Cyndi Mills - Owner | Publisher CMF Magazine
This week’s favourite photo was taken by Canadian Armed Forces Image Tech Cpl Bryce Cooper.
Shot in Iraq last month, the image features current and former Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry members as they celebrate the regimental tradition of Her Royal Highness Princess Victoria Patricia Helena Elizabeth of Connaught’s birthday, the Regiment’s namesake.
Princess Patricia was born in 1886 in London, United Kingdom. The daughter of Duke of Connaught, the appointed governor-general of Canada in 1911, was a popular public figure in Canada, noted the Canadian Encyclopedia website.
Princess Patricia gave her name to the Regiment in 1914. Sponsored by Montreal businessman Andrew Hamilton Gault, the Regiment was the last privately funded Regiment in the British Empire and dominions.
Lieutenant-Colonel Francis D. Farquhar, the regimental commander, asked the Duke of Connaught for permission to name the Regiment after Patricia.
The Princess she took a close interest in her Regiment, designing and creating the regimental colours or “Ric-A-Dam-Doo,” the crimson flag with its royal blue centre and gold initials, V.P. (for Victoria Patricia). She passed away on January 12, 1974, in Windlesham, Surrey, United Kingdom.
She was succeeded as colonel-in-chief of the PPCLI by her goddaughter, Lady Patricia Brabourne Knatchbull, Countess Mountbatten of Burma (1924–2017). The Countess, a first cousin of the late Prince Phillip Duke of Edinburgh, served in the post until 2007 when she was succeeded by former governor-general Adrienne Clarkson.
The Featured Photo was taken on March 17, 2021, at Camp Canada, Ali Al Salem Airbase, Operation IMPACT.
