Slain Victoria soldier remembered for passion, leadership as journey home begins

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Lt. Andrew Richard Nuttall, the 134th Canadian soldier to fall in Afghanistan, began his journey home to Canada following a sombre Christmas Eve ramp ceremony.

Thousands of NATO soldiers gathered Thursday at this airfield in southern Afghanistan to honour the 30-year-old army officer who died Wednesday when a homemade bomb detonated as he led a foot patrol in the dangerous Panjwaii district southwest of Kandahar City.

Before Nuttall’s flag-draped casket was loaded onto a plane, Lt.-Col. Jerry Walsh remembered him as a popular and well-respected young leader who was operating in one of the most difficult areas of Afghanistan.

"Andrew had an infectious personality and always had a smile on his face, attributes which the soldiers under his command appreciated when times were tough," said Walsh, Nuttall’s commanding officer.

Nuttall, who was originally from Prince Rupert, B.C., and grew up on the west coast of Vancouver Island, was serving with the Edmonton-based 1st Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry.

He was killed Wednesday afternoon while Canadian soldiers were on routine foot patrol near the village of Nakhonay, looking for insurgent "transit routes." The village was a Taliban supply point until November, when Canadian Forces mounted an operation to secure and hold the area.

Nuttall’s platoon was living near the village – part of a new Canadian counter-insurgency strategy to develop closer relationships with the Afghan population.

In recent weeks, Walsh said many locals have told Canadian soldiers where insurgents were planting bombs in the area.

"We’ve had countless locals come and show us where improvised explosive devices were located," he said. "We are having great success in that regard, so this has come as a bit of a surprise to us."

Brig.-Gen. Daniel Menard, Canada’s top soldier in Afghanistan, said Thursday the patrol was "part of our efforts to protect the people of the village from insurgents."

"Andrew came to Afghanistan because he honestly believed that he could make a difference to the people of Afghanistan, and he demonstrated that every time he went on patrol," said Menard.

An Afghan soldier, who has not been identified, also died in the blast. An interpreter was injured in the incident.

Nuttall’s death marks the end of a month-and-a-half-long period of relative calm for Canadian troops in Afghanistan.

A Canadian Forces soldier hasn’t died since Oct. 30 when Sapper Steven Marshall, an Edmonton-based combat engineer, was killed by a landmine in the Panjwaii district.

On Thursday, Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean said in a statement Nuttall’s death comes at a difficult time of year, as Canadians celebrate the holiday season.

"It is a harsh reminder of the enormous sacrifices our soldiers and their loved ones have agreed to make so that stability and security can be re-established in a dangerous region of the world," she said.

Nuttall is the son of a prominent Victoria doctor and nurse, Richard and Ethel Jane Nuttall, who have helped establish medical clinics in developing countries.

Those who knew him described Nuttall as a "superb athlete" who enjoyed cold-water surfing, teaching and working as a disc jockey.

"Andrew shared a passion for many things," said Padre Steve Defer, speaking at the ramp ceremony.

"He loved the outdoors and he loved to surf. The waves at Tofino on Vancouver Island will never be the same."

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