Showing 286 results

Authority record
Person

Simpson, Cecil James

  • ppcli
  • Person
  • 1881-1950

534 Cecil James Simpson was born 31 December 1881 in Montreal, Quebec. He served in militia units in the Eastern Townships of Quebec and worked as a machinist. He joined Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI) on August 20, 1914 and travelled with them to the front in Belgium in December 1914. He was wounded in January 1915 and June 1916, and became seriously ill from influenza in 1916. He was promoted to Lance Corporal, Corporal, and finally to Sergeant in November 1918. He married a British nurse's aide, Mabel Phyllis Jenner, and settled in Edmonton, Alberta after the war. They had at least two children, Cecil J. Simpson Jr and LCol Arthur R. Simpson. In 1922 the Simpson family moved to Colorado, where Cecil worked in the mining industry. He died in 1950, and is buried in Colorado Springs.

Skelly, George Alfred

  • ppcli
  • Person
  • 1929-

TH9438 George Alfred Skelly was born on 25 May, 1929. He married his wife Shirley Mary in 1950, and was living in Winnipeg, Manitoba at that time. He joined Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI) and was a Lieutenant in the 3rd Battalion in January 1951. He joined the 2nd Battalion in Korea as a transport officer in March 1951, and was present at the battle of KapYong. He completed his rotation in Korea with the 1st Battalion in March 1952, was promoted to Captain and served in the Canadian Army until 1956. He then undertook studies in medicine, specializing in urology, and practiced as a doctor in Britt, Minnesota, USA and Sun City West, part of metropolitan Phoenix, Arizona, USA, where he was still living in 2019. He had at least two children, Diane Laurel and Vera.

Stephens, Conrad

  • ppcli
  • Person
  • 1891-1971

476040 Conrad Stephens, 1891-1971, known as "Steve" and "Con", was born in Leicester, England. As a young man he emigrated to Canada and established a farm at Phippen, Saskatchewan. He enlisted in the 3rd University Company in Saskatoon on 12 July, 1915. The Company joined Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI) in the field on 6 December, 1915. He was promoted to Lance Corporal in November 1916 but reverted to Private at his own request in March 1917. Around this time he joined the PPCLI Comedy Company, a unit which staged variety shows to raise the morale of the troops. On 12 November, 1918 the Comedy Company amalgamated with the 3rd Division Concert Party, better known as the Dumbells. On 8 March, 1919, Stephens was struck off strength by the 3rd Division and returned to farming in western Saskatchewan. He died in North Battleford on 12 July, 1971. He is buried near other members of his family in Rockhaven Cemetery, Cut Knife, Saskatchewan.

Ware, Cameron Bethel

  • ppcli
  • Person
  • 1913-1999

Cameron Bethel Ware was born 9 August 1913 at London, Ontario, the son of Colonel F.B. Ware. He joined Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry upon graduation from Royal Military College, Kingston in 1935. When the Second World War broke out in 1939 Lieutenant Ware was attached to the British Army. He was taken on strength in September 1939 and rejoined the Regiment in England in 1940 as a Major. He was appointed Second in Command of the Regiment 19 February 1942 and on promotion to Lieutenant Colonel 11 August 1943, led the Regiment in the Italian Campaign from the invasion of the mainland until the end of the battle of the Liri Valley 27 June 1944. He was Mentioned in Despatches and awarded the Distinguished Service Order. He was given command of the 3rd North Shore Regiment from 5 June 1945 to 3 November 1945. Following the War he commanded Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry at Camp MacDonald, Manitoba in 1946-1947. He was promoted to Colonel in 1950 and commanded the Calgary Garrison until his appointment as Commandant, Canadian Services College, Royal Roads, British Columbia in 1952. Promoted to Brigadier General in 1954 he headed the Canadian Military Mission, Far East, Tokyo. In 1955 he became Director General, Military Training in Ottawa and was then appointed Commander 1st Canadian Brigade Group in Calgary in 1958. It was during this time that he was appointed Colonel of the Regiment of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI), a position which he held until April 1977. In 1960, he was Commander 4th Canadian Brigade Group, Germany and upon promotion to Major General in 1962 he was appointed Commandant, National Defence College, Kingston until his retirement in 1966. He was married to Anne Bethel “Beth” Lind in 1939, and they had one daughter. Major General Ware passed away 21 January 1999.

Frost, Charles Sydney

  • ppcli
  • Person
  • 1922-2009

Charles Sydney Frost was born 21 June, 1922 in St. John's Newfoundland. He received his high school education in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and Saint John, New Brunswick. He enlisted with the Canadian Army as a Lieutenant in 1942 after graduating from the Royal Military College of Canada. After spending some time training in North Africa he joined the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry in the field 11 April 1943. He was badly wounded in the face 26 October 1943 in Italy and spent several months in hospital. Returning to the PPCLI he was promoted to Captain and again wounded in Italy 14 December 1944. In 1945 he was appointed Acting Second in Command, remaining with the Regiment for the North West Europe campaign until struck off strength 25 September 1945. Following the Second World War, Sydney Frost joined the Royal Regiment of Canada (Militia) in 1947 and was appointed Commanding Officer from 1959 until 1962 when he retired from active service. He was appointed Honorary Lieutenant Colonel of the Royal Regiment of Canada from 1967 to 1974 and then Honorary Colonel from 1974 until his death. He married Margaret Cabeldu in 1948, and they had three children, Norman, Janet, and Catherine. Colonel Frost authored three books, Once a Patricia (1988), A Life Worthwhile (1994), and Always a Patricia (2004). He was also an amateur musician and composer of military marches. He died on 6 August, 2009.

Higham, Edward A.

  • ppcli
  • Person
  • [ca. 1926]-2001

K800091 Edward A. Higham joined the Canadian Army late in 1944 at the age of 18 and was stationed at Camp Shilo in January 1945 as part of the Royal Canadian Infantry Corps while he awaited his 19th birthday. He volunteered for the Experimental Station at Suffield and was transferred there in February 1945, returning to Shilo a few months later. He was attached to the Second Battalion, Headquarters Company, Admin Platoon, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, 17 August 1950, from the Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. Craftsman Higham served in Korea with the Battalion from December 1950 to November 1951. Following the Korean War he was employed with Federal Electric in Edmonton, Alberta. Ed Higham passed away 10 April 2001.

Edwards, Norman Allen

  • ppcli
  • Person
  • 1892-1915

Brother of Mr. Charles W. Edwards of 16 Brock Avenue, Montreal West, Norman Allan Edwards was born at Reading, Berks, England 17 January 1892 and educated at U.K.C.T.A. School, Pinner, Middlesex, England. Norman Allen Edwards was a member of a prominent Westmount, Montreal family and served four years with the 5th Royal Highlanders of Canada and three years with the Westmount Rifles. He joined the 23rd Battalion in 1914. He qualified as a Lieutenant 8 December 1914 and Captain 14 January 1915. He was commissioned into the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry as a Lieutenant 20 February 1915. During the Battle of Frezenberg at Belewaerde Lake, Belgium, Lt. Edwards was manning a machine gun position when he was killed 8 May 1915. He was Mentioned In Despatches LG 29426, 18 June 1915 and is commemorated on the Menin Gate, Ypres, Belgium.

Thompson, Ernest A.

  • ppcli
  • Person
  • d. 1997

TK109745 Ernest A. Thompson was a Private with the Rocky Mountain Rangers from 1937 to 1940 when he was attached to the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry for instructor training June 1940. After Junior Non Commissioned Officer and Paratroop training in England he was attached to the 49th Edmonton Regiment #3 Assault Commando Group and participated in Operation Gauntlet. He was reassigned to the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry in April 1942 as an Instructor and Section leader. In October 1942 he was assigned to the British Army on the CANLOAN program and in North Africa to the 2nd London Irish Rifles. He again rejoined the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry in England in April 1943 and proceeded with them to Sicily. Fought with the Regiment in Sicily and Italy July 1943 to February 1944. Received a commission to Lieutenant and returned to England to train with the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps. Served with the Fort Garry Horse for Operation Overlord. With Lord Strathcona's Horse and Royal Canadian Electrical & Mechanical Engineers (RCEME) in Korea as a Captain August 1950 to November 1951. Served with RCEME at Camp Vernon, January 1952 to June 1956. Struck Off Strength to Supplementary Reserve June 1956. He passed away 12 January 1997.

Crossman, Geof

  • ppcli
  • Person
  • 1957-2020

Geof Crossman joined the First Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry at Calgary, Alberta in March 1975 . He transferred to the Canadian Airborne Regiment in 1977 and was promoted to Corporal in 1979. Promoted to Master Corporal in 1980, he went with the Airborne to Cyprus the same year. In 1982 he was a member of the Skyhawks Parachute Team in Edmonton and was promoted to Sergeant in 1984. From 1985 to 1988 he was a Parachute Instructor and a Free Fall Instructor at the Canadian Airborne Centre. In 1988 he transferred back to the First Battalion and went with the Battalion to Cyprus in 1990. Promoted to Warrant Officer in 1993 he was posted to Land Forces Central Area in Toronto from 1993 to 1995 and went to Croatia in 1993 as Mortar Platoon Warrant Officer attached to the Second Battalion Battle Group. He transferred to the Second Battalion in Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1995 and went to Croatia as Mortar Platoon Warrant Officer in 1997. He served with the Second Battalion until 1997 when he was posted to the Regimental Museum in Calgary, Alberta as the Assistant Curator. He retired from the Service in 2001.

Croucher, Gordon

  • ppcli
  • Person
  • fl. 1950-1998

Gordon Croucher was with transport attached to the Second Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry in Korea, 1950-1951. He was later attached to Army Public Affairs with the rank of Captain and was part of the Photo Unit. In 1998 he was living at Heffley Creek, BC.

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