Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry

Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI) is a regular force infantry regiment of the Canadian Army, formed in Ottawa in August 1914.

Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI) is a regular force infantry regiment of the Canadian Army, formed in Ottawa in August 1914. It is known for being the first Canadian infantry unit to arrive in France during the First World War and remains one of Canada’s best-known regiments. PPCLI is a major component of the Canadian Army and a prominent example of Canada’s First World War military heritage, with its founding in Ottawa and continued presence in Edmonton and Shilo.

History

PPCLI was created in 1914 during the opening months of the First World War. It was organized in Ottawa through the initiative and funding of Andrew Hamilton Gault, then named for Princess Patricia of Connaught. The regiment was authorized on 10 August 1914 and first paraded in Ottawa later that month. It was raised through the private financial backing of Andrew Hamilton Gault, making it Canada’s last privately raised regiment.

Operational service

PPCLI served in the First World War and was the first Canadian infantry unit to enter the theatre in France, arriving on 21 December 1914. The regiment became a permanent part of Canada’s Regular Force after the First World War. Later accounts describe continued service in major Canadian military operations and deployments beyond the First World War.

Regimental identity

The unit is widely known as the Patricias or PPCLI and is one of the Canadian Army’s best-known infantry regiments. Its historical identity is closely tied to its privately raised origins and early wartime service. The regiment is commonly called the Patricias or PPCLI, though some shorthand forms are discouraged within the regiment.

Bases and current structure

Modern PPCLI elements are headquartered and stationed in Edmonton, Alberta, and Shilo, Manitoba. The regiment is described as having three battalions and a reserve battalion.