PRINCESS PATRICIA, THE REGIMENT'S FIRST COLONEL-IN-CHIEF

The Regiment’s first Colonel-in-Chief, Her Royal Highness Princess Patricia of Connaught, was born on March 17th, 1886, St. Patrick’s Day. She was the daughter of the distinguished Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught, and the grand-daughter of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Princess Patricia’s mother was Princess Louise Marguerite of Prussia. 

In 1911, the Duke of Connaught, Queen Victoria’s third son and favourite child, was appointed Governor General of Canada. He was the first Royal to take this post in Canada. Princess Patricia, a well traveled young woman, accompanied her parents and settled into Rideau Hall in Ottawa. She endeared herself to Canadians with her easy natural style and vivacious personality. She embraced the Canadian way of life and eagerly participated in games and outdoor sports. A talented artist, she was happiest wearing her painting smock with brushes in hand and was captivated by the Canadian landscape. The glamorous and elegant Princess, who had won all hearts by her charm and beauty, graced Canada’s newest Regiment with her name. 

Princess Patricia in the gardens

Princess Patricia at her easel 

Princess Patricia’s greatest passion in life was her artwork and as such she took great pleasure in personally designing the Regimental cap and collar badges bearing the insignia of a single white daisy in honour of Hamilton Gault’s lovely wife, Marguerite. She also designed the original Camp Colour for the Regiment to take overseas. It was hand-sewn by the Princess herself and presented to the Regiment on the 23rd of August, 1914. It was carried by the Regiment into every battle throughout the First World War. On 28 January 1919, it was formally consecrated and became the Regimental Colour.

The original Marguerite Cap Badge

The original RIC-A-DAM-DOO

Throughout the early war years Princess Patricia worked for the Canadian Red Cross and upon her return to England in 1916 she worked at the Maple Leaf Club for Canadian Soldiers in London and at the Canadian Hospital in Orpington. All her efforts were focused on helping wounded Canadian soldiers during the war.  

Rumours of romance had been circulating for years about Princess Patricia and speculation around her ultimate partner in marriage was a favourite topic in Edwardian times. Several foreign princes, including the future Kings of Portugal and Spain and the Grand Duke Michael of Russia had been considered for the match. In the end, though, her choice of husband was not of royal blood, but a commoner, Naval Officer Commander Sir Alexander Ramsey. They had fallen in love when they met in Ottawa several years before the war and discretely courted until the announcement of their marriage. On their wedding day, February 27, 1919, Princess Patricia of Connaught relinquished the style of Royal Highness and the title of Princess of Great Britain and Ireland and assumed the style of “Lady Patricia Ramsey”. Regardless of the loss of her royal title, the couple, along with their one son, were always active members of the extended royal family. She remained in the line of succession and attended all major royal events. 

Official Department of National Defence Portrait 

Princess Patricia held her appointment as Colonel-in-Chief and played an active role in the Regiment until her death. She was succeeded in 1974 by her cousin and goddaughter, the Rt. Hon. Lady Patricia Brabourne, the Countess Mountbatten of Burma, and daughter of Lord Louis Mountbatten. The Countess asked that her titles be disregarded and that she be referred to as Lady Patricia in honour of her predecessor. Madame Adrienne Clarkson, a former Governor General of Canada, took over the appointment on March 17^th 2007, becoming the first Canadian to hold the appointment and serves currently as the Regiment’s third Colonel in Chief.

The original Colour, designed by Princess Patricia and commonly referred to as the RIC-A-DAM-DOO, is located in The Hall of Honour in the PPCLI Museum in the Military Museums in Calgary with the original wreath of laurel. Historically and symbolically, it represents the heart and spirit of the Regiment. At a farewell parade at Bramshot, England, on the 21st February, 1919 Princess Patricia decorated her Colour with a wreath of Laurel in silver gilt (known as the "Wreath of Immortelles”). A facsimile of the wreath of laurel is now carried on the pike of all three Regimental Colours. 

A collection of Princess Patricia’s still-lifes and landscapes are also housed in the PPCLI Museum and Archives in Calgary.  

FRIDAY AUGUST 28TH, 1914 THE REGIMENT BOARDS THE LINER MEGANTIC AT MONTREAL, BOUND FOR ENGLAND

Seventeen days since the first recruiting posters went up Gault and Farquhar’s objective had been achieved. 

Parade through Ottawa Streets

The entire Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, dressed in their khaki uniforms with combat webbing, and led by their pipes, marched through the streets of Ottawa to the train station. Among the many well-wishers present that day to see the Regiment off were Prime Minister Sir Robert Borden, Sam Hughes and Sir Wilfred Laurier, and other government officials. The Duke and Princess Patricia had said farewell to the men privately at Lansdowne Park. 

Parade through Ottawa Streets

Upon its arrival in Montreal, the Patricia’s again marched through the city’s streets to much fanfare as thousands of people watched the Regiment board the liner Megantic destined for war-torn Europe. The next morning, the ship pulled out of harbour, saluted by the whistles of every other ship, and began its journey to Europe. As they approached Quebec City, however, a signal from Ottawa order them to halt. The Admiralty had declared that no troops would cross the Atlantic unless in convoy. To the great frustration of Gault and Farquhar, the battalion was forced to remain in Quebec City until the First Contingent of the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) set sail for Great Britain. 

Gault was furious, suspecting that Sam Hughes, with a hidden agenda, had chosen to thwart the Patricia’s initiative to charge to the front. Farquhar made the difficult announcement to the men in the mess. Regimental Sergeant Major W.H. Marsden, a Canadian regular soldier, told of the Regiment’s reaction. 

“When we were told at Quebec that we would have to disembark, it is beyond me to describe how the men took it. At one time, it looked like mutiny. The men said they would not leave the ship….Nearly all these men were Reservists from the Army and Navy and could have joined their units if they wished. Colonel Farquhar addressed the Battn. and told us how hard he had tried to have the order cancelled. He told us that the Governor-General had been in contact with the War Office in London but they could not interfere with the Canadian Government….(Hughes) had objected to us going over before his army was raised. He was jealous of the Patricias….The minister never once visited us and I am glad he did not do so, the Battn. would have booed him. We were ordered to go to Valcartier camp and wait for his 35,000 troops to assemble there. Colonel Farquhar told us he would not take us to Valcartier, he would take the regiment to Camp Levis or take us back to Ottawa.”

Whether or not Hughes was behind the order for the CEF to sail in convoy, including the Patricia’s, the men were certainly convinced he had. To maintain morale, Farquhar arranged for the battalion to disembark at Camp Levis instead of entering the chaos at Valcartier under Hughes’ command. Gault and Farquhar made the best of the situation and took the opportunity to intensify training drills and further prepare the men. 

PPCLI Troops with Ross Rifles at Levis

PTE LEWTHWAITE WRITES THE FIRST POEM ABOUT PPCLI PUBLISHED IN THE OTTAWA CITIZEN AUGUST 27TH, 1914

Princess Pat’s Light Infantry

Years of thought and constant study

Preperation, cruel war,

Havoc, death, destruction bloody.

Nations fight and cannons roar.

‘Cause the War-Lord in a vision,

Saw himself alone, supreme,

Driving all into submission,

Realizing ev’ry dream.

Europe would be wrecked and battered.

So the tyrant’s dream foretold,

But his dreams were sorely shattered.

By a people wise and bold.

Pat’s Pets heard the bugle calling,

Men to arms, the other day.

Yes, they heard the Kaiser brawling;

That was why the joined the fray.

Full of fight and expectation,

Would not be refused—Oh, no.

Longed to be off to the station,

On their way to fight the foe.

P’raps you’ll see them, grim and solemn,

Kiss their wives and kids good-bye.

Then depart and join the column,

Determined to do or die, —

For Old England, Home and Beauty

And the flag of liberty, 

Ready at the call of duty.

Princess Pat’s Light Infantry.

Pte J.W. Lewthwaite.

PPCLI, No. 1 Co.

PPCLI Officers in front of the Aberdeen Pavillion, Lansdowne Park, August 27th, 1914

A Few of the PPCLI Boys at Ottawa August 27th, 1914

PPCLI 2 Company Officers and NCOs Group photo

AUGUST 23rd, 1914 THE REGIMENT'S FIRST CHURCH PARADE AT LANSDOWNE PARK

On August 23 1914, the Regiment celebrated its first formal parade at Lansdowne Park in Ottawa. With the mobilization process complete, it was time for the Regiment to be presented to Canadians through a church parade.

It was a simple but poignant service and emotions ran high for these men that had come to serve again as they expected to be sailing overseas within the week. A sense of patriotism and loyalty to the new found Regiment heightened the intensity of the occasion. 

There was a keen awareness of the Regiment's unique spirit which served to enhance the men's dedication and pride. A greatly adored Princess graciously consented to give her name to the Regiment and would serve as their Colonel in Chief. Even the unusual title of 'Light Infantry', established by Gault, contributed to the prestige. The title of Princess Patricia's Light Infantry was made complete with the addition of the designation 'Canadian' added by Sam Hughes.

Princess Patricia presented the men with a colour which she herself had designed and crafted which they proudly marched past to "Blue Bonnets Over the Border" played by their pipe band. It was not meant to be an official Regimental Colour approved by the College of Heralds, but was intended It featured a maroon flag with a gold fringe with a dark blue circle at the centre. Princess Patricia stitched her cipher ‘VP’, for ‘Victoria Patricia’ in gold thread within the blue circle simply to mark headquarters of the Battalion in the field and, unlike a Regimental Colour, could be taken into battle with them.

Presentation of Colours Lansdowne Park August 23, 1914

Princess Patricia would later recount, “I was very anxious to give the Battalion some present to take overseas and I first thought of a set of Bugles, since these seemed suitable to a Light Infantry regiment; but Colonel Farquhar much wished for a Camp Colour instead, such as the Brigade of Guards have; so a Camp Colour it was. There seemed no possibility of getting one made in the short time of two weeks which was available - so I set to work to design and work the Colour myself - I had never done any work of this kind before, and had no idea how to do it - so I just did it the best way I could! - and with the best materials I could obtain in the short time. The staff, too, was home-made being fashioned by our house carpenter from walnut wood grown in Government House grounds.”

Presentation of Colours Lansdowne Park August 23, 1914

It held much greater power, however, than a mere camp colour to the Regiment. Soon known affectionately as the Ric-A-Dam-Doo, it attained an almost mystical significance as the Regiment carried it with them into every battle which it fought in the First World War. However, tattered and torn, it was given special recognition throughout the British forces fighting in Europe and consecrated as the Regimental Colour after the war, in February 1919, in a ceremony on a snow covered Belgiun Parade ground. 

The meaning of the name Ric-A-Dam-Doo is mysterious. One explanation suggests that the name was rooted in the Highland traditions of the British Black Watch. The Black Watch Regimental Colours were called the rikk u dan du, a Gaelic term meaning “the cloth of our mother.” This theory goes further to suggest that former members of the Black Watch serving with the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry gave the Camp Colour its name. 

When the Colour was presented by the Princess at Lansdowne, she declared “I have great pleasure in presenting you with these colours, which I have worked myself. I hope they will be associated with what I believe will be a distinguished corps. I shall follow the fortunes of you all with the deepest interest, and I heartily wish every man good luck and a safe return.” 

AUGUST 20th, 1914 COL FARQUHAR DECLARES MOBILIZATION COMPLETE

Enlistment in PPCLI was for one year or the duration of the war and successful applicants would be paid at the Canadian pay rates, one dollar and 10 cents per day from arrival at Lansdowne Park, Ottawa. 

In the days following the founding of the Regiment, Hamilton Gault prepared for mobilization. Letters from friends gifting their horses to the new Regiment arrived, the most precious offer being a chestnut pony named Sandy who carried Gault faithfully through the war.  He researched the best quotes from Cunard and CPR for two ships to carry the Regiment and its horses, transport and equipment to Europe.  He travelled to Toronto to solicit support from the Chief of Police and the Army and Navy Veterans Association.  

Arrival of Legion of Frontiersmen

In ten days recruiting was complete. The response from across Canada had been overwhelming as almost 3,000 volunteers travelled to Ottawa to enlist, most coming from the West where many veteran soldiers had settled after releasing from the Army. The quality of recruit was exceptional, many with experience from the Boer war and all representing a vast array of trades and professions. “The Legion of Frontiersmen”, for example, arrived dressed in a uniform of cowboy hats, khaki shirts and bandanas. Sergeant Major Fraser, a former guardsman, reported at Ottawa with a full company of volunteers by the end of the first week. The Edmonton Pipe Band, in full Highland dress and wearing the Hunting Stewart tartan, announced on arrival that” they had come to play the Regiment to France and back”. 

Legion of Frontiersmen Moose Jaw August 1914

Lieutenant-Colonel Farquhar worked tirelessly, personally inspecting and interviewing each applicant. When all was said and done 1,098 officers, NCOs and soldiers were selected to serve with the Regiment. 1,049 were veterans, 456 with wartime service, 771 wore decorations or medals. The volunteers represented all but one regiment in the British Army and included sailors and marines with service in the Royal Navy. Not surprisingly, fewer than 10% of the "Originals" were born in Canada. 

PPCLI recruits, Lansdowne Park August 1914

As recruiting proceeded, Captain Buller established a headquarters in Lansdowne Park in Ottawa and the Regiment began training soldiers as soon as they enlisted. For the most part it was a matter of refreshing old skills. 

PPCLI Guard at Lansdowne Park  August 1914

Gault felt strongly that the morale of his men was directly related to the proper administration of the Regiment. His stalwart leadership was a pleasant surprise to the recruits as they found their most basic needs, food and clothing, were being well taken care of. Gault had hired a master fitter and eight tailors to ensure all uniforms would fit perfectly. He’d hired chefs from the best hotels to organize the kitchens and ensured that only competent cooks were recruited. Gault’s reputation for providing good food for them men endured through to the end of the war.   

PPCLI QM Stores, being outfitted with service equipment 

AUGUST 11th, 1914, THE FIRST RECRUITMENT POSTERS FOR PPCLI APPEAR

The first recruitment posters for PPCLI appeared on August 11th, 1914 in several major Canadian cities across the country. Hamilton Gault and Lt-Col Farquhar rallied the support of friends and associates to fill the most prominent positions of command while a steady stream of letters arrived with offers from old allies to join the Regiment. Recruiting stations were set up in Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal. Captain “Teta” Buller, the new Regimental adjutant, established headquarters at Lansdowne Park in Ottawa prior to the expected arrival of recruits from all over the country. The majority of recruits were from Western Canada where many veterans had sought new lives after leaving the military. Preference was given to "ex-regulars of the Canadian and Imperial forces" and "men who saw service in South Africa." Recruits were expected to be physically fit, no more than 40 years of age, and in possession of "good" certificates of discharge. Most of the prospective officers had previous experience as regulars in the British Army. According to The Globe newspaper, the Toronto recruiting centre selected 87 volunteers on the first day of recruiting. The paper reported that the Regiment "will be as fine a body of infantry as has ever left Canada, since the men enrolled have seen service in either the Imperial or Canadian forces."

AUGUST 10TH, 1914, CHARTER OF PRINCESS PATRICIA'S CANADIAN LIGHT INFANTRY SIGNED

Seven days after Gault brought his proposal to Ottawa, the Regiment was founded. 

August 10th marks the centennial anniversary of the founding of PPCLI. 100 years ago today Minister Sam Hughes signed the Regimental charter formally establishing the new Regiment as Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry. The Charter of the Regiment was embodied in a report from the Committee of the Privy Council of Canada underlining Hamilton Gault’s contribution to finance and equip an infantry battalion. 

"As regards the expense entailed in raising, clothing, equipping, pay, transportation, feeding, maintenance and all other expenditure connected with this Battalion in and out of Canada, the sum of one hundred thousand dollars will be provided by Captain Hamilton Gault of Montreal. The remainder will be defrayed by the Department of Militia and Defence for Canada." 

The Paymaster General was authorized to pay personnel at the Canadian Expeditionary Force rate "from the date each Officer is gazetted and each soldier is attested." 

The Regiment would have special status, distinct from all other Canadian units. Neither as Militia nor with the Canadian Expeditionary Force, PPCLI would serve as a Canadian Regiment within the British Army. No provisions were made, however, for the supply of reinforcements to maintain the battalion at full strength. 

On this same day, Farquhar worked to set-up recruiting stations in Montreal, Toronto, Winnipeg, Calgary and Edmonton. Mobilization of the Regiment was to begin immediately.