CFB TRENTON, Ont. — The body of a soldier who died in Afghanistan is back home in Canada after bad weather delayed a repatriation ceremony earlier this week.

The military transport plane carrying Cpl. Steve Martin was originally scheduled to arrive at CFB Trenton on Tuesday, but the plane was grounded in Germany because of severe winter weather.

Martin -- who would have turned 25 on Monday -- was killed on Saturday by an improvised explosive device while he was on foot patrol.

His repatriation is the first to be attended by new Gov. Gen. David Johnston, as well as Defence Minister Peter MacKay and members of Martin's family.

Martin was attached to the 3rd Battalion Royal 22e Regiment based at CFB Valcartier in Quebec.

He was from Saint-Cyrille-de-Wendover, about 115 kilometres northeast of Montreal, and was the 154th Canadian soldier to die as part of the Afghan mission.

His death marked the end of one of Canada's longest stretches without a combat death since the country began deploying its soldiers to southern Afghanistan.

Johnston issued a statement on Sunday, offering his deepest sympathies to Martin's loved ones.

"Cpl. Martin displayed an admirable sense of duty to Canada, bringing great pride to his unit and to the Forces as a whole," he wrote.

Johnston added that with Martin's death he now feels the weight of his new responsibilities as commander-in-chief of the Canadian Forces.