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Cpl. Christian Bobbitt, 23, Sapper Matthieu Allard 21, both based in Valcartier, Que., were killed Saturday by a roadside bomb in the Zhari district, west of Kandahar city. (DND)
Two more of Canada's finest are the latest victims of an ied blast. May their brothers in arms families and friends know that they are at peace on the advance party. Taken too soon in life these young men have given the ultimate sacrifice that a soldier can give.
Tears streaked the faces of normally stoic Canadian soldiers Sunday as they carried the bodies of two young comrades to their final journey home.
Bobbitt was a member of the 5th Combat Engineer Regiment, based in Valcartier, Que. The men had been in Kandahar since March, as part of the 2e Batallion of the Royal 22e Regiment, or the Van Doos.
.Second Engineer named:
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - Canadian military officials have identified the second soldier killed in Afghanistan on Saturday as Sapper Matthieu Allard, of the 5th Combat Engineers Regiment.
Allard, 21, was killed alongside his friend, Cpl. Christian Bobbitt, in a roadside bomb attack in the Zhari district, west of Kandahar. .
Another soldier was seriously injured but was in stable condition in hospital Sunday
Brig.-Gen. Jonathan Vance said the soldiers were killed when their resupply convoy was struck by two improvised explosive devices in the Zhari district, west of Kandahar city, on Saturday.
They had come out of their vehicle to secure the area after the first explosion, when another IED exploded around 3:20 p.m. local time.
Their deaths bring to 127 the number of Canadian soldiers who have died on the Afghan mission since it began in 2002 - seven since the beginning of July.
Vance said Bobbitt, or Bob to his friends, was a well-liked soldier with a well-known technical expertise who was always there to help his comrades.
Bobbitt had just been promoted to corporal.
He was a hard worker, and a great competitor, Vance said. He excelled in all that he did, whether it was at Guitar Heroes, or on a rink.
He is survived by his spouse Felicia, his brother Jonathan and his parents, Liane and Yvan. Our thoughts are with these members of Canada's Invisible army.
Brig.-Gen. Jonathan Vance, commander of Task Force Kandahar, said that while Allard was small in stature, he was a leader among his squad who used his humour to keep up morale. Allard is survived by his parents, Rene and Christine.
Maj. Yannick Pepin, commander of the 51st Field Engineer Squadron, offered his condolences to both families following a ramp ceremony on the tarmac.
He said Bobbitt was a happy guy, who made fun of everybody.
He was kind of the clown of the section, Pepin told reporters.
He said he and the unnamed soldier were good friends.
They were very brave men, very courageous and very proud of what they were doing, he said.
It's very difficult for us, the loss of these two, Pepin said.
But after a short break to deal with the loss, he said the squadron would be back on the dangerous roads of Kandahar on Monday. There are other soldiers here and we haven't lost two guys for nothing. They'll continue with what those guys were doing.
The men were part of a group of engineers who clear the roads of IEDs.
Vance said they were probably involved in defusing half of the roadside bombs found in Kandahar in July.
I can say with confidence that these two brave engineers saved the lives of dozens of innocent people last month alone, Vance said.
To the wounded soldier our thoughts and prayers for a full and speedy recovery. God Bless you.
So quickly repatriated to travel down the Highway of Heroes. The sad convoy will be saluted and remembered as they pass Canadians on the ramps and overpasses.
l'poux, la Mre et le Pre des jeunes ingnieurs. leurs frres d'armes. Peut la proximit de Dieu tre avec vous pendant cette priode terrible de chagrin. Coupe au carr et Matthieu ont pay le prix ultime qu'un soldat peut. Dieu Bnit nous ne les oublierons jamais.
These young men will never be forgotten.
Nil Sine Labore
Robby
