Canadian soldiers listen as Padre Normand Cholette eulogizes Master Cpl. Charles-Philippe Michaud at a ceremony at Kandahar Airfield on Monday. (Colin Perkel/Canadian Press)

About 150 Canadian troops gathered at Kandahar Airfield on Monday to honour Master Cpl. Charles-Philippe Michaud, who died on the weekend from wounds sustained in Afghanistan last month.

Brig.-Gen. Jon Vance and battle group commander Lt.-Col. Jocelyn Paul were among those at the morning ceremony. Michaud was remembered as a fit soldier who was always fun to be around, "someone they missed from the moment he left base," said CBC correspondent James Murray.

Master Cpl. Charles-Philippe Michaud died Saturday after being wounded last month in a roadside bomb blast southwest of Kandahar City. (DND)

Michaud, 28, was hurt on June 23 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his dismounted patrol in the Panjwaii district, southwest of Kandahar City.

He was taken by helicopter to the coalition medical facility at the airfield and moved to the Landstuhl Regional Medical Centre in Germany.

Michaud returned to Quebec City on June 28, but died Saturday afternoon. A military spokesman said he never regained consciousness.

'Not easy for the troops'

Padre Normand Cholette, who said a prayer for Michaud at Monday's informal ceremony, said most had expected him to pull through.

"All his colleagues were sure that everything was going to be OK," Cholette told The Canadian Press. "Learning the news was a shock; it's not easy for the troops."

Having the Kandahar ceremony for the fallen soldier — who was known to his friends as Chuck — was important for those in his battle group and people who knew him, Cholette said.

Michaud was serving with the 2nd Battalion of the Royal 22nd Regiment (also known as the Van Doos), based at CFB Valcartier, near Quebec City. He was on his second tour of duty in Afghanistan.

He was always faithful in his duty and much appreciated by those around him, the padre said.

"We're going through a time of mourning here," Cholette said. "It's important for all the troops to emphasize the fact that we appreciate him."

Michaud, who is from Edmundston, N.B., is survived by his wife, parents, and brother. Michaud's death brings to 122 the number of Canadian soldiers killed in the Afghan mission since it began in 2002.

On Friday, Cpl. Nick Bulger, 30, of the 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, based in Edmonton, was killed when the convoy he was in struck a roadside bomb in southern Afghanistan's Zhari district.

The body of the fallen soldier, who grew up near Peterborough, Ont., was scheduled to arrive in Canada around 2 p.m. ET on Monday.

With files from The Canadian Press