Colonel Of The Regiment

Brigadier-General J.E.L. Gollner, OMM, CD, (Ret'd)

BGenBrigadier-General J.E.L. Gollner Gollner joined the PPCLI in 1956 as a soldier; he was made an NCO in 1957, an OCdt in 1958, commissioned, and posted back to 2nd Bn in 1959. He was then posted to 1st Bn and later went to Germany with 1st Bn. He joined 3rd Bn Royal Green Jackets on exchange in the United Kingdom in 1965. He became the General Staff Officer [Operations] HQ 3 CIBG in Gagetown in 1967. BGen Gollner attended the Canadian Army Command and General Staff College in 1968. On graduation he returned to 2nd Bn in Germany in 1969. He stayed on in Germany with 3 Canadian Mechanized Commando when 2nd Bn returned to Winnipeg in 1970. BGen Gollner was posted to NDHQ Directorate of Infantry [DInf Tactics Section] in 1972.

BGen Gollner returned to the 2nd Bn in 1975 as DCO, and the following year became CO. He was posted to NDHQ to the DInf. [Weapons and Equipment Section] in 1978. While in this appointment he was the elected and served as Chair of the NATO Infantry Panel and NATO Small Arms Commission. BGen Gollner was posted to Army HQ Montreal as Deputy Chief of Staff Operations and Intelligence on promotion in 1981. He then attended the National Defence College in 1982. BGen Gollner became the Director of Infantry (DInf) in 1983. While DInf, he served as Army Secretary on both the Military Cooperation Committee and Permanent Joint Board Defence. He was appointed the Chief of Staff and CO Regional Support Staff Pacific in 1985. He was then posted back to NDHQ as Director General Reserves & Cadets in 1987. BGen Gollner commanded Northern Area from 1989 to 1991. He retired in 1993 having completed an in-depth review of the Army Reserves combat effectiveness.

Since leaving the Army BGen Gollner has been actively pursuing his own business interests. He also spends time as a volunteer. His volunteer activities range from having been Chair of the Victoria Branch of the Alzheimer's Society of BC, and Chair of the VAC/Health Cda Falls Prevention Commission, to being President of the Vancouver Island Branch of the PPCLI Association, Director Volunteer Patricia Programme, and National Vice President of the Canadian Peacekeeping Veteran's Association.

BGen Gollner married Christine Ann Mackenzie in 1962. They have three grown children and six grandchildren. They share their time between their home in Cobble Hill and their cottage on Denman Island.

BGen Gollner was appointed as the Colonel of the Regiment, PPCLI on 30 August 2006.

Previous Colonel's of the Regiment

MGen Stewart began his military service as a rifleman in the Regina Rifle Regiment in 1954. In 1956, he joined the Canadian Army Regular Force and served as a private soldier and non-commissioned officer, with the Second Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry.

In 1957, he was selected as a Regular Officer Training Plan candidate and attended the University of Saskatchewan, graduating in 1960. He returned to the Second Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry as a commissioned officer and served in various Regimental appointments until 1965.

During 1965-66, MGen Stewart attended the Canadian Army Staff College and upon graduating was assigned as General Staff Officer, Training to Headquarters 4 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group in the Federal Republic of Germany. He rejoined the Second Battalion of his regiment in Germany in 1968 as a company commander.

On return to Canada in 1969, he served with the Canadian Airborne Regiment, first as Regiment Major and then from 1971-1972 as the CO of 2 Airborne Commando. From 1972 to 1973, MGen Stewart held staff appointments in National Defence Headquarters, Ottawa and in Training Command Headquarters.

In 1974, he assumed command of the Second Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry in Winnipeg and then in 1976 took the Battalion to Cyprus.

He commanded the Infantry School in Gagetown, NB from 1976-1977 and the following year assumed the appointment of Deputy Commander, 1 Canadian Brigade Group in Calgary.

He attended the US Army War College during 1979-1980 and on completion assumed the duties as Chief of Staff Central Militia Area until July 1981.

MGen Stewart was promoted to Brigadier-General 1 July 1982 and took command of the Special Service Force at Canadian Forces Base Petawawa, Ontario. He held this position until 8 August 1984, at which time he was appointed Commandant of the Canadian Land Forces Command and Staff College in Kingston, Ont.

On 31 July 1987, he was appointed Canadian Forces Military Attach, CDLS Washington. MGen Stewart was promoted to Major-General on 1 July 1989 and on 17 July 1989 assumed command of Land Force Central Area.

MGen Stewart retired in Sept. 1992 and now resides in Victoria, BC. He served as the Colonel-Commandant of Infantry from November 1998 to July 2001. In June 2003, he was appointed as the Colonel of the Regiment of Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry.

General AJGD de Chastelain, OC, CMM, CH, CD (RETD)

General John de Chastelain was born a British subject in Bucharest, Romania, 30 July 1937. He was educated in England and Scotland and emigrated to Canada in 1955. He joined the Calgary Highlanders as a Private in January 1956 and in September transferred to the Regular Army and attended the Royal Military College in Kingston, Ontario. He graduated from RMC in 1960 with a History degree and was commissioned into 2 PPCLI.

His regimental career involved postings with First and Second Battalions PPCLI, including tours as a Company Commander in Germany and Cyprus. While a regimental officer he was ADC to the COS, a student at the British Army Staff College, and Brigade Major of 1 Combat Group in Calgary. In 1970 he was promoted LCol and appointed CO of 2 PPCLI in Winnipeg.

As Colonel he was Base Commander of CFB Montreal and Deputy Chief of Staff UNFICYP Commander of the Canadian Contingent. As Brigadier-General he was Commandant of RMC, Commander of 4 CMBG in Germany, and Director General of Land Doctrine and Operations at NDHQ. As Major-General he was Deputy Commander FMC, and as Lieutenant-General he was ADM (Per) and VCDS.

In September 1989 he was promoted General and appointed Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) a position he held during the Cold War's end, the Gulf War and the events at OKA. In January 1993 he transferred to the Supplementary Reserve and was appointed Canada's eighteenth Ambassador to the United States. In January 1994 he was recalled to active duty and re-appointed CDS. He stepped down from that post and retired from the Canadian Forces on December 1995.

Since November 1995 he has been involved in Belfast and Dublin with three international bodies responsible for the decommissioning of paramilitary arms, and the chairing of the peace process that led to the Good Friday Agreement of April 1998. Since September 1997 he has been Chairman of the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning, whose mandate is still ongoing. On 24 June 2000 he assumed the duties of Colonel of the Regiment, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry.

He is an Officer of the Order of Canada, Commander of the Order of Military Merit, Companion of honour (UK), Commander of the Order of St. John, Commander of the Legion of Merit (USA) and has the Medal of Merit and Honour of Greece. In 1992 he received the Conference of Defence Association's Vimy Award, and in 1996 the degree Doctor of Military Science (honoris causa) from RMC. He is former President of the Dominion of Canada Rifle Association and former National Vice President of Scouts Canada.

General de Chastelain is married to MaryAnn Laverty of Kingston, Ontario and they reside in Ottawa. They have a son, a daughter and four grandchildren.

Major-General C.B. Ware, DSO, CD

Major-General Cameron (Cammie) Bethel Ware joined the Regiment on graduation from the Royal Military College in 1935. On the outbreak of war in 1939 he was serving on attachment to the British Army. He rejoined the Regiment in 1940 as a major and company commander of "D" Company. He was appointed Deputy Commanding Officer in 1941.

Major-General Ware assumed command of the Regiment on the 11th of August, 1943 while the Regiment was in reserve after its operations in Sicily. He then commanded the Regiment during the invasion of Italy.

M. Gen Ware went on to command the Regiment during the battles of The Moro, The Guly, Liri Valley, and The Hitler Line. It was during the battle of the Moro River on the 4th & 5th of December, 1943 that then Lieutenant-Colonel Ware was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his leadership and calmness in battle. On the 27th of June, 1944 M. Gen Ware relinquished command. On leaving the Regiment he was promoted to Colonel and was given command of a training formation. He then proceeded to Staff College and thereafter received a senior staff appointment. In 1952 he was appointed Commandant of the Service College at Royal Roads. During 1954, he was promoted to Brigadier-General and proceeded to Japan to take command of the Canadian Military Mission going on there at the time. In 1955 he became Director-General of Military training.

From the 31st of August, 1958 to the 31st of October, 1959 he commanded the 1st Canadian Infantry Brigade Group. An official announcement from Ottawa was made on the 2nd of October, 1959 appointing him Colonel of the Regiment, PPCLI, succeeding the Founder in that appointment. After a year at the Imperial Defence College, Brigadier Ware took command of 4th Canadian Infantry Brigade Group in Germany. He relinquished command in September, 1962 and assumed the appointment of Commandant at the National Defence College. He was also promoted to the rank of Major-General in 1962. He retired from the Army in 1966 and relinquished the appointment of Colonel of the Regiment on the 21st of April, 1977. Major-General Ware resided in Victoria until his death in 1999.