Ministry of Defence
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Army sniffer dog has bumper belated Christmas thanks to man's dying wish
A former Royal Air Force Corporal's dying wish to make Christmas fun for an Army sniffer dog finally came true this week for Jamie the Springer spaniel based in Afghanistan, thanks to the charity uk4u Thanks!
On hearing a report on the radio that Jamie would be out in Afghanistan at Christmas without any toys, John Evans decided to approach the Forces Christmas charity uk4u Thanks! to send the dog a special Christmas box of his own. With the help of his friends, he put together a package of toys and treats for the nine year old English Springer spaniel - who works as a search dog in Afghanistan detecting the slightest hint of explosives or weapons - which he entrusted to the charity.
Sadly, John was seriously ill with pneumonia at the time, and died a few days after sending the parcel. Addressed only to 'Jamie the Springer Spaniel, Somewhere in Helmand' the charity enlisted the help of the Ministry of Defence in tracking him down. Due to his important work alongside British Forces in Afghanistan, it wasn't possible to unite Jamie with his gift until this week, finally making John's wish come true.
Mr Evans's widow, Barbara Evans from Abergele, Conwy
said:
"I know that John would be thrilled that his
present is now with Jamie. All John's friends had helped put
together the present of toys and treats for the dog, so of course
they are very happy too.
"I would like to thank the charity uk4u Thanks! for making John's last wish come true, and for delivering this fun gift to one very brave dog."
Jamie's handler, Lance Corporal Jim Wilkinson, 23, from
Pocklington, near York and serving with 103 Theatre Military
Working Dogs Support Unit, said:
"It's been a long
tour for both me and Jamie and receiving these gifts means an
enormous amount, particularly as we are nearing the end of our
time out here. It was an extremely kind thought and I have to say
we were all immensely touched when we heard the sad news.
"I want to take the opportunity to let Mrs Evans know how grateful we are, and I hope it eases the sadness of her loss knowing how much we appreciated the gifts."
uk4u Thanks! trustee Allan Sims, from West Chiltington in West Sussex, said:
"I am delighted that uk4u Thanks! could make John's dying wish come true. When I phoned to let him know his present was on its way I had no idea that he had died.
"After speaking with his widow Barbara I was in floods of tears, and determined to unite Jamie with his gift. Thanks to the help of the MOD we were able to do this."
ENDS
Notes to editors:
1. In 2008, thanks entirely to generous donations from members of the public and sponsors, uk4u Thanks! was able to send 24,500 Christmas gift boxes to UK Armed Forces personnel on duty overseas or in hospital over the Christmas period because they had been injured on operations. http://www.uk4u.org.
2. John Evans served in the Royal Air Force for 29 years, joining in 1959 at the age of 15. He served in Safety Equipment sections on various bases, including RAF Khormaksar in Aden, and RAF Valley in North Wales, before retiring in 1988. He died of pneumonia in December 2008, and is survived by his widow, Mrs Barbara Evans, who lives at Abergele, Conwy, North Wales.
3. The package for Jamie included dog biscuits, treats and toys including an old tennis ball, which is apparently the dog's favourite type of toy. Photos of Jamie with his presents are available on the Defence News Imagery website, http://www.defencenewsimagery.mod.uk.
4. Jamie is a nine year-old Springer Spaniel who was rescued by the Army as a young puppy, and trained at the Royal Army Veterinary Corps in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire. He and his handler, Lance Corporal Jim Wilkinson, 103 Theatre Military Working Dogs Support Unit, have been on a tour of duty in Helmand Province for the last six months while Jim completes his tour of duty, before returning to his usual base in Sennelager, Germany. Jamie has also served in Northern Ireland, Kosovo, Iraq and has been in Afghanistan for the last three years. His reputation as a brilliantly effective search dog, and his friendly, attention-seeking personality means he is often remembered by troops who also served alongside him on those other operations.
5. An article and film on Jamie can be found on the Ministry of Defence Website - http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/PeopleInDefence/VideoAManAndHisDogInHelmand.htm
6. Military working dogs have a long tradition with UK Armed Forces and continue to play a vital role today. They are trained in a variety of tasks from searching for arms and explosives to protecting bases, often putting their lives on the line. They are co-ordinated by 101 Military Working Dogs Support Unit, based in Aldershot, Hampshire.
7. The registered charity uk4u Thanks! aims to provide all forces personnel serving overseas on Christmas Day with boxes full of presents (affectionately known as the 'square stocking') as a gift from the nation. In order to ensure that our personnel will receive boxes again this year members of the public can start donating to this year's campaign by visiting the uk4u Thanks! website, http://www.uk4u.org.
8. The charity is supported by the MOD with advice and guidance on the number of boxes required and the contents - each box contains items carefully chosen to provide a mix of fun items and useful gadgets. It also assists with the massive logistic operation it takes to deliver the boxes in time for Christmas Day - ensuring that the existing supply chain is not put under pressure, which could mean that mail from families and loved ones is delayed.
