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(The Hasty P's)
The Hasty P's have been serving the Canadian people since 1920 when it was first formed from the amalgamation of the 16th Prince Edward Regiment and the 49th Hastings Rifles. The 'First Regiment of Prince Edward Militia' was formed in 1800 by Col. A MacDonald and the '1st Regiment of Hastings Militia' was formed in 1804 by Col. J Ferguson. Members of these units served with distinction during the War of 1812, and the McKenzie Rebellion in 1837-1838. During the Fenian troubles in the 1860's many independent infantry companies were formed from these units. The Great War, World War I, saw individual units earning many awards and battle honours, including :
In 1939 the Hasty P's were again activated, and with old equipment and at times sticks for weapons, they trained for combat in the Second World War. World War II (1940)saw the newly trained and outfitted regiment debarking in England. In England they continued training and except for seeing a bit of combat in a brief excursion to France, and the destruction of 'Little Chief' (their wooden Indian mascot) and most of their vehicles in the Germans first Blitzkrieg in France, all went well. 'Little Chief' serial number 'C0000' was replaced with 'Chief Petawawa-Much' serial number 'C0001'. Finally in 1943 the regiment was landed on Sicily and in the ensuing battles and skirmishes up the Italian peninsula the unit earned 28 Battle Honours. The 'Hasty P's' fought with distinction and bravery with the British 8th Army until the end of hostilities in Italy in 1945. At this time they were brought back to Northwest Europe joining with the 1st Canadian Army, to participate in the final battles against Hitler's Germany. World War II was the last war that the Hasty P's served in. From 1951 to 1992 government cutbacks decimated the Canadian forces, not excluding the Hasty P's. The Regiment now only occupies two armouries. In 1957 Canadian Army Orders announced that the 'Hasty P's' earned a total of 31 Battle Honours (the most awarded to any Canadian outfit) during the Second World War. The Hasty P's were from mostly rural areas of Canada and during WWII earned the nickname of the 'Poughjockies' by the Toronto based Regiments. The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiments took their names from the counties from which the first militia were formed. Members or past members of the regiment on their deaths are said to have transferred to the Go To Page: 1 2
The copyright of the article The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment in Canada's Military is owned by Carl Johnson. Permission to republish The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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