the end of his tour.
But within weeks of flying back to the front line, Conrad and fellow solder Private Lewis Hendry, 20, were killed by a Taliban sniper.
Conrad's actions earned him a posthumous mention in despatches for his 'unique bravery' in Afghanistan.
Mr Lewis said: 'Conrad would be chuffed to bits to see his pal home.
'It was his final wish and we are delighted to have done this for him. Peg is a wonderful member of our family.'
Last month Conrad's family launched a not-for-profit fashion brand - called '353' - in honour of their son who was the 353rd UK soldier to die in Afghanistan.
The organisation sells grooming products, clothes and jewellery as well as a range of toys and gifts inspired by Peg and ultimately hopes to raise £3.53 million for armed forces charities.
By Emily Allen
Last updated at 3:33 PM on 1st December 2011
A grieving family fulfilled their soldier son's final wish of rescuing the dog he befriended in Afghanistan just months before he was killed.
The parents of paratrooper Conrad Lewis wept with joy as they greeted their son's best friend Peg who bounded up to them after completing six months in quarantine.
Conrad was killed by a Taliban sniper in Helmand Province on February 9 this year, just two months before he was due home.
Constant companion: Conrad Lewis on patrol in Qudrat, Afghanistan with his beloved dog Peg. He fed the dog his rations and she never left his side, even accompanying him during fierce fire fights against Taliban insurgents
Before his death Conrad adopted the dog and nicknamed her Peg - short for Pegasus - in honour of the Para's winged horse emblem.
He fed the dog his rations and she never left his side, even accompanying him during fierce fire fights against Taliban insurgents.
Conrad wanted to keep Peg as a pet after his tour of duty but was killed weeks before he was due home.
His family were determined to honour their hero son's wishes and rescued the dog from the war-torn country.
Animal charity Nowzad paid £4,000 and enlisted the help of the Afghan army who hid Peg in a bag, flew her in a military helicopter and then drove her to a dog shelter in Kabul.
Vets gave her clearance to fly the 3,500 miles to Britain and after arriving in quarantine, she was visited at least twice a week by Conrad's family and his girlfriend Georgina Harris, 21.
The family have now since paid Nowzad back the money.
Home: Tony and Sandi Lewis from Warwickshire with Peg who they say has made herself right at home since she left quarantine. She went on her first British walk this week
Yesterday Conrad's parents Tony and Sandi took Peg out for her first walk on British soil at their home in Claverdon, Warwickshire.
A day earlier the family, and sister Siobhan, 17, collected Peg from the Bayton Lodge International Quarantine Kennels in nearby Bulkington.
Mr Lewis, 49, said: 'So many people have worked so hard to bring Peg back from Afghanistan, we are extremely grateful to them.
'We've been waiting six months to bring Peg home with us but it's been worth the wait. Conrad's spirit is very much here in Peg. She is the link to everything he did out there.
'Bringing Peg home today is a fulfillment of a commitment we made.
Peg with a painting of Conrad who planned to bring her home with him but was killed by a sniper
'We don't know what the coming weeks and months will bring but we are looking forward to it. The most important thing is that Peg is home in time for Christmas.
'Peg has slipped in right at home. It feels like she has been with us for 20 years.
'We have a large picture of Conrad resting against the wall and Peg walked over to it and seemed to bow her head. It was very touching.'
Peg joined the family's nine-year-old British Bulldog Fergie, named after Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson.
Mrs Lewis, 48, said: 'We've all been so excited about having Peg home, she is coming into a very loving family.
'We felt Conrad looking down on us when we collected her.'
Conrad, the lead scout for his section, was described by the MoD as 'an intelligent individual' and 'exceedingly competent soldier'.
Part of the family: Tony and Sandi Lewis take Peg for her first walk. They said: 'We felt Conrad looking down on us when we collected her'
He met Peg when he was posted with A Company, 3 Para, to Checkpoint Qudrat in Helmand Province in October last year.
In one of his first letters home Conrad told his family about Peg and described how she would go out on patrol with the unit and sleep among the soldiers.
When Conrad returned home for leave at Christmas he told his family he wanted to bring her home at the end of his tour.
But within weeks of flying back to the front line, Conrad and fellow solder Private Lewis Hendry, 20, were killed by a Taliban sniper.
Conrad's actions earned him a posthumous mention in despatches for his 'unique bravery' in Afghanistan.
Mr Lewis said: 'Conrad would be chuffed to bits to see his pal home.
'It was his final wish and we are delighted to have done this for him. Peg is a wonderful member of our family.'
Last month Conrad's family launched a not-for-profit fashion brand - called '353' - in honour of their son who was the 353rd UK soldier to die in Afghanistan.
The organisation sells grooming products, clothes and jewellery as well as a range of toys and gifts inspired by Peg and ultimately hopes to raise £3.53 million for armed forces charities.
