Cpl. Christian Bobbitt and Sapper Matthieu Allard Killed By IED -Aug 1/2009

[manhole]

Rest in peace, lads........Our condolences to the families and friends of the fallen........and a speedy recovery to the wounded.

 

[Nfld Sapper]

UPDATE, the second soilders name has been released.

Second soldier killed in Afghanistan identified
Updated Mon. Aug. 3 2009 9:26 AM ET
CTV.ca News Staff

The Canadian military has identified the second soldier killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan Saturday as Sapper Matthieu Allard.

Allard, 21, and 23-year-old Cpl. Christian Bobbitt were killed in the Zhari district, west of Kandahar.

Both were members of the 5th Combat Engineer Regiment and had been serving in Afghanistan since March with the 2e Batallion of the Royal 22e Regiment, also known as the Van Doos, based in Valcartier, Que.

Allard's name had not been immediately released pending notification of next of kin.

The two soldiers were killed when their re-supply convoy was hit by two improvised explosive devices.

The two soldiers had left their vehicle to secure the area after an initial explosion near the town of Senjaray, when a second IED exploded around 3:20 p.m. local time.

Brig.-Gen Jonathan Vance, commander of Task Force Kandahar, described Allard as a leader with a sense of humour.

Maj. Yannick Pepin, commander of the 51 Field Engineering squadron, said both soldiers were very close.

"They were always together," he said following a ramp ceremony at the NATO airbase in Kandahar.

Pepin described Allard as hard-working and a team leader.

"If you didn't say stop, he'd always continue working," Pepin said.

The two soldiers were part of a group of engineers who clear roads of IEDs. The two likely helped defuse half of the roadside bombs found in Kandahar province in July, according to Vance.

"The roads in Kandahar are heavily travelled by Afghans, and soldiers like Christian and Matthieu work tirelessly under extremely hazardous conditions to try and prevent restrictions to the freedom of movement of Afghans, so that they can begin to live more normal lives," Vance said.

On the day the two men died, soldiers halted operations at two bomb-making factories and seized a quantity of bomb-making equipment, Vance said.

Allard is survived by his parents, Rene and Christine.

The total number of Canadian soldiers killed during the Afghan mission is now at 127.

With files from The Canadian Pres

 

[SARgirl]

Always terrible to loose any of our soldiers.  The soldiers and their loved ones are in my prayers.

 

[Nfld Sapper]

Name of second Canadian soldier killed in Afghanistan released
CEFCOM NR–09.022 - August 3, 2009

OTTAWA – The identity of the second Canadian soldier killed in Afghanistan on August 1, 2009 is as follows:

Sapper Matthieu Allard

Sapper Matthieu Allard from 5e Régiment du génie de combat serving as a member of the 2nd Battalion, Royal 22e Régiment Battle Group based in Valcartier, Quebec.

 

[tomahawk6]

My condolences to the families of Cpl Bobbitt and Sapper Allard.

Sunset Vigil

The news is spread far and wide
Another comrade has sadly died
A sunset vigil upon the sand
As a soldier leaves this foreign land

We stand alone, and yet as one
In the fading light of a setting sun
We've all gathered to say goodbye
To our fallen comrade who's set to fly

The eulogy's read about their life
Sometimes with words from pals or wife
We all know when the CO's done
What kind of soldier they'd become

The padre then calls us all to pray
The bugler has Last Post to play
The cannon roars and belches flame
We will recall, with pride, their name

A minute's silence stood in place
As tears roll down the hardest face
Deafening silence fills the air
With each of us in personal prayer

Reveille sounds and the parade is done
The hero remembered, forgotten by none
They leave to start the journey back
In a coffin draped in the Union Jack

Sgt Andrew McFarlane

 

[Nfld Sapper]

Media Advisory
Our Fallen Comrades Return Home
LFCA MA 09-20 - August 3, 2009

OTTAWA – Our fallen comrades, Sapper Matthieu Allard and Corporal Christian Bobbitt, will return to Canada on Tuesday, August 4, 2009.  Both men were from the 5e Régiment du génie, a combat engineer Regiment based in Valcartier, Quebec, and were serving with the 2nd Battalion, Royal 22e Régiment Battle Group in Afghanistan.

Where:  8 Wing, Canadian Forces Base Trenton, Ontario.

When:  Tuesday, Aug 4, 2009 at 2:00 p.m.

What:    At the wishes of the families, media will be permitted on the tarmac.

Present to pay their respects will be Her Excellency The Governor General of Canada, The Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Minister of National Defence, The Honourable Peter MacKay, Chief of Defence Staff, General Walt Natynczyk and other dignitaries.

The two Canadian soldiers were killed, and a further soldier was injured, when an improvised explosive device detonated near a patrol in the Zhari District. The incident occurred approximately 15 kilometres west of Kandahar City at around 3:20 p.m., Kandahar time, on 1 August, 2009.

-30-

Note to Editors/News Directors:

Interested media may contact Captain Mark Peebles, 8 Wing/CFB Trenton Public Affairs Officer, who can be reached at (613) 392-2811, ext. 2041, or at: peebles.m@forces.gc.ca

For general queries, please contact the Media Liaison Office at (866) 377-0811, or on weekends 613-996-2353. For flight information, please contact the Air Passenger Terminal at 1-800-487-1186.

 

[gaspasser]

T6,
:crybaby: nice poem...leaves a lump... :crybaby:
RIP to Both Soldiers.

:yellow:

 

[Eye In The Sky]

RIP lads. 

 

[mariomike]

Our Fallen Comrades Return Home
Where:  8 Wing, Canadian Forces Base Trenton, Ontario.
When:  Tuesday, Aug 4, 2009 at 2:00 p.m.

1700 ETA at Coroner's Building.

 

[Eye In The Sky]

While sitting in the waiting room at the VW Dealer this afternoon, the TV was on the CBC coverage of the repat at 8 Wing.  There was an older lady, mid-60's, sitting in one of the chairs.  As the 2nd casket came down of the ramp of the aircraft, she looked at me with watery eyes and said "our young boys over there...its so sad.  I can't imagine how their mothers must feel".

Canada does care troops.  RIP 

 

[wildman0101]

rest in peace soldiers 
you will not be forgotton 
condolences to family,, comrades,, and friends  iper:

                              scoty b