Trooper Patrick Gillen 228343, a farmer from Manor, Ontario, enlisted 8 May 1916 at Medicine Hat, Alberta with the 13th C.M.R. Parents Daniel J and Annie Gillen of Fort Macleod. He was 18 years old, standing 5′ 7″ tall with fair complexion, blue eyes, and brown hair. Private Patrick Gillen would serve with Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI).
The PPCLI decimated in action, no less than three times during the Great War. Raised by entrepreneur Hamilton Gault, they fought in major battles including Frezenburg (1915), Passchendaele (1917), and of course, Vimy Ridge (1917).
13th Canadian Mounted Rifles (CMR)
13th CMR organized in December 1914 under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel A. C. Kemmis. Mobilized and recruited at Pincher Creek, Fort Macleod and Cardston, Alberta. Left Halifax 29 June 1916 aboard OLYMPIC. Arrived in England 5 July 1916. Strength: 34 officers, 933 other ranks. Drafts to Lord Strathcona’s Horse, Royal Canadian Dragoons, Fort Garry Horse and to the Royal Canadian Regiment and Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry Depot. Balance absorbed by Canadian Cavalry Depot on 19 July 1916.
Private Gillen arrived in France and ToS PPCLI 28-8-16. Arrived at his unit in the field on 23 September 1916. Pte Gillen and other reinforcements treated to a Battalion Concert Party upon their arrival at Warloy.
PPCLI
Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI) organized in Ottawa on 10 August 1914 for service with the British Expeditionary Force, initially commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel F D Farquhar. Recruited amongst ex-soldiers of the South African War. Embarked from Quebec City aboard ROYAL GEORGE, and later disembarked England 14 October 1914. Arrived in France 21 December 1914, and later joined the Canadian Corps 25 November 1915, 3rd Canadian Division, 7th Canadian Infantry Brigade. Found a goat in Ypres in 1915 which became the regimental mascot. Its kid, also a mascot, was killed at Sanctuary Wood, June 1916.
Following the Concert Party the PPCLI returned to the brickyards at Albert with working parties on the Ovillers-Courcelette Road.
Tara Hill
PPCLI relieved by South Lancashire Regiment on 4 October 1916 and bivouacked at TARA HILL.The following day, No. 2 Coy in MACDONNELL TRENCH.
REGINA TRENCH
The 7th Canadian Infantry Brigade attempted to hold REGINA TRENCH on 8 October 1916, without success, returning to MACDONNELL TRENCH. At 4 pm on 9 October 1916, the PPCLI left TARA HILL for Warloy via Bouzincourt. By 23 October 1916, the PPCLI returned to the VIMY SECTOR at Ecoivres.
MIKAN No. 3521925
LA FOLIE
Following rest billets at Mt St Eloi, the PPCLI returned to the trenches in the left sub-sector at LA FOLIE 4-7 November 1916. Situation quiet. The remainder of the year spent rotating in and out of the line at LA FOLIE. Lt McDougall carried out on 8 December 1916 following a raid on the enemy trenches. A sentry had thrown out a bomb which wounded the officer.
New Year’s Day 1917
At reserve huts in Mont St Eloi on New Year’s Day, the Regiment received gifts from Her Royal Highness Princess Patricia of Connaught. Parade and inspected by General McDonell the following day. Rotations in and out of LA FOLIE continued, finally ending on 11 February 1917 with the unit at Bruay.
At Bruay the PPCLI began their training for the upcoming Battle of Arras, finally returning to the trenches on 23 March 1917 near Bois de Alleux. Raids on 26/27 March 1917 between PATRICIA and GRANGE craters.
Private Patrick Gillen had been hospitalized with tonsilitis on 14 March 1917. Discharged on the 27th in time for a daylight raid.
Another daylight raid on 28 March 1917 and a return to Bois des Alleux on the 1st of April. Congratulations received from HRH Princess Patricia and Sir Julian Byng on their successful raids in March.
Battle of Vimy Ridge
The RCR, 42nd and 49th Battalions, and the PPCLI comprised the 7th Canadian Infantry Brigade. Also included the 7th Trench Mortar Battery and the 7th Machine Gun Coy.
PPCLI objectives S.22.d.7.7 to S.22.d.35.55 (BLUE to BEGGAR TRENCH exclusive). Final objective BRITT TRENCH from S.28.c.4.5 to junction with STAUBWASSER WEG (S.23.c.35.60).
Message received at midnight from Brig-Gen ‘Batty’ MacDonell at midnight:
“I cannot go to bed without wishing you and your gallant lads good speed, best of luck and victory.”
BRITT TRENCH an objective of No. 2 Coy (likely Patrick’s unit). Battalion HQ at GRANGE SUBWAY, S.27.d.93.96.
At 9:30 am, message received from No. 2 Coy (Lt Tenbrocke) stating his Coy in final objective. 4 German Officers and 14 OR taken prisoners. Casualties pretty strong. Enemy resistance weak. Enemy artillery firing on FAIME TRENCH. Patrol sent out in direction of BOIS DU CHAMP POURRI. Flanks connected up.
At 9:45 am, Lt Tenbrocke called for bombs, SAA and rifle grenades. Enemy reported to be fairly strong in front.
10:30 am, 10 April 1917, the battalion reached Final Objective with about 35 to 40 casualties. All corporals and Sergeants of No. 2 Coy casualties. No. 2 Coy disorganized. Dead not buried.
Casualties:
No.1 Coy - 13
No.2 Coy - 37 (No. 2 Coy very uncertain of figures)
No.3 Coy - 13
No.4 Coy - 0
Wounded, Missing, Presumed Killed-in-action
Private Patrick Gillen reported wounded and missing between 9/10 April 1917. In their haste to bury casualties, Patrick’s remains would go missing for two years.
33 PPCLI fell 9.04.1917. Only 8 buried at LA CHAUDIERE MILITARY CEMETERY, the remainder named on VIMY.
Only two recorded deaths on 10.04.1917, with both buried at BRUAY COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION and BARLIN COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION.
Gillen’s CoD refers to Bois-Carre Cemetery, though “Previously reported wounded and missing, now killed in action.”
The reverse even states buried in Plot VI, Row B, Grave 16. These details provided because his remains exhumed from the battlefield in 1919.
Buried between Private A G MacArthur of the 42nd Battalion, and an Unknown soldier of the PPCLI. MacArthur killed by. enemy shell fire, 9-4-17. His remains exhumed from 44a.S.22.d.4.4, 1 mile west of Vimy, 4 1/4 miles south-south-west of Lens.
Gillen recovered from S.22.d under a GRU cross along with Private A G MacArthur. The unknown PPCLI recovered from S.22.c under a Battalion cross in July 1919. This location quite close to La Folie Farm, and the site of the current 3rd Division Memorial.
Bois-Carre British Cemetery
Thelus village, which stands on the Vimy Ridge, captured by the Canadian Corps on the 9th April, 1917, and it remained in British hands until the end of the War.
The commune contains Battle Memorials of the 1st Canadian Division and (at Les Tilleuls) the Canadian Artillery.
Bois-Carre British Cemetery begun by units of the 1st Canadian Division in April 1917, and used until the following June. These 61 graves are in Plot I (a Canadian soldier, accidentally killed in 1919, was also buried in Plot I, Row F).
The cemetery greatly enlarged after the Armistice by the concentration of graves from the surrounding battlefields and from following burial grounds
33 soldiers of the PPCLI missing in action on 9-04-17. At least one of them buried under a headstone beside Patrick at Bois-Carre.
This post inspired by Sgt (Ret’d) Teresa (Gillen) Bedel, the great-niece of Pte Patrick Gillen, PPCLI, #228343.
Dave Hanlon operates a private FB group with over 3,000 members for former Supply Technicians of the CAF:
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