Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry - Traditions

Traditions

See also: The Canadian Crown and the Canadian Forces

Since March 17, 2007, the regiment's colonel-in-chief is former Governor-General of Canada Adrienne Clarkson. The previous colonel-in-chief was Countess Mountbatten of Burma, herself succeeding Princess Patricia. This is the first time that a person who is not a member of the Canadian Royal Family has been invited to take such a position with the regiment. The new colonel-in-chief took up her appointment at a ceremony on March 17, 2007, at the Regimental Headquarters in Edmonton.

The PPCLI does not have an official motto; however, their unofficial motto, "First In The Field", is based off the fact that they were the first Canadian unit to deploy in the Great War. The regiment also uses another non-official motto, Once a Patricia, Always a Patricia, which reminds that the regimental family includes retired soldiers and officers and those who transferred elsewhere in the Canadian Forces.

March 17 is the most important date within the regiment, as it corresponds to Princess Patricia's birthday. May 8 is the anniversary of the 1915 Battle of Frezenberg and is observed by a parade and a church ceremony. April 25 is the anniversary of the Battle of Kapyong, normally observed by the 2nd Battalion with a parade. On August 10, the regiment celebrates the foundation of the PPCLI in 1914. September 21 is the anniversary of the Battle of San Fortunato in 1944.

List of colonels of the regiment
  • Brigadier Andrew Hamilton Gault, OBE, DSO, ED, CD (September 25, 1958 – November 28, 1958)
  • Major-General Cameron B. Ware, DSO, CD (September 13, 1959 – April 21, 1977)
  • Major-General George Grenville Brown, CD (April 21, 1977 – July 6, 1983)
  • Colonel William Benjamin Scott Sutherland, CD (July 6, 1983 – October 14, 1987)
  • Brigadier-General R. Stuart Graham, CD (October 15, 1987 – October 19, 1990)
  • Major-General Herbert C. Pitts, MC, CD (October 19, 1990 – July 3, 1994)
  • Major-General C. William Hewson, CMM, CD (July 3, 1994 – June 24, 2000)
  • General A.J.G.D. de Chastelain, OC, CMM, CD, CH (June 24, 2000 – June 20, 2003)
  • Major-General Robert I. Stewart, CMM, CD (June 20, 2003 – unknown)
  • Brigadier-General J.E.L. Gollner, OMM, CD

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