GUEST COLUMNIST — March 17 big day for PPCLI

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 23/03/2013 (4813 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

St. Patrick’s Day was widely celebrated across Canada last week. The 17th of March is particularly important to members of Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI), but not because the patron saint of Ireland died that day.

Patricias observe the day because of a special birthday. This time out, a princess, a regimental day, and two paintings in The RCA Museum.

The Princess: Victoria Patricia Helena Elizabeth, Princess Patricia of Connaught, was born on March 17, 1886. She was named Patricia by her father, Prince Arthur, in honour of St. Patrick. The name Victoria was chosen in honour of her paternal grandmother, Queen Victoria. Princess Patricia lived in Canada while her father was Governor General 1911- 16. She was a popular figure and her image graced the Canadian dollar bill issued on March 17, 1917.

When Andrew Hamilton Gault donated a regiment of infantry to Canada in 1914, he named it in her honour as Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI). The PPCLI is the last privately raised regiment in the history of the British Empire. Princess Patricia personally designed the badge and colours for the PPCLI. Indeed, she sewed the first regimental colour and presented it to her regiment.

The gold VP being her initials, Victoria Patricia. The colour is known as the “Ric A Dam Doo,” which may be derived from archaic Gaelic for “cloth of your mother.” The PPCLI carried it throughout World War One: the last Canadian regiment to carry their colours into battle. In 1918, Princess Patricia was named Colonel-in-Chief of the PPCLI, a title she held until her death in 1974. Princess Patricia renounced her royal title in order to marry in 1919, becoming Lady Patricia Ramsay. Lady Patricia never went by “Pat.”

It is in deference to her that members of her regiment prefer to be called “Patricias,” not “Pats.”

The Regimental Day: In honour of the birthday of their namesake, the PPCLI celebrate the 17th of March with parades, sports and formal dinners. The sport of choice is “Broom-A-Loo”, which is played on a frozen field with broomball sticks, a ball, and very few rules. It is indeed interesting to watch and even more interesting to take part in. I was honoured to play in the late 90’s, and came home sporting the perfect image of a broomball stick bruised into my back, among other minor injuries.

I honestly still have no idea who won, but it was a great game.

The PPCLI also celebrate their birthday on Aug. 10, but the most important date is Regimental Day. The Countess Mountbatten of Burma, Lady Patricia’s goddaughter, was appointed Colonel-in Chief of the PPCLI in 1974. She requested that the regiment discount her titles and simply refer to her as Lady Patricia. Countess Mountbatten was succeeded as Lady Patricia by The Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson. The formal ceremony marking the change was held in Edmonton on the 17th of March, 2007, of course.

The Paintings: Lady Patricia Ramsay was an accomplished artist. We are very lucky to have the Second Battalion, PPCLI at CFB Shilo and to have the Patricias as part of our Westman community. Because they are here, two oil paintings by Lady Patricia are normally kept in the Shilo Officers’ Mess. These paintings were gifts from Lady Patricia to her regiment. The two paintings are on exhibit in The RCA Museum as part of a temporary art exhibit until May 3 this year. It is a rare chance to see paintings by a real princess and to come face to face with the rich heritage of one of Canada’s finest regiments.

Wishing all Patricias a slightly belated Happy Regimental Day! Second to None.

» Marc George is a retired soldier who served 25 years in the Canadian Army. He is currently the Director of The RCA Museum in Shilo. He can be contacted via rcamuseum@forces.gc.ca or via twitter @TheRCAMuseum