CFB Gagetown delays memorial service for fallen soldiers

A memorial service at Canadian Forces Base Gagetown for three soldiers killed in southern Afghanistan on Saturday will be delayed until the new year.

Pte. Justin Peter Jones, Pte. John Michael Roy Curwin and Cpl. Thomas James Hamilton died when their vehicle struck an improvised explosive device near Kandahar City.

Their bodies are being transported back to Canada and are expected to arrive at CFB Trenton in Ontario on Tuesday.

Lt.-Col. Geoff Parker, the commander of the 2nd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment at CFB Gagetown, near Fredericton, announced the decision to delay a base memorial for the soldiers.

"It's very difficult over the time of the year right now with the vast number of soldiers given leave to go home for Christmas to have a memorial service before the funerals," Parker said.

"I am planning a unit memorial after the return of the battalion and after the leave period, probably sometime in January."

The deaths of Jones, Curwin and Hamilton pushed the Canadian military's death toll in Afghanistan to 103. Ten of those soldiers were from CFB Gagetown.

The three soldiers served as members of the Provincial Reconstruction Team and their job was to conduct regular security patrols.

On the day they were killed, they were sentto investigate a report that someone may have been trying to plant a bomb along the road. Saturday's explosion was so powerful it flipped over their armoured vehicle, witnesses said.

Hamilton, 26, the youngest of three brothers, grew up in the small community of Upper Musquodoboit, N.S. Family members were remembering Hamilton on Sunday.

Esther Higgins, Hamilton's grandmother, said everyone in his family is proud of him. She said he was called up to do two tours of duty in Afghanistan but this latest tour was voluntary.

Higgins said he was even looking forward to a fourth tour if he had the opportunity.

Though Hamilton was from Nova Scotia, he also spent a lot of time in the Moncton area.

Hamilton was a devoted member of the Providence Christian Church in Riverview. The congregation was in mourning on Sunday as they gathered for service remembering their friend.

"I'm crushed. He was my best friend, he was part of my family," said Ryan Seamon.

"It's extremely hard. I've never had any close family or friend pass away, so this is a first. So it's very hard."

Aaron Gautreau said his friend died doing what he believed in.

"He would do anything for anybody. He loved a lot of people. And he said if he had to go he'd want to die over there," Gaudreau said.

New Brunswick Premier Shawn Graham issued a statement about the deaths of "these three brave Canadians."

"They were killed ensuring that the way was clear for their fellow soldiers to continue to help the people of Kandahar and province to rebuild their communities and their lives," Graham's statement said.

"On behalf of the Province of New Brunswick and all New Brunswickers, I want to convey our deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Cpl. Hamilton, Pte. Curwin and Pte. Jones at CFB Gagetown and throughout Canada for their great loss. Their sacrifice will not be forgotten."