Regimental nicknames of the Canadian Forces

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 22^e 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[]

• Royal Regina Rifles
  • The John's: from the Second World War most members were from Saskatchewan farming backgrounds ie "Farm John"

• 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
  • Quickest out of Ridgeway:^[3] Derogatory: referring to the Battle of Ridgeway.
• 7th Toronto Regiment
  • 7 Tor
  • The Black Hand
• 8th Canadian Hussars
  • Crazy 8s:^[4] after the card game.
  • The Hussies: a general military slang for Hussar Regiments
• 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[]

• List of nicknames of British Army regiments
• List of warships by nickname
• Lists of nicknames – nickname list articles on Wikipedia
• Nicknames of U.S. Army divisions

Notes[]

References[]

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