Bodies of two Canadian soldiers return home

CFB TRENTON -- The bodies of two fallen Canadian soldiers were repatriated Tuesday in a moving, but all-too familiar military ceremony.

Sapper Matthieu Allard, 21, and his close friend, Cpl. Christian Bobbitt, 23, died when an improvised explosive device blew up Saturday as they investigated another IED in an area west of Kandahar City.

Their deaths bring the number of Canadian soldiers killed in Afghanistan to 127. One diplomat and two aid worker also have been killed.

Families of the deceased soldiers held hands and carried roses to place on the caskets as they approached the vehicles. They were accompanied by Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean, Defence Minister Peter MacKay and Gen. Walt Natynczyk, the chief of the defence staff, who were on hand to honour the soldiers.

About 30 minutes after the jet carrying the remains landed at Canadian Forces Base Trenton, approximately 170 kilometres northeast of Toronto, Bobbitt's casket was removed and placed in one of the hearses, as loved ones huddled around.

Several minutes later, a second casket, carrying the remains of Allard, was removed and placed into a second hearse.

After loved ones said their tearful goodbyes, both families were accompanied by the dignitaries and officers toward vehicles, in which they were to make the journey to Toronto via the Highway of Heroes.

Allard and Bobbitt, both combat engineers, were killed in Senjaray, a village located approximately 30 kilometres west of Kandahar City with a heavy Taliban presence.

Both men served with the 5th Combat Engineers Regiment from Valcartier, Que. It is attached to the 2nd Battalion, Royal 22nd Regiment battle group, which was into the fifth month of a six-month tour of duty in Afghanistan.

A third Canadian soldier was injured in Saturday's incident and was listed in stable condition at the Canadian-led NATO hospital at Kandahar Airfield.

Nine coalition soldiers already have been killed in action in Afghanistan this month. That follows the 76 coalition soldiers who died in July - the highest monthly toll since American forces threw the Taliban from power shortly after the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001.