Friends and colleagues gathered Thursday to pay tribute to Master Cpl. Patrice Audet, who died alongside another Canadian soldier in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan earlier this month.

Master Cpl. Patrice Audet was killed July 6 along with Cpl. Martin Joannette and a British soldier when their helicopter crashed on takeoff in Zabul province. (DND)The Montreal native was remembered warmly at a ceremony at Quebec's CFB Valcartier, where Audet served as a member of 430 Tactical Helicopter Squadron.

An air force honour guard snapped to attention and saluted as Audet's flag-draped casket was carried solemnly from the chapel to a waiting hearse.

The hearse then joined a lengthy motorcade, which was led by two police motorcycles, when the mourners left the base for the burial.

A long line of retired military veterans on motorcycles also trailed behind the cortege.

The service came on the same day that Pte. Sébastien Courcy from 2nd Battalion, Royal 22nd Regiment, based in Quebec City, became the 125th Canadian soldier to die during the Afghanistan mission.

Audet, 38, died July 6 along with Cpl. Martin Joannette, 25, when their helicopter crashed on takeoff in the province of Zabul.

A British officer also died when the aircraft went down and three other Canadian Forces members were injured in the accident, one of them seriously.

Joannette, a native of St-Calixte, Que., was with the Valcartier-based 3rd Battalion, Royal 22nd Regiment. His funeral will take place Saturday.

The fatal crash prompted the commander of the military's Griffon helicopter squadron to defend the safety and performance of the aircraft in Afghanistan.