memphiz
06-27-2004, 10:21 PM
Regiment exercises 300-year-old custom
90th anniversary of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry
Allyson Jeffs
The Edmonton Journal
EDMONTON - Edmontonians honoured their historic ties to a proud regiment Saturday with ceremonies marking the 90th anniversary of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry.
Mayor Bill Smith granted soldiers from the First Battalion PPCLI freedom of the city, allowing them to march through the streets with "colours flying, drums beating and bayonets fixed."
"This is the highest honour a city can bestow upon its military community," Smith told several hundred guests and onlookers who gathered outside City Hall for the occasion. "This traditional ceremony gives us the opportunity to demonstrate how grateful we are for your bravery, for your dedication, and for the sacrifices you make in the line of duty."
The custom dates back 300 years to times when troops on the move had to be billeted in towns for the night. Cities would not allow even friendly armies within their boundaries unless assured of the troops' good behaviour and informed of their motives.
Saturday marks the first time this venerable right has been exercised by the First Battalion PPCLI since freedom of the City of Edmonton was granted to the regiment in 1966.
Nina Brown attended to support her nephew, Pte. Devin Vandesype who took part in the historic ceremony. He hails from Saskatchewan and has been with the PPCLI for three years.
"He was in Bosnia and, with everything that's going on in the world, that causes some concern to family," Brown said. "It would be nice to see a lot of people come out in support because (the soldiers) protect Canada and do peacekeeping."
Pat Bertles clapped her hands in time to the crisp marching music played by members of the Royal Canadian Artillery Band and the Edmonton Police Service Pipes and Drums Band.
"It brings back memories of the Second World War, to the days when we had to depend on troops to keep us free," she said. "I was living close to Camp Borden and it kept us in touch with what was going on." The southern Ontario base was a key military training location during the war years.
Keith Marshall found the ceremony "touching and very powerful." He didn't want to miss the event when he learned about it from a neighbour. Marshall stayed behind after the formal festivities to check out several military vehicles that were on display.
The regiment's colonel-in-chief, Patricia Edwina Victoria Mountbatten, Countess Mountbatten of Burma, could not attend as originally planned because her husband is ill, said public affairs officer Lieut. Petra Smith. The countess has earned the respect and devotion of regiment members with her down-to-earth style. She tries to visit one of the regiment's battalions at least once a year.
Smith inspected the troops and was appointed an Honorary Patricia.
More than 200 soldiers joined with dozens of regiment veterans in a march past City Hall before the soldiers continued down Jasper Avenue and wound up festivities at the Alberta Legislature grounds.
The Patricias trace their Edmonton affiliation to 1914 when the regiment was founded. Edmonton was one of five recruiting stations across the country for soldiers to enroll.
The regiment has a distinguished history which includes service in some of the key battlegrounds of the First and Second World Wars.
90th anniversary of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry
Allyson Jeffs
The Edmonton Journal
EDMONTON - Edmontonians honoured their historic ties to a proud regiment Saturday with ceremonies marking the 90th anniversary of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry.
Mayor Bill Smith granted soldiers from the First Battalion PPCLI freedom of the city, allowing them to march through the streets with "colours flying, drums beating and bayonets fixed."
"This is the highest honour a city can bestow upon its military community," Smith told several hundred guests and onlookers who gathered outside City Hall for the occasion. "This traditional ceremony gives us the opportunity to demonstrate how grateful we are for your bravery, for your dedication, and for the sacrifices you make in the line of duty."
The custom dates back 300 years to times when troops on the move had to be billeted in towns for the night. Cities would not allow even friendly armies within their boundaries unless assured of the troops' good behaviour and informed of their motives.
Saturday marks the first time this venerable right has been exercised by the First Battalion PPCLI since freedom of the City of Edmonton was granted to the regiment in 1966.
Nina Brown attended to support her nephew, Pte. Devin Vandesype who took part in the historic ceremony. He hails from Saskatchewan and has been with the PPCLI for three years.
"He was in Bosnia and, with everything that's going on in the world, that causes some concern to family," Brown said. "It would be nice to see a lot of people come out in support because (the soldiers) protect Canada and do peacekeeping."
Pat Bertles clapped her hands in time to the crisp marching music played by members of the Royal Canadian Artillery Band and the Edmonton Police Service Pipes and Drums Band.
"It brings back memories of the Second World War, to the days when we had to depend on troops to keep us free," she said. "I was living close to Camp Borden and it kept us in touch with what was going on." The southern Ontario base was a key military training location during the war years.
Keith Marshall found the ceremony "touching and very powerful." He didn't want to miss the event when he learned about it from a neighbour. Marshall stayed behind after the formal festivities to check out several military vehicles that were on display.
The regiment's colonel-in-chief, Patricia Edwina Victoria Mountbatten, Countess Mountbatten of Burma, could not attend as originally planned because her husband is ill, said public affairs officer Lieut. Petra Smith. The countess has earned the respect and devotion of regiment members with her down-to-earth style. She tries to visit one of the regiment's battalions at least once a year.
Smith inspected the troops and was appointed an Honorary Patricia.
More than 200 soldiers joined with dozens of regiment veterans in a march past City Hall before the soldiers continued down Jasper Avenue and wound up festivities at the Alberta Legislature grounds.
The Patricias trace their Edmonton affiliation to 1914 when the regiment was founded. Edmonton was one of five recruiting stations across the country for soldiers to enroll.
The regiment has a distinguished history which includes service in some of the key battlegrounds of the First and Second World Wars.