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scoreboard
11-09-2008, 09:21 PM
REGINA PATS - WERE NAMED AFTER THE PRINCESS PATRICIA CANADIAN LIGHT INFANTRY.

BY PERMISSION OF THE - RHQ PPCLI, EDMONTON, ALBERTA - PARTS TAKEN FROM THE STORY OF HOW THE REGINA PATS GOT THEIR NAME by Ron C. "Scoreboard" JOHNSTON

The founding of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry was undoubtedly in response to the unfolding events that led to the First World War. Captain Andrew Hamilton Gault, the founder of the Regiment, had the foresight to understand the severity of the situation in Europe, and the willingness to create an army unit that would be able to mobilize quickly in an international crisis. The creation of the PPCLI enabled Canada to expedite a military force overseas in 1914.

On August 4th, 1914, Germany's invasion of Belgium forced Britain into the war. As a loyal member of the Empire, Canada also declared war.

Great Britain's Declaration of War made Hamilton Gault's proposal even more credible to the Government. Lieutenant-Colonel Francis Farquhar, DSO, was an officer with the Coldstream Guards and Military Secretary to Canada's Governor General, His Royal Highness, the Duke of Connaught. He was enthusiastic about Gault's proposal and knew the Government was seriously reviewing the idea.

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The Regiment left Ottawa on the 28th of August, 1914, and embarked at Montreal on the MEGANTIC.

On the 22nd of December, 1915, the Regiment became part of the newly formed 3rd Canadian Division as a unit of the 7th Brigade. Other units of the Brigade were: the 42nd Battalion (Black Watch); the 49th Battalion (The Edmonton Regiment); and the Royal Canadian Regiment. The Regiment fought in many actions throughout the rest of World War I and was part of the Canadian Corp which captured Vimy Ridge on the 9th of April, 1917.