The Canine Honour Guard: Dogs turn out in sympathy at army handler's funeral
Mournful barks echoed alongside the tolling of a bell in Wootton Bassett yesterday, as dogs lined the route for the repatriation of Lance Corporal Liam Tasker.
The dog handler was killed in a firefight with the Taliban - and his body returned to the UK on the same flight as the ashes of his devoted Army search dog Theo.
The springer spaniel suffered a seizure and died shortly after his master was killed last week.
Standing to attention: Police and Prison Service dogs with their handlers who salute as the cortege approaches for army dog handler Lance Corporal Liam Tasker who was killed during fighting last week
Tributes: Mourners place flowers on the hearse carrying the body of Lance Corporal Liam Tasker as it passes along the High Street in Wootton Bassett, yesterday
L/Cpl Tasker's mother Jane Duffy, 51, hugged sister Nicola, 13, and the soldier's fiancee Leah Walters, 33, and wept audibly as the cortege came to a standstill at 4.25pm.
Mourners threw red, yellow and white roses onto the roof of the hearse which contained the coffin draped in a Union Jack.
And many, from across the country, took along their dogs to pay their special respects to the army handler who was shot on March 1 .
Heartbroken: Lance Corporal Tasker's fiancee Leah Walters, left, cries on the shoulder of his sister Laura Tasker during the repatriation ceremony in Wootton Bassett today. The dog handler is pictured right with springer spaniel Theo, who died shortly after his master
Best friends: Lance Corporal Tasker and his trusted army search dog Theo show their incredible bond during a training session in Camp Bastion, Afghanistant
The body of 26-year-old L/Cpl Tasker, from Kirkcaldy, Fife, and the ashes of his 22-month -old springer spaniel had been returned to RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire on the same flight from Afghanistan.
The dog handler, from the Royal Army Veterinary Corps, was shot while he was on patrol in Helmand province.
Although Theo's ashes were not included in the cortege, a dozen dog handlers from police and prison forces around the country were among the crowds who lined the streets.
Many mourners were accompanied by their dogs to pay their special respects to army handler Lance Corporal Tasker who died with his Springer spaniel in Afghanistan on March 1
A mother's grief: Lance Corporal Tasker's mother Jane Duffy is comforted by a family member during the repatriation ceremony in Wootton Bassett which drew many police dogs and their handlers
Hurt: The pain is visible on the faces of friends and family of Lance Corporal Tasker during his repatriation ceremony in Wooton Basset yesterday
Pc Gareth Wilkinson, from Cheshire Police, was accompanied in Wootton Bassett by his sniffer spaniel Lottie and said: 'Under the circumstances a group of dog handlers wanted to come down and pay our respects.
'You get attached to the dogs so it's a doubly sad occasion not just for the family but for the loss of the animal as well.'
Returned home: Mourners throw red, yellow and white roses onto the roof of the hearse carrying Lance Corporal Tasker's coffin
Upset: Emotional mourners break down as the funeral cortege enters Wooton Basset yesterday
Puppy: Soldiers line the streets with a puppy that could go on to be used as an army search dog
Local resident Mike Brewser, 53, who regularly attends repatriations, had his black retriever Saffron with him..
'I wouldn't usually bring Saffron but I heard that here would be quite a few dogs here today,' he said.
'It's a story that touches people and it seems a nice gesture and a mark of respect to bring dogs along.'
Theo's ashes are to be presented to L/Cpl Tasker's family at a later date.
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