Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI)

Formed in 1914, the Princess Patricia's have had a long and illustrious history as one of Canada's premiere fighting forces. Made up mostly of seasoned veterans from the South African campaign, and from virtually all other forces of the UK. The PPCLI initial strength stood at 1,098 of which 1048 were transferred from other units. The Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry is quite a long name for everyday use so many of the variations that have been used include; PPCLI, Princess Pat's, PP's, Pip-pip's. Members of the regiment prefer the term Patricia's. The Princess Patricia's name came from the fact that LCol Farquhar wanted the name of the Duke's youngest daughter, Her Royal Highness Princess Patricia of Connaught (she readily agreed). The Light Infantry came about because the units Captain, Captain Gault, thought it gave the name an irregular feeling.

World War I

The Patricia's were the only Canadian forces to enter the combat theatre of Europe in 1914 with it's joining with the 27th British Division of the 80th Brigade. The 27th landed in Europe on 21, December 1914. Poison gas, fighting from ditches and bomb craters marked the PPCLI's participation in the battle of Frezenberg on the 8th of May, 1945. December 22, 1915 saw the PPCLI join with the 3rd Canadian Division as a unit of the 7th Brigade. November of 1918 saw the No. 4 Company enter the town of Mons, and shortly after the German surrender and the Armistice signing. Early 1919 saw the return on the regiment to Canada and it's demobilization. During the battles of Passchendaele and Parvillers three Victoria Crosses were awarded.

World War II

Exactly, to the day, 25 years later, the PPCLI had been mobilized for active duty and sailed from Halifax due to disembark in England. For three years they trained and provided coastal defence, after which they set sail for combat in the war in Italy. Landing in Sicily with the British Eighth Army, the Patricia's fought from Sicily, up the boot of Italy until the end of the war in Italy in March 1945. From Italy the Patricia's were the first allied forces to reach Amsterdam in the drive to liberate Holland. The battalion remained in Holland until the end of the war. The Patricia's fought along side the Loyal Edmonton Regiment of Edmonton - the former 49th Battalion, and the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada of Vancouver.

After the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the Japanese surrender on 15, August, 1945, the Pacific Force was disbanded. The following month on the 2nd, the battalion was reformed and renamed the 2nd Battalion,

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