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Authority record

Torpe, Norman

  • ppcli
  • Person
  • 1919-2000

Norman David Torpe, 1919-2000, was one of the original 250 Canadian volunteers selected for the First Special Service Force, a joint American-Canadian unit known as the "Devil's Brigade". Only 72 of the 250 passed the initial exams and only 18 completed training. He deployed with the Force to the Aleutian Islands in early 1943 and to Italy in November 1943. He was wounded at the Anzio bridgehead in the spring of 1944 and lost one eye which ended his military career. Following the war Norman was a forest ranger and then farmed in Clive, Tofield, and Daysland, Alberta. He marred Violet Haroldson. He passed away in Camrose, Alberta on 2 March 2000.

Torpe, Norman

  • 1919-2000

Norman David Torpe, 1919-2000, was one of the original 250 Canadian volunteers selected for the First Special Service Force, a joint American-Canadian unit known as the "Devil's Brigade". Only 72 of the 250 passed the initial exams and only 18 completed training. He was deployed with the Force to the Aleutian Islands in early 1943 and to Italy in November 1943. He was wounded at the Anzio bridgehead in the spring of 1944 and lost an eye which ended his military career. Following the war Norman was a forest ranger and then farmed in Clive, Tofield, and Daysland, Alberta. He married Violet Haroldson. He passed away in Camrose, Alberta on 2 March 2000 at the age of 81.

Tobicoe, Phil

  • ppcli
  • Person
  • ca. 1964-

F40175596 MCpl Phillip Michael Tobicoe, 1964?- , was a member of the Mississauga First Nation. He served in Cyprus with the 1st Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry in 1991. In 1993-1994 he was deployed with the 2nd Battalion PPCLI Battle Group in Croatia, and experienced the intense conflict at Medak Pocket. He experienced health problems apparently as a result of exposure to hazardous substances in Croatia. He worked at the PPCLI Regimental Museum and Archives from 1997 until about 2002.

Thompson, William

  • ppcli
  • Person
  • b. 1931

William F. Thompson was born November 10, 1931 to Canadian parents living in Detroit Michigan USA. When his father lost his job due to the depression the family moved back to Ontario, to farm in the southern Georgian Bay area. With the outbreak of the Korean War in June 1950 he enlisted in the regular army for a three year term. When Private Thompson completed basic training at Camp Borden he was given a choice of the three airborne regiments, the Royal Canadian Regiment, the PPCLI or the Royal 22nd Regiment. He opted for the Patricias, went to Currie Barracks in Calgary and was assigned to the First Battalion, A Company where he remained until his release from the army. Training continued through the winter of 1950-1951 in Calgary and Vernon BC. In the spring Thompson went to Camp Rivers and Camp Shilo in Manitoba for jump training and was awarded the Canadian Parachute Badge on June 20, 1951. He returned to Currie Barracks in Calgary and continued with more training until in September 1951, following embarkation leave, he embarked for Korea with the Battalion from Seattle Washington. In October 1951 the First Battalion took over the Second Battalion's position on the front line in Korea. After a year in Korea, the First Battalion was relieved by the Third Battalion in the fall of 1952. The hostilities continued until the cease-fire on July 27, 1953. Thompson stayed in the army until completion of his three year term on August 3, 1953 during which time he did some more training, including two more jumps. Upon his release he was awarded the Korea Medal and the United Nations Service Medal for Korea. 39 years later, on June 5, 1992, he was awarded the Canadian Volunteer Medal for Korea. After his release from the army in August 1953, William Thompson was employed with Ontario Hydro and eventually became a Journeyman lineman. He returned to Michigan and worked for the power company there until retirement in 1993. Since retirement, he joined the Korea Veterans Association, Unit 23, Brampton Ontario.

Thompson, George

1056 George Ross Thompson was born in Kenora, Ontario 5 April 1888. He was single and working as a Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) engineer when he enlisted with the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry in August 1914. He served in the St Eloi sector until being hospitalized with general debility 23 March 1915. Thompson returned to the unit 5 April and fought through the epic stand at Frezenberg 8 May 1915. Promoted to provisional Corporal 26 August 1915, he was destined to become a drill instructor at the Canadian Base Depot 15 May 1916. By this good fortune, he missed the Battle of Sanctuary Wood (2-4 June 1916). In August 1916 he rejoined the unit just as the Canadians were preparing to head south and take part in the Battle of the Somme. He was promoted to Sergeant 15 September 1916, during the fighting at Flers-Courcelette and survived the attack against Regina Trench 8 October 1916. After taking part in the assault on Vimy Ridge in April 1917, he was granted ten days leave in Paris returning to the unit 22 May 1917. Nine days later he was evacuated to hospital ill. Released from hospital 4 July he was attached to the 3rd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station on 20 September 1917 and did not return to the PPCLI in the field until 13 May 1918. By this time the last major German offensive of the war had collapsed into stalemate. Thompson suffered an abscessed leg 3 July 1918 that held him out of the initial battles of the "Last Hundred Days" at Amiens and the Scarpe, but he returned to help bolster the unit just after 28 August 1918. A month later he was killed by machine gun fire during the morning, 28 September 1918, as the Regiment supported the Royal Canadian Regiment in their initial assault on the Marcoing Line. Sergeant Thompson had no known grave until research by Captain Steve Newman, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, in 1998 proved that he was the "Unknown Sergeant" buried in Crest Cemetery. His headstone in France was replaced with one bearing his name and the nameless headstone now resides at the Regimental Museum in Calgary.

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.

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