PPCLI welcomes new Colonel of the Regiment

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This article was published 18/05/2010 (5799 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

CFB SHILO — The historic Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry marked an important regimental milestone yesterday.

After more than 54 years in service, Brig.-Gen. Larry Gollner saw his career come full circle as he bid adieu to his post as Colonel of the Regiment and welcomed Neepawa native Lt.-Gen. Ray Crabbe to the honorary role.

In a ceremony filled with traditional military pomp and circumstance, PPCLI Colonel-in-Chief Adrienne Clarkson commended members of the 2nd Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry for their leadership and courage and welcomed Crabbe to the post.

Donning his uniform for the first time since retiring in 1998, Crabbe said he was thrilled to be at home and once again joining the regiment he became part of shortly after he joined the Canadian Army in 1963.

"It feels great (to be home). Love it. It’s wonderful. I used to lie awake as a much younger boy in Neepawa and we could hear the guns when they were training and see the elimination trails when it was a dark, cold, wintry night. That was just wonderful," Crabbe said.

As Colonel of the Regiment, Crabbe is responsible for promoting regimental traditions and the unit’s identity nationwide as well as communication between the family of soldiers who are injured or killed in the line of duty.

In light of varied public opinions about Canada’s involvement in Afghanistan, Crabbe says he believes the nation’s support of the troops is stronger than ever, and he plans to continue to work to promote that.

"I think by and large all Canadians support the efforts of the soldiers, and I think there’s been a huge recognition of the contribution that the military does make to Canada; not just in Afghanistan, but in the sense of security of this nation externally and also in defence," he said.

Continuing to foster the strong relationship the regiment has with its surrounding communities is also high on Crabbe’s agenda. He has already had a conversation with Brandon Mayor Dave Burgess regarding the symbiotic relationship between the base and the city.

"It’s important that we foster those relationships with Brandon, but also with the outlying communities to the best extent we can," he said.

"… Fostering those relationships is extremely important … to help the Canadian people understand it’s their military, not our military."

Along with 2PPCLI in Shilo, Crabbe is Colonel of the 1st and 3rd battalions of PPCLI, which are both garrisoned in Edmonton.

Throughout his scheduled three-year tenure, Crabbe will visit both regiments at least three times a year, as well as be present each time troops are deployed and when they return home.

 

With honours

* The tradition of appointing honoraries to units originated with the British military, but has only been in practice in Canada for a little over a century.

* The first Honorary Colonel appointment was Lt.-Col. J.M. Gibson to the 13th Battalion of Infantry in 1895.

* The appointment of Colonel of the Regiment, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry is restricted to former officers of the PPCLI who would have held rank of colonel or above upon retirement from the Canadian Forces.

* The Colonel of the Regiment is seen to be the guardian of regimental traditions and history, promoting the unit’s identity and ethos.

* The appointment may include fostering esprit de corps; developing, promoting and sustaining strong community support for the unit; and establishing and maintaining liaison with unit charities and associations.

* The figurehead advises the Commanding Officer on all issues, excluding operations.

* The usual tenure for this position is three years, but may be extended for a second term.

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