WATCH: The casket of Lt.-Col. Dan Bobbitt was carried by a gun carriage on Wednesday with a full honour guard escort
TORONTO – The casket of Lieutenant-Colonel Dan Bobbitt, carried by a gun carriage and escorted by an honour guard, was met by Bobbitt’s wife, two daughters and his son.
The funeral for the 44-year-old senior senior Canadian Forces soldier was held at St. Francis of Assisi Chapel at CFB Garrison Petawawa, a military base about two hours from Ottawa.
Lt.-Col. Bobbitt was killed a week ago in a training accident in Alberta. Four other soldiers were injured when a Light Armoured Vehicle III (LAV III) rolled over on May 21.
Bobbitt was the commanding officer of the 2nd Regiment Royal Canadian Horse Artillery based at Petawawa.
“I had the honour and privilege of participating in the service to say goodbye to Lt.-Col. Dan Bobbitt,” said Lt.-Col. Andrew Atherton, the Acting Brigade Commander of 2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade. “2 RCHA did a fantastic job of saying goodbye to their commanding officer with honour, dignity and respect.”
READ MORE: Family of soldier killed during training describes his life
The program was expected to include the playing of the National Anthem, the Last Post, music by the Rankin Family, and scripture from Ecclesiastes, Psalm 23 and John 10.
Those attending the service also observed a moment of silence, and the regimental prayer of the 2nd Regiment Royal Canadian Horse Artillery was read.
“It was a very moving, very powerful tribute to a great man and a great leader,” said Atherton.
“I think the number of people that we saw here today is a pretty good testament to how popular and how well he was regarded both within the army and in the brigade.”
“There was a lot of outpouring of emotion from family, friends, colleagues, but more importantly, there was support.”
Watch Lt. Col. Atherton’s speech below:
Lt.-Gen. Stuart Beare, Major Derek Crabbe and Bobbitt’s brother, Capt. Mike Bobbitt read words of remembrance.
“They described Lt.-Col. Bobbitt as a pleasure to work with, an inspiring leader, a mentor, somebody who led from the front,” said Atherton. “But above all that, he was personable, approachable, a great family man and an overall great soldier and great leader.”
A gun salute followed the funeral, along with an escort by three Griffin helicopters.
WATCH: Monica Bobbit, the wife of Lt.-Col. Dan Bobbitt, talks about the kind of husband, father, and soldier that he was
Lt.-Col. Bobbitt is survived by his wife Monica and their children, Connor, Elizabeth and Katherine.
Colleagues said Bobbitt was thrilled by the recent acceptance of his son into Royal Military College.
The May 21 training accident comes in the midst of a $1-billion upgrade launched in 2011 to improve the vehicle’s stability, armour and electronics.
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