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Regimental nicknames of the Canadian Forces

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Many regiments have over the years earned nicknames; some laudatory, some derogatory, but all colourful. Sometimes, the nicknames themselves have overshadowed the actual regimental title, e.g. the "Van Doos" for the Royal 22e Régiment. In some cases the nickname actually replaced it: in 1881, the 42nd (Royal Highland) Regiment of Foot became officially known by its nickname, The Black Watch.

What follows is a list of nicknames of Canadian regiments, arranged alphabetically by regimental title. A brief explanation of the origin of the nickname, where known, is included.

Regimental nicknames

  • The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment
    • Plough Jockeys: from World War II, bestowed because of the regiment's rural roots[1]
    • Hasty P's: a play on their name and the short 'bathroom breaks' during wartime
    • Hasty Pasties: another play on their name.
  • The Royal Canadian Regiment
    • The RCR: the official short title of the regiment
    • Rocking Chair Rangers
    • Shino Boys: a First World War nickname given to The RCR by soldiers of other units, noting the regiment's high standards of dress and deportment [2]
    • Run Chicken Run: Derogatory, a play on words deriving from the regiment's acronym and the purported illegal activity of a soldier
  • The Loyal Edmonton Regiment
    • The Eddies
  • The Lorne Scots Regiment
    • Horny Lornies: Derogatory. this likely originated from an urban legend regarding their yellow hackles, thought to be a battle disgrace (I can't find any record of such a disgrace).
  • The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada
  • 7th Toronto Regiment
    • 7 Tor
    • The Black Hand
  • 8th Canadian Hussars
    • Crazy 8s:[4] after the card game.
  • Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry
    • Ping Pong Champions of Long Island
    • The Patricias,[5] the Princess Pats, the Pats
    • Dirty Cowboy:[6] likely referring to the region their primary HQ resides in.
    • The Picklies. Derogatory, in reference to the unit acronym "PPCLI" being pronounced as one word.
    • The Vicious Patricias.
    • The PPCNR, a play on words from the initials of the regiment and one of the railroads to their western HQ

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Regimental website: The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment
  2. ^ Cited in Fighting the Hun From Saddle and Trench by Sgt. William R. Jones
  3. ^ Wiktionary Appendix:Canadian English military slang
  4. ^ Wiktionary Appendix:Canadian English military slang
  5. ^ "Chapter 1", Regimental Manual (PDF), pp. 1–3/13, archived from the original (PDF) on February 23, 2011, retrieved February 23, 2011
  6. ^ Wiktionary Appendix:Canadian English military slang

References

  • Mowat, Farley (1955). The Regiment. Toronto: McClelland and Stewart.
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