The Loyal Edmonton Regiment (4th Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry)
The Loyal Edmonton Regiment, or LER, is a Primary Reserve infantry unit of the Canadian Forces based in Edmonton, Alberta. The LER is part of 3rd Canadian Division's 41 Canadian Brigade Group. They are colloquially known as "The Loyal Eddies".[1]
The Loyal Edmonton Regiment | |
---|---|
![]() Badge of the Loyal Edmonton Regiment | |
Active | 1908–present |
Country | Canada |
Branch | Primary Reserve (Militia) |
Type | Line infantry |
Role | Light infantry |
Size | One battalion |
Part of | 41 Canadian Brigade Group |
Garrison/HQ | Edmonton, Alberta |
Nickname(s) | Loyal Eddies; Eddies; LERs |
Motto(s) | Fears No Foe |
March | "Bonnie Dundee" |
Mascot(s) | Coyote named Lestock |
Engagements | World War I World War II Battle of Ortona |
Website | army |
Commanders | |
Current commander | LCol Christopher Barr, CD |
Colonel-in-Chief | Vacant |
Honorary colonel | HCol John Stanton, C.M., CD |
Honorary lieutenant-colonel | HLCol Doug Cox |
Regimental sergeant-major | CWO Mark Denney, CD |
Insignia | |
NATO Map Symbol | ![]() ![]() |
Abbreviation | L Edmn R or LER |
Armourial description
The badge features a coyote, named Lestock, who was adopted by the 49th Infantry Battalion (Edmonton Regiment), CEF, in Lestock, Saskatchewan, on its way east to embark for Europe during the First World War. The coyote is centred in front of a windmill sail surrounded on its sides by maple leaves; above the coyote's head is the red rose of Lancashire, symbolizing the unit's affiliation with The Loyal Regiment (North Lancashire)[2] of the British Army; below the coyote's head and resting on a scroll inscribed THE LOYAL EDMONTON REGIMENT, are the numerals 49; the whole is surmounted by the Crown.
Lineage
- Originated 1 April 1908 in Edmonton, Alberta as the 101st Regiment
- Redesignated 1 March 1909 as the 101st Regiment "Edmonton Fusiliers"
- Redesignated 15 March 1920 as The Edmonton Regiment
- Reorganized 15 March 1920 to form two separate regiments, The Edmonton Fusiliers and The Edmonton Regiment
- Redesignated 7 November 1940 as the 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The Edmonton Regiment
- Redesignated 7 July 1943 as the 2nd (Reserve) Battalion, The Loyal Edmonton Regiment
- Redesignated 1 November 1945 as The Loyal Edmonton Regiment
- Redesignated 19 October 1954 as The Loyal Edmonton Regiment (3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry)
- Redesignated 1 April 1970 as The Loyal Edmonton Regiment (4th Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry)[3]
Lineage chart:[4]
Lineage | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Perpetuations
Operational history

The Great War
The 49th Battalion (Edmonton Regiment), CEF was authorized on 7 November 1914 and embarked for Great Britain on 3 June 1915. It disembarked in France on 9 October 1915, where it fought as part of the 7th Infantry Brigade, 3rd Canadian Division in France and Flanders until the end of the war. The battalion disbanded on 15 September 1920.[3]
The 51st Battalion (Edmonton), CEF was authorized on 7 November 1914 and embarked for Great Britain on 1 April 1916. There it provided reinforcements for the Canadian Corps in the field until 13 November 1916, when it was reorganized as a Garrison Duty Battalion. On 22 June 1916, its personnel were absorbed by the various regimental depots. The battalion disbanded on 15 September 1920.[3]
The 63rd Battalion (Edmonton), CEF was authorized on 20 April 1915 and embarked for Great Britain on 22 April 1916. There it provided reinforcements for the Canadian Corps in the field until 7 July 1916, when its personnel were absorbed by the 9th Reserve Battalion, CEF. The battalion disbanded on 1 September 1917.[3]

The Second World War


The regiment mobilized The Edmonton Regiment, CASF for active service on 1 September 1939. It was redesignated as the 1st Battalion, The Edmonton Regiment, CASF on 7 November 1940; and as the 1st Battalion, The Loyal Edmonton Regiment on 7 July 1943. On 22 December 1939, it embarked for Great Britain. "D" Company participated in the expedition to the Norwegian island of Spitzbergen on 25 August 1941, and the battalion landed in Sicily on 10 July and Italy on 3 September 1943, as part of the 2nd Infantry Brigade, 1st Canadian Infantry Division. The unit landed in France on 15 March 1945 as part of Operation Goldflake, on its way to the Northwest Europe theatre of operations, in which it fought until the end of the war. The overseas battalion disbanded on 15 October 1945.[3]
- Leonforte, July 1943. According to Mitcham and von Stauffenberg in The Battle of Sicily, The Loyal Edmonton Regiment allegedly killed captured German prisoners.[5]
On 1 June 1945, a second Active Force component of the regiment was mobilized for service in the Pacific theatre of operations, as under the 3rd Canadian Infantry Battalion (The Loyal Edmonton Regiment), CASF. The battalion disbanded on 1 November 1945.[3]
Post-War: Korea and NATO
On 4 May 1951, the regiment mobilized two temporary Active Force companies designated "E" and "F" Companies. "E" Company was reduced to nil strength when its personnel were incorporated into the 1st Canadian Infantry Battalion (later the 3rd Battalion, The Canadian Guards) for service in Germany with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. It disbanded on 29 July 1953. "F" Company was initially used as a reinforcement pool for "E" Company. On 15 May 1952, it was reduced to nil strength, when its personnel were absorbed by the newly formed 2nd Canadian Infantry Battalion (later the 4th Battalion, The Canadian Guards) for service in Korea with the United Nations. "F" Company disbanded on 29 July 1953.[3]
Afghanistan
The regiment contributed an aggregate of more than 20% of its authorized strength to the various Task Forces which served in Afghanistan between 2002 and 2014.[6] It suffered three dead and numerous injured during this war.
Battle honours

In the list below, battle honours in capitals were awarded for participation in large operations and campaigns, while those in lowercase indicate honours granted for more specific battles. Those battle honours followed by a "+" are emblazoned on the regimental colour.[3]
The Great War
- Mount Sorrel+, 2–13 June 1916
- Somme, 1916+, 1 July–18 November 1916
- Flers–Courcelette+, 15–22 September 1916
- Ancre Heights, 1 October–11 November 1916
- Arras, 1917, 9 April–4 May 1917
- Vimy, 1917+, 9–14 April 1917
- Hill 70+, 15–25 August 1917
- Ypres, 1917, 31 July–10 November 1917
- Passchendaele+, 12 October 1917 or 26 October–10 November 1917
- Amiens+, 8–11 August 1918
- Arras, 1918+, 26 August–3 September 1918
- Scarpe, 1918+, 26–30 August 1918
- Hindenburg Line+, 12 September–9 October 1918
- Canal du Nord, 27 September–2 October 1918
- Pursuit to Mons+, 11 November 1918
- France and Flanders, 1915–18
Second World War
- Landing in Sicily+, 9–12 July 1943+
- Piazza Armerina, 16–17 July 1943
- Leonforte, 21–22 July 1943
- Agira, 24–28 July 1943
- Adrano+, 29 July–7 August 1943+
- Troina Valley, 2–6 August 1943
- Sicily, 1943, 9 July 1943 – 17 August 1943
- Colle d'Anchise, 22–24 October 1943
- The Gully, 10–19 December 1943
- Ortona+, 20–28 December 1943+
- Liri Valley+, 18–30 May 1944+
- Hitler Line, 18–24 May 1944
- Gothic Line+, 25 August–22 September 1944+
- Monteciccardo, 27–28 August 1944
- Monte Luro, 1 September 1944
- Rimini Line+, 14–21 September 1944+
- Pisciatello+, 16–19 September 1944+
- San Fortunato, 18–20 September 1944
- Savio Bridgehead+, 20–23 September 1944+
- Naviglio Canal+, 12–15 December 1944+
- Fosso Munio, 19–21 December 1944
- Italy, 1943–1945, 3 September 1943 – 22 April 1945
- Apeldoorn, 11–17 April 1945
- North-West Europe, 1945+
War in Afghanistan
- Afghanistan+[7]
Victoria Cross recipients
Recent activities
The unit continues to carry out individual and small unit training. The unit celebrated its 100th anniversary in April 2008. In September 2011 the Eddies sent a number of soldiers on a decentralised basic parachute course with 3 PPCLI.[8]
The regiment expanded to Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, with the establishment of C Company, The Loyal Edmonton Regiment, in August 2009.[9]
Loyal Edmonton Regiment Military Museum
The Loyal Edmonton Regiment Military Museum is located in Edmonton in the Prince of Wales Armouries Heritage Centre,[10] the building where the regiment was based from 1920 to 1965. The building also houses the City of Edmonton Archives[11] and the Telephone Historical Centre. The museum features two galleries and several smaller exhibits, and displays include historic firearms, uniforms, souvenirs, memorabilia, military accoutrements, and photos. The museum features an exhibit on the role of the 49th Battalion, CEF in Canada's Hundred Days Offensive.
Media
- A City Goes to War: History of the Loyal Edmonton Regiment (3PPCLI) by Lieut-Colonel G. R. Stevens (1964)
Order of precedence
References
- Brown, Scott R.G. (1984). The Loyal Edmonton Regiment at war, 1943-1945 (M.A. thesis) Wilfrid Laurier University
- "History of the Loyal Edmonton Regiment".
- Canadian Forces Publication A-DH-267-003 Insignia and Lineages of the Canadian Forces. Volume 3: Combat Arms Regiments.
- "The Loyal Edmonton Regiment (4th Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry)". Official Lineages: Volume 3, Part 2: Infantry Regiments. Directorate of History and Heritage. October 2010. Retrieved November 16, 2011.
- Mithcham, Samuel and Friedrich von Stauffenberg The Battle of Sicily
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-05-12. Retrieved 2014-05-11.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - "South-West Asia Theatre Honours". Office of the Prime Minister of Canada. Archived from the original on 12 May 2014. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
- http://www.army.gc.ca/iaol/143000440001977/143000440001978/index-Eng.html
- "MacKay makes Arctic army reserve unit official". CBC News. August 17, 2009. Retrieved September 13, 2011.
- "Prince of Wales Armouries Heritage Centre". City of Edmonton. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
- "City of Edmonton Archives". City of Edmonton. Retrieved 19 August 2016.