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Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry. Band

  • ppcli
  • Corporate body
  • 1914-1994

Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry had two bands during the First World War. The Edmonton Pipe Band joined as a unit in August 1914. Pipers played men over the top and then followed as stretcher-bearers. The core of the PPCLI Brass and Reed Band was formed when eligible members of The St. Mary’s Boys Brigade Band joined the 140th New Brunswick Battalion in January 1916. When the 140th was broken up in November 1917, the entire Band joined the PPCLI in the field. Bandmaster (Lance Sergeant) Charles H. Williams was wounded in the front lines near Tilloy, France 28 September 1918 and later died. His brother, Sergeant Harold H. (Pete) Williams took over as Bandmaster for the duration of the war. Both bands provided music during route marches, burials and rest periods. The PPCLI Band performed one of its last official duties on 27 February 1919 when they played at Princess Patricia’s wedding. When the Permanent Force was established in 1919, the PPCLI Military Band was reformed. Under the guidance of Captain Tommy James, it was stationed at Fort Osborne Barracks in Winnipeg during the 1920s and 30s. It played as many as 50 free concerts a year and was broadcast across Canada. In ca.1935 the PPCLI Bugle Band was formed and then a Dance Band was formed ca.1937. When Captain James retired in 1939, Warrant Officer Al Streeter took over as Director of Music. After the outbreak of Second World War, 15 younger members of the PPCLI Military Band volunteered for active duty and it was disbanded late in 1939. Warrant Officer Streeter arrived in England in 1941 to lead the 1st Canadian Divisional Band, which was largely made up of former PPCLI Bandsmen. The PPCLI Band was reactivated after the war and was established at Wainwright, Alberta. Enlistment was slow and recruitment took place in England and Holland. In 1951, the Band numbered 20 members, but by late 1953 it reached its authorized strength of 55 musicians. It performed in marching formation for ceremonies, and also as a stage band. it recorded a number of commercial albums. Due to budget cuts in 1994, the Concert Band was officially disbanded and reduced to a Corps of Drums.

Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry Association

  • ppcli
  • Corporate body
  • 1917-

During the First World War veterans of Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI) in Ottawa began to gather informally. The Patricia Club of Ottawa was formed 27 December 1917. Other Patricia Clubs were later formed in some of the larger Canadian cities. These clubs provided personal assistance to veterans and their families as well as other public services. Following the Second World War, on 18 May 1946, Hamilton Gault organized the first meeting of the PPCLI Association. On 13 September 1953, the PPCLI Association was incorporated. It was structured with autonomous Branches in Canadian cities or regions, and one Branch in the United Kingdom. From 1953 to 1994, the Association ran the PPCLI Regimental Museum and Archives. In 1964 the Association established the Hamilton Gault Memorial Fund for charitable purposes. From about 1982 to about 1994 the Regimental Adjutant was also Secretary-Treasurer of the Association. As of 2017, there were 10 Branches of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry Association across Canada.

Patrician

  • ppcli
  • Corporate body
  • 1933-

The Patrician is the yearbook of Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI). The Esquimalt Patrician was initially a quarterly magazine published in 1933 by B Company of the Regiment, then located at Work Point Barracks, Esquimalt, BC. In January 1937 it was renamed The Patrician and in August 1938 production was moved to the regimental Home Station in Winnipeg. In August 1939 publication was suspended due to the outbreak of the Second World War. The publication was revived as a semi-annual published by the Regimental Depot in 1953, and in 1960 it became an annual. In 1968 the Patrician became one of the responsibilities of the Regimental Adjutant, and in 1973 Regimental Headquarters (RHQ) was established to centralize his functions. In 1976 the office of Regimental Major was created to command RHQ.

Canadian Siberian Expeditionary Force. 260th Battalion

  • ppcli
  • Corporate body
  • 1918-1919

The 260th Battalion was one of two Infantry Battalions within the 16th Canadian Infantry Brigade, Canadian Siberian Expeditionary Force (C.S.E.F.), formed by Order of Council 12 August 1918. They were part of an Allied Force of more than 120,000 men commanded by General Kikuzo Otani of Japan. The Allied Force was originally united to protect Allied war materials stockpiled in Russia and to reopen the Eastern Front. This priority later changed to that of rescuing the Czechoslovakian Legion, which was stranded in Siberia by the aftermath of the Russian Revolution. The Russian Revolution of 1917 necessitated the withdrawal of the Tsar's Army from the Eastern Front. This increased pressure on the already exhausted Allies in the West and put military stores at Archangel in the North and Vladivostok in the South at risk. The Czech Brigade, formed by patriotic deserters from the Austro-Hungarian Army, was no longer able to fight from Russian soil. Following the signing of the Brest- Livotsk Treaty between the Bolsheviks and the Central Powers in March 1918, the Czech Legion, now 60,000 strong and composed of pardoned POWs, displaced Serbs, Italians, Rumanians and Poles, found themselves essentially behind enemy lines. With the Provisional Government's blessing, the Legion's initial aim was to cross Siberia by rail to Vladivostok where they would sail to North America and then to France to resume the fight for an independent homeland. Following an incident involving the Czechs and repatriated Hungarian prisoners, the Bolsheviks decreed that any armed Legionnaire found along the railway would be shot on the spot. The Legion was reluctantly drawn into the Russian Civil War and forced to side with the "White" Russians. By late summer 1918 they controlled the Trans-Siberian Railway from Omsk to Vladivostok. This prompted the Allies to consider a possible Bolshevik defeat. The Canadian Government, hoping to establish favorable post-war trading opportunities with the Far East, agreed to be part of a "Mixed Brigade" to support the "White" Russians. This was the first independent military expedition that Canada was to undertake. The Armistice of 11 November 1918 clouded the issues. The Canadian people were reluctant to become involved in further offensive operations, especially in the East. This meant that the C.S.E.F. would serve only as a "stabilizing element". The 260th Battalion was composed of 42 Officers and 984 Other Ranks, 520 of which were drafted under the Military Service Act of 1917. Under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Frederick Jamieson of Edmonton, the Battalion trained at Willows Camp in Victoria from October through December 1918. The Spanish flu epidemic of 1918/19 landed 180 men in hospital and delayed departure. The Battalion finally embarked on the SS Protesliaus at Gordon Head on 26 December 1918, arriving in Vladivostok 15 January 1919. The Battalion was stationed at Gournestai Barracks (10 miles east of Vladivostok), with guards posted at East and Second River Barracks. During the 14 weeks in theatre no shots were fired in anger and, except for small parties of railway guards, the Battalion never moved east. A month after the arrival of the C.S.E.F., plans were underway to bring them home. Many of the men of the 260th were among the first to leave, departing Vladivostok on the SS Monteagle 22 April 1919. When they arrived in Vancouver on the 22nd of June, the wharf that 6 months ago was packed with a cheering populace was now deserted. In 1997 the PPCLI agreed to perpetuate the 260th Battalion and become the official "safekeeper" of the Battalion's heritage. Perpetuation is a uniquely Canadian system that insures, when possible, the deeds and sacrifices of disbanded combat units that have gained an honour or distinction in the field are remembered. The PPCLI will now carry the Battle Honour "Siberia 1918-1919".

Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry. 2nd Battalion. Battle Group (Croatia)

  • ppcli
  • Corporate body
  • 1992-1993

Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry 2nd Battalion Battle Group (2PPCLI BG) was formed from several units of the Canadian Army with 2PPCLI at its core, for the purpose of acting as a peacekeeping force in the new Republic of Croatia following the collapse of the government of Yugoslavia. It was part of the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR).

Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry Association. Vancouver Island Branch

  • ppcli
  • Corporate body
  • 1947-

A group of Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI) veterans living in Victoria, BC was represented at the inaugural meeting of the PPCLI Association in October 1947. The Victoria Branch was one of the components of the Association when it was legally incorporated in 1953. It was renamed Vancouver Island Branch in 2004.

Royal Australian Regiment

  • ppcli
  • Corporate body
  • 1948-

The Royal Australia Regiment (RAR) is the parent administrative regiment for Australian infantry battalions. The Australian Regiment was formed in 1948 from amalgamation of three infantry battalions occupying post-war Japan. In 1949 it was given permission to use the Royal title. During the Korean War, the 3rd Battalion of RAR joined the 2nd Battalion of Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI) in stopping the advance of the Chinese Army at KapYong. Both units were awarded the U.S. Presidential Unit Citation. As a result of this shared experience, RAR and PPCLI are allied regiments. RAR has also seen active or peacekeeping service in Malaya, Borneo, Vietnam, Somalia, Cambodia, Rwanda, East Timor, Solomon Islands, Iraq, and Afghanistan. As of 2017 it consisted of six battalions.

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