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Patricias
DCHP-2 (Jul 2016)
Spelling variants:Princess Patricia's, Princess Patricias
n. — Military
a nickname for the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry regiment.
Type: 1. Origin — The Patricias were formed at the outbreak of WWI by a Montreal merchant who was granted permission to name the regiment after Princess Patricia of Connaught, a granddaughter of Queen Victoria (see Image 1, see the first 1914 quotation). The regiment recruited, however, not just from Montreal but from throughout Canada. Soon after, it became a Regular Force regiment of the Canadian Army. The PPCLI served in both World Wars, the Korean War, and numerous NATO operations. As a result, the regiment, which is active today, has acquired Cultural Significance, especially during its missions in the World Wars and their role in Canada's coming of age (see National Defence and the Canadian Forces reference).
The regiment was originally called by its full title (see, e.g. the 1914 quotation), but soon after became known as the "Princess Patricias" (see the 1915 quotation). Thereafter, both Princess Patricias and Patricias were used interchangeably, and sometimes Princess Pats (see the 2008 quotation). Patricias is also used by military personnel in certain instance in lieu of the full name (see, e.g. the 2004 quotation), so the nickname has acquired more formal undertones, comparable to Mountie, than is otherwise customary. The form remains most prevalent in Canada (see Chart 1).
See also COD-2, s.v. "Patricias", which is marked "Cdn".
The regiment was originally called by its full title (see, e.g. the 1914 quotation), but soon after became known as the "Princess Patricias" (see the 1915 quotation). Thereafter, both Princess Patricias and Patricias were used interchangeably, and sometimes Princess Pats (see the 2008 quotation). Patricias is also used by military personnel in certain instance in lieu of the full name (see, e.g. the 2004 quotation), so the nickname has acquired more formal undertones, comparable to Mountie, than is otherwise customary. The form remains most prevalent in Canada (see Chart 1).
See also COD-2, s.v. "Patricias", which is marked "Cdn".
See: Princess Pats
Quotations
1914
[The Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, while not a Montreal regiment, having been recruited at a number of points throughout the Dominion, contains a large number of Montreal men and may be said to belong to this city in a peculiar sense inasmuch as it owes its very existence to the generosity and energy of a patriotic Montrealer. In the very first week of the war Captain Hamilton Gault, a wealthy young merchant in Montreal, who had served the Empire with distinction on the fields of South Africa thirteen years before, made an offer to the Canadian Government to equip and maintain a battalian of light infantry, to the extent of one hundred thousand dollars. The offer was accepted by the Privy Council and approved by the Governor-General on August 14, and permission was granted to name the battalion after the Princess, who had captured all Canadian hearts during her residence at Rideau Hall.]
1930
By nightfall of May 8, the Patricias had suffered 392 casualties, so that the unit when withdrawn during the night to the brigade reserve, had dwindled to 150 men.
1943
Major R.G. Hamilton, new deputy assistant adjutant general at Military District 2 Headquarters, who succeeds Major F. H. Wilkes, has arrived in Toronto from Regina and has taken over duties. A native of Regina, he enlisted with the First McGill University Company at the outbreak of the last war, leaving the University of Manitoba where he was a student. He served in France with the Princess Patricias and was twice wounded. After his return to Canada in 1918, he was commissioned and was for a time adjutant of No. 12 District Depot.
1959
The story of the part played by the PPCLI in the First World War has been told in earlier volumes of their history. In this book we get a briefing on the Patricias between 1919 and 1939 and then the author gets his teeth into the meat of the Second World War and the Korean War.
1975
The thoughts above were penned by Captain Al Ditter, a former member of the Canadian Guards. Now an information officer with NDHQ's Directorate of Information Services, Capt. Ditter was tasked to help prepare this issue which includes highlights of PPCLI activities of 1974, the 60th anniversary year of both the Patricias and the Royal 22e Regiment.
1984
The six-month stint of the Calgary-based Patricias, who comprise 425 of the 515-man Canadian force on the island, began only in March, when they replaced the Second Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment, so the real boredom hasn't yet set in. But for an infantry regiment trained to fight, which has an average age of 19 or 20, the role of diplomatic man-in-the middle with an unloaded gun, is intrinsically frustrating.
2004
"This weekend begins a new chapter in the life of the Patricia's," said Brigadier-General Stuart Beare, Land Forces Western Area commander.
2008
While there have been no major kinetic operations of the kind seen during Operation Medusa in the summer and fall of 2006, when Canadians killed large numbers of Taliban, the Patricias have had frequent skirmishes with the enemy as Afghanistan's traditional spring fighting season resumes.
"There is some kind of contact daily, anywhere from 30 seconds to several hours," Corbould said in his first formal interview since arriving from Shilo, Man., with the Princess Pat's 2nd battalion six weeks ago.
2016
1st Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry
Unit Information
Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry Badge PPCLI Badge
The 1st Battalion of Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (1 PPCLI ) is a combat unit equipped with light armoured vehicles. 1 PPCLI maintains a high degree of operational readiness and agility, and is primed to deploy for a broad spectrum of operations in the proud tradition of the regiment.
The battalion embodies the unofficial motto of the regiment with pride: "First in the Field". The battalion holds 39 Battle Honours, and has been awarded the Commander-in-chief Citation for distinguished service in Afghanistan as part of Task Force ORION in 2006.
The 1st Battalion is based at Canadian Forces Base Edmonton, AB.
Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry Badge PPCLI Badge
The 1st Battalion of Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (1 PPCLI ) is a combat unit equipped with light armoured vehicles. 1 PPCLI maintains a high degree of operational readiness and agility, and is primed to deploy for a broad spectrum of operations in the proud tradition of the regiment.
The battalion embodies the unofficial motto of the regiment with pride: "First in the Field". The battalion holds 39 Battle Honours, and has been awarded the Commander-in-chief Citation for distinguished service in Afghanistan as part of Task Force ORION in 2006.
The 1st Battalion is based at Canadian Forces Base Edmonton, AB.
References
- COD-2
- National Defence and the Canadian Forces • "Princess Patricia's"
Images
Image 1: King George V holds an investiture in Valenciennes, 5 December 1918, of the 7th Canadian Brigade (Royal Canadian Regiment, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, 42nd and 49th Battalions (Source: Wikimedia Commons. Photo: McLellan, David, Second Lieutenant)
