December 14, 2009

Former Governor General of Canada Adrienne Clarkson, Colonel-in-Chief of Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry in Intensive Care at Toronto General Hospital following emergency surgery. Madame Clarkson underwent emergency gall bladder surgery on Saturday at Toronto General Hospital after being admitted to the hospital with severe back pain. She developed a fever which delayed and complicated the surgery. Her husband, John Saul has been with her throughout. Madame Clarkson became Commander-in-Chief of the Patricias on March 17, 2007, taking the honourary role from Lady Patricia Brabourne, the Countess Mountbatten of Burma. Lady Patricia Brabourne, the daughter of the late Lord Louis Mountbatten of Burma, retired from the PPCLI post after 30 years of dedicated service. She had taken the position at the request of the Regiment’s original Colonel-in-Chief, Lady Patricia Ramsey, granddaughter of Queen Victoria.

Prior to her appointment as the Patricias Colonel-in-Chief Madame Clarkson had been Governor General of Canada for a term of five years.

Her husband, John Saul is the son of the late Colonel William John Saul, a very well known and well liked Patricia.

According to a statement from John Saul Madame Clarkson is expected to remain in the hospital until the end of the week.

As Governor General of Canada, Madame Clarkson was very popular with the Canadian Forces, of which she held the title of Commander in Chief. She visited Canadian Forces around the world, including Afghanistan.

In her role of Commander-in-Chief of the Patricias she has waited for hours at the Canadian Forces Base Trenton airfield in Ontario for the arrival of aircraft bringing home soldiers from her Regiment who fell in Afghanistan.

Lieutenant Colonel Martin Kenneally served as her aide de camp on one such occasion and had nothing but praise for her. He said she stood on her feet for four hours waiting for the arrival of the aircraft, then the ramp service and transfer of the Fallen soldiers to vehicles for the journey to Toronto.

"She would not even take any water," Martin had said. He had just been appointed commanding officer of the Patricias 3rd Battalion and soon after took up his new duties at Canadian Forces Base Edmonton.

Toronto General Hospital

200 Elizabeth Street

Toronto, ON M5G 2C4

Tel 416-340-4800

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Above article provided courtesy of the Korean War Veteran, koreavetnews@aol.com