After five months in Afghanistan, a group of about 40 Canadian soldiers were happy to return to familiar New Brunswick soil late Saturday night.

But their homecoming was marred by the conspicuous absence of their friend and comrade, Pte. Braun Scott Woodfield, who lost his life in Afghanistan early this month as the result of a vehicle rollover. The accident left four others injured.

"There's definitely a sense of gap in the platoon," Capt. David Horton told CTV shortly after arriving in Fredericton Airport. "A hole has been created and it's not going to get filled. Woody was his own character."

The soldiers are based out of Canadian Forces Base Gagetown in Fredericton, and were serving as part of an international security assistance task force in Afghanistan.

Pte. Woodfield, 24, died on Nov. 24 after the armoured vehicle he was traveling in swerved to avoid another vehicle, then rolled over. Four other members of the 2nd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment, were injured in the accident.

Like the other soldiers in his unit, Pte. Woodfield knew the dangers of the job.

"We go into these environments, Aghanistan, with the full understanding that it is a difficult and complex, challenging environment and it's dangerous, inherently dangerous," Capt. Rick Parsons told CTV.

But although there was sadness as the soldiers returned home, there was also relief and joy for those who had arrived safely, in time to celebrate Christmas with family and loved ones.

"It's good to be back. The closer the time comes to leave, the slower the day seemed to go. You started waiting and anticipating to be here," said Horton.

His fellow soldier, Capt. Kyle Leavitt, agreed, it was good to be home.

"Yeah, I'm pretty happy," he said. "It's great being home with the family and stuff, finally being able to do things we want for Christmas."

Pte. Woodfield's remains were returned to New Brunswick on Dec. 2. He was the eighth Canadian soldier to die in Afghanistan.

With a report from CTV's Monica Verma