The Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI) was founded for service in the First World War on 10 August 1914, and paraded for the first time at Lansdowne Park, Ottawa, Ont, on 23 August 1914.  Hamilton Gault, a prominent Montreal businessman, raised the regiment out of his own funds, making the PPCLI the last privately raised regiment in Canada.  The regiment was named after Princess Patricia of Connaught, the daughter of the Governor General at the time.  Princess Patricia maintained close ties with the regiment throughout her life, and hand-sewed the original regimental colour, the Ric-a-Dam-Doo, which was carried into battle in every First World War battle in which the Patricias fought.

The PPCLI was the first Canadian unit to serve overseas in the First World War, and earned distinction at the Battle of Freezenberg, in the Ypres Salient, by holding a fragile line against a determined German attack.  This battle saw the decimation of the regiment’s “Originals,” and the Patricias were reconstituted from what became known as the “University Companies” from McGill.  Subsequently, the regiment fought in every major campaign as part of the Canadian Corps, including the battles at Vimy Ridge, Passchendaele, and the 100 Days that brought the war to a conclusion.

In the Second World War, the PPCLI were again amongst the first units to see major combat as they took part in the invasion of Sicily in 1943 and the subsequent campaign in Italy, including the breaking of the massive defensive positions of the Gothic and Hitler Lines.  Once the campaign in Italy was complete, the Patricias transferred to northwest Europe and took part in the liberation of the Netherlands. In 1950, the PPCLI once again took to the field in the Korean Conflict. It was during this period that a second battalion, 2 PPCLI, was raised and the original one was consequently designated The First Battalion.

During the Cold War period and through the 1990s, 1 PPCLI was active on NATO and UN service, with tours in Germany (as part of 4 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group), in Cyprus and in the former Yugoslavia.  In 1999, 1 PPCLI deployed on extremely short notice to Kosovo in response to the conflict there, and the battalion’s service was crucial to the international community bringing the burgeoning conflict under control.

The First Battalion’s service in Afghanistan began with a company-sized deployment to Kabul in 2004.  In 2006, 1 PPCLI deployed to Kandahar Province in Afghanistan and began combat operations against a resurgent Taliban.  With another company-sized deployment in 2008, and a second battalion deployment in 2009, 1 PPCLI has played an active and aggressive role in the marginalization of the Taliban and the securing the population of Kandahar province.  Eleven soldiers of 1 PPCLI have been killed in action in Afghanistan, and a further forty-two have been wounded.

The First Battalion is a combat unit equipped with Light Armoured Vehicles (LAVs). 1 PPCLI maintains a high degree of operational readiness and agility, and is primed to deploy for a broad spectrum of operations in the proud tradition of the regiment.  The battalion embodies the unnoffical motto of the regiment with pride: "First in the Field." The battalion holds 39 Battle Honours, and has been awarded the Commander in Chief Citation for distinguished service in Afghanistan as part of Task Force ORION in 2006.  The First Battalion is based at CFB Edmonton, AB.

The Battalion’s current Commanding Officer is LCol William Fletcher, SMV, CD.

The Colonel-in-Chief of the Regiment is the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, PC,CC,CMM,COM,CD and the Colonel of the Regiment is Lieutenant General R.R. Crabbe, CMM,MSC,CD (Ret’d).

The First Battalion can be contacted through the unit Adjutant at 780-973-4011, extension 5409.