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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Robbie Christopher Beerenfenger

In memory of:

Corporal Robbie Christopher Beerenfenger

October 2, 2003
Kabul, Afghanistan

Military Service

Age:

29

Force:

Army

Unit:

The Royal Canadian Regiment

Citation(s):

Sacrifice Medal (posthumous)

Additional Information

Born:

April 28, 1974
Ottawa, Ontario

Enlistment:

March 5, 1997

Son of Wilhelmina Beerenfenger-Koehler (2007 National Memorial (Silver) Cross Mother) of Embrun, Ontario.

Corporal Robbie Christopher Beerenfenger, of the 3rd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment from CFB Petawawa, was killed on duty near Kabul, Afghanistan, on October 2, 2003. He was on patrol in an Iltis jeep when it ran over an explosive device of an unknown type. He was 29 years old.

An explosion, believed to have been tripped by the Iltis vehicle in which he was on patrol, also killed Sergeant Robert Short. Both were serving with the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment Battle Group as part of Operation ATHENA, Canada's military commitment to the International Security Assistance Force, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization - led mission in Kabul.

Corporal Beerenfenger was born in Ottawa in 1974 and was a graduate of North Dundas High School. He married his wife Christina in May of 2000 and had three children, Matthew, Kristopher and Madison.

Commemorated on Page 216 of the In the Service of Canada (1947 - 2014) Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Digital Collection

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  • Personal sketch of fallen comrade

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    Personal sketch of fallen comrade
    Personal sketch of fallen comrade
  • Plaque– This was the laser engraved granite plaque that we re-designed to mark the unfortunate passing of Coprporal Beerenfenger. The original plaque on the Kandahar Cenotaph contained both Sgt Short and Cpl Beerenfenger - but when the monument was repatriated to Canada in 2014, it was decided to give each member their own unique plaque. Today, it can be seen at the Afghanistan Memorial located at National Defence Headquarters in Kanata, On. Rod McLeod, Artist

    Details

    Plaque
    Plaque – This was the laser engraved granite plaque that we re-designed to mark the unfortunate passing of Coprporal Beerenfenger. The original plaque on the Kandahar Cenotaph contained both Sgt Short and Cpl Beerenfenger - but when the monument was repatriated to Canada in 2014, it was decided to give each member their own unique plaque. Today, it can be seen at the Afghanistan Memorial located at National Defence Headquarters in Kanata, On. Rod McLeod, Artist
  • Newspaper clipping– Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

    Details

    Newspaper clipping
    Newspaper clipping – Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

    Details

    Newspaper clipping
    Newspaper clipping – Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

    Details

    Newspaper clipping
    Newspaper clipping – Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

    Details

    Newspaper clipping
    Newspaper clipping – Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

    Details

    Newspaper clipping
    Newspaper clipping – Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

    Details

    Newspaper clipping
    Newspaper clipping – Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Photo of Robbie Christopher Beerenfenger– Corporal Robbie Christopher Beerenfenger, serving with 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment (3 RCR) Battalion Group, in Kabul, Afghanistan. Photo: MCpl. Brian Walsh 3 RCR Battalion Group Photographer

    Details

    Photo of Robbie Christopher Beerenfenger
    Photo of Robbie Christopher Beerenfenger – Corporal Robbie Christopher Beerenfenger, serving with 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment (3 RCR) Battalion Group, in Kabul, Afghanistan. Photo: MCpl. Brian Walsh 3 RCR Battalion Group Photographer
  • OP Athena Plaque– OP Athena plaque commemorating Sgt R.A. Short and Cpl R.C. Beerenfenger.

    Details

    OP Athena Plaque
    OP Athena Plaque – OP Athena plaque commemorating Sgt R.A. Short and Cpl R.C. Beerenfenger.
  • Dedication– Dr. Howard Harper (left), Major Jamie Morse and Joe Gooding tour the Noor Eye and Burn Clinic, Afghanistan's only children's burn clinic on Feb 5, 2004 at Kabul, Afghanistan. The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) helped fund the new clinic. Dr. Howard Harper (left) the Director of the Noor Eye and Burn Clinic, and Major Jamie Morse, Deputy Commanding Officer of the Third Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment Battalion Group (3 RCR Bn Gp) and Mr. Joe Gooding from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), tour the Noor Burn Clinic in Kabul, Afghanistan. The clinic, partially funded by CIDA, was dedicated to the memory of Cpl Robbie Beerenfenger, a member of Parachute Company, 3 RCR Bn Gp, who was killed when the Iltis in which he was travelling struck a landmine on Oct 2, 2003. The clinic will will be the only pediatric burn clinic in Afghanistan. Photo MCpl Brian Walsh

    Details

    Dedication
    Dedication – Dr. Howard Harper (left), Major Jamie Morse and Joe Gooding tour the Noor Eye and Burn Clinic, Afghanistan's only children's burn clinic on Feb 5, 2004 at Kabul, Afghanistan. The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) helped fund the new clinic. Dr. Howard Harper (left) the Director of the Noor Eye and Burn Clinic, and Major Jamie Morse, Deputy Commanding Officer of the Third Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment Battalion Group (3 RCR Bn Gp) and Mr. Joe Gooding from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), tour the Noor Burn Clinic in Kabul, Afghanistan. The clinic, partially funded by CIDA, was dedicated to the memory of Cpl Robbie Beerenfenger, a member of Parachute Company, 3 RCR Bn Gp, who was killed when the Iltis in which he was travelling struck a landmine on Oct 2, 2003. The clinic will will be the only pediatric burn clinic in Afghanistan. Photo MCpl Brian Walsh
  • Memorial– Chief Warrant Officer Steve Bartlett, Task Force Afghanistan's Regimental Sergeant Major takes time to reflect on the fallen. A consecration ceremony was held of the Memorial dedicated to those Canadians who gave their lives in the service of peace while serving in Afghanistan. This Memorial was originally consecrated in November 2003 at Camp Julien, Kabul. The closure of Camp Julien in November 2005 necessitated the move of the Memorial to its present location at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan. Photo taken on February 21, 2006 by: Master Corporal Ken Fenner, Task Force Afghanistan Photographer

    Details

    Memorial
    Memorial – Chief Warrant Officer Steve Bartlett, Task Force Afghanistan's Regimental Sergeant Major takes time to reflect on the fallen. A consecration ceremony was held of the Memorial dedicated to those Canadians who gave their lives in the service of peace while serving in Afghanistan. This Memorial was originally consecrated in November 2003 at Camp Julien, Kabul. The closure of Camp Julien in November 2005 necessitated the move of the Memorial to its present location at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan. Photo taken on February 21, 2006 by: Master Corporal Ken Fenner, Task Force Afghanistan Photographer
  • Memorial– Cpl Robbie Beerenfenger and Sgt Robert Short were honoured during a community memorial service held October 7 at The Pembroke Memorial Centre, Pembroke Ont. source DND

    Details

    Memorial
    Memorial – Cpl Robbie Beerenfenger and Sgt Robert Short were honoured during a community memorial service held October 7 at The Pembroke Memorial Centre, Pembroke Ont. source DND
  • Remembrance Day 2007– Prime Minister, The Honourable Stephen Harper, Governor General, Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Canada's Top Soldier Chief of Defence Staff General Rick Hillier, the 2007 Silver Cross Mother Mrs. Wilhelmina Beerenfenger-Koehler, Mother of fallen soldier Corporal Robbie Christopher Beerenfenger, who died in Kabul, Afghanistan on the 2nd of October 2003, were guests of honour and laid wreaths at the National War Memorial in Ottawa on the 11th of November 2007. Visitors from all over Canada placed their poppies on the Tomb and paid their respects to the serving and fallen soldiers. A photograph of fallen Canadian soldier Private Mark Anthony Graham sits on top of the Unknown Soldier Tomb. Photo by: Cpl Marcie Lane, CFSU(O) Photo Services.

    Details

    Remembrance Day 2007
    Remembrance Day 2007 – Prime Minister, The Honourable Stephen Harper, Governor General, Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Canada's Top Soldier Chief of Defence Staff General Rick Hillier, the 2007 Silver Cross Mother Mrs. Wilhelmina Beerenfenger-Koehler, Mother of fallen soldier Corporal Robbie Christopher Beerenfenger, who died in Kabul, Afghanistan on the 2nd of October 2003, were guests of honour and laid wreaths at the National War Memorial in Ottawa on the 11th of November 2007. Visitors from all over Canada placed their poppies on the Tomb and paid their respects to the serving and fallen soldiers. A photograph of fallen Canadian soldier Private Mark Anthony Graham sits on top of the Unknown Soldier Tomb. Photo by: Cpl Marcie Lane, CFSU(O) Photo Services.

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