Our son died on battlefield... now we've brought his best friend home Fallen Afghanistan hero's stray dog rescued
As published in The Sun, 1 December 2011. Read the article and comments on The Sun's website here.
Fallen Afghanistan
The brave Para and the stray mongrel he called "Peg" were inseparable — with the mutt refusing to leave the private's side even amid fierce gun battles with the Taliban.
Emotional dad Tony, 49, said as the family finally got to take Peg with them after six months in quarantine: "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."
Conrad's mum Sandi, 48, beamed: "Peg is coming into a very loving family."
But just weeks after returning to Helmand he died alongside Private Lewis Hendry, 20 — the victim of a sniper.
His actions earned him a posthumous mention in dispatches for "unique bravery".
Fellow Paras — backed by Conrad's parents — hatched a daring plan to honour him by ensuring Peg was not doomed to resume life as a stray.
They got the Afghan army and animal charity Nowzad to hide the mutt in a bag and transport her by military helicopter and road to a dog shelter in Kabul.
Vets there gave her clearance to travel to Britain.
The Lewises forked out £4,000 for a commercial flight to bring her the 3,500 miles here and to put her in quarantine. A vet at Heathrow waived the usual £300 entry fee. Six months on, dad Tony said outside the Warwickshire kennels housing Peg: "It's been a long wait but worth it."
Peg raced to lick him, wife Sandi and daughter Siobhan — who along with Conrad's girlfriend Georgina Harris, 21, have spent the past six months visiting their new pet.
Tony said: "Conrad's spirit is very much here today in Peg. She is the link to everything he did out there."
Last night the mongrel had joined the family's nine-year-old bulldog Fergie — named after Man United boss Alex Ferguson.
Meanwhile, a fashion brand has been launched by the family in memory of their son — the 353rd UK soldier to die in Afghanistan.
Called "353" all profits go to Forces charities — with a target to raise £3.53million.
On sale as well as clothes, grooming products and jewellery is a range of toys and gifts inspired by Peg.
Fallen Afghanistan
hero's stray dog rescued
A FALLEN hero's family wept as the stray dog he adopted on the front line bounded into their arms yesterday — after her rescue from Afghanistan.
Tears of joy filled the eyes of squaddie Conrad Lewis's mum, dad and sister as they kept a promise they made to themselves after he was killed aged 22.The brave Para and the stray mongrel he called "Peg" were inseparable — with the mutt refusing to leave the private's side even amid fierce gun battles with the Taliban.
Emotional dad Tony, 49, said as the family finally got to take Peg with them after six months in quarantine: "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."
Conrad's mum Sandi, 48, beamed: "Peg is coming into a very loving family."
Loyal
Last Christmas — on his final visit to his family in Claverdon, Warwickshire — Conrad told how he planned to bring home loyal Peg, named after the Pegasus flying horse emblem of the Paras.But just weeks after returning to Helmand he died alongside Private Lewis Hendry, 20 — the victim of a sniper.
His actions earned him a posthumous mention in dispatches for "unique bravery".
Fellow Paras — backed by Conrad's parents — hatched a daring plan to honour him by ensuring Peg was not doomed to resume life as a stray.
They got the Afghan army and animal charity Nowzad to hide the mutt in a bag and transport her by military helicopter and road to a dog shelter in Kabul.
The Lewises forked out £4,000 for a commercial flight to bring her the 3,500 miles here and to put her in quarantine. A vet at Heathrow waived the usual £300 entry fee. Six months on, dad Tony said outside the Warwickshire kennels housing Peg: "It's been a long wait but worth it."
Peg raced to lick him, wife Sandi and daughter Siobhan — who along with Conrad's girlfriend Georgina Harris, 21, have spent the past six months visiting their new pet.
Tony said: "Conrad's spirit is very much here today in Peg. She is the link to everything he did out there."
Last night the mongrel had joined the family's nine-year-old bulldog Fergie — named after Man United boss Alex Ferguson.
Meanwhile, a fashion brand has been launched by the family in memory of their son — the 353rd UK soldier to die in Afghanistan.
Called "353" all profits go to Forces charities — with a target to raise £3.53million.
On sale as well as clothes, grooming products and jewellery is a range of toys and gifts inspired by Peg.
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