Bodies of soldier killed in Afghanistan and his dog brought home

A dozen dogs sat respectfully with their masters as the hearse carrying an Army dog handler killed in Afghanistan drove passed them yesterday.

Lance Corporal Liam Tasker, 26, from the Royal Army Veterinary Corps, was shot on March 1 while on patrol with his Springer spaniel, Theo.

Theo died just hours after his master when he suffered a seizure, with LCpl Tasker's family believing the dog died from a broken heart.

LCpl Tasker, who was based at North Luffenham, in Rutland, was repatriated at RAF Lyneham, in Wiltshire yesterday, with Theo's ashes returned to British soil in the same aircraft as his handler.

As has become custom, hundreds of people, including members of the Royal British Legion, joined the soldier's family, from Scotland, in lining the main road through Wootton Bassett in tribute.

As a single bell tolled to mark the arrival of the cortege into the Wiltshire town, several dogs could be heard barking.

LCpl Tasker's father Ian said he believed Theo had died from a broken heart.

"My honest opinion on this is, when Liam went down, Theo didn't have the comfort from Liam to calm him down,'' he said.

"I truly believe when Theo went back to the kennel, that would have a big, big impact because Liam wasn't there to comfort him.''

Record-breaking Theo had been praised by the Ministry of Defence for making 14 finds of hidden bombs and weapons caches in just five months.

LCpl Tasker joined the Army in 2001 and first served as a vehicle mechanic in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.

He transferred to the Royal Army Veterinary Corps in 2007.

Last year, he was posted to 104 Military Working Dog Squadron at the St George's Barracks, in North Luffenham.

Lieutenant Colonel David Thorpe, the commanding officer of the 1st Military Working Dog Regiment, said LCpl Tasker's "genuinely loved" the dogs he worked with.

He said: "He was always able to get the best out of them.

"He wanted to go to Afghanistan. He wanted to ply his trade in the harshest of environments, to be outside of his comfort zone and he wanted to be successful."

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