November 8, 2016
Province Honours Sgt. Tommy Prince
– – –Plaque to be Installed in Legislative Building Hall of Honour
In recognition of Aboriginal Veterans Day, a plaque honouring Sgt. Thomas ‘Tommy’ Prince of the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry will be installed in the Legislative Building Hall of Honour, Indigenous and Municipal Relations Minister Eileen Clarke announced today.
Born in Scanterbury and a member of the Brokenhead Ojibway Nation, Prince became one of the most decorated First Nations veterans in Canadian history, serving in both the Second World War and the Korean War.
“We owe a huge debt of gratitude to all the members of our Canadian Armed Forces who have served our nation in times of war and peace,” said Clarke. “Over 12,000 First Nations people served in the First and Second world wars and also in the Korean War. Today we remember a soldier whose remarkable bravery and courage saw him honoured by King George VI at Buckingham Palace when he received the Military Medal. The citation he received from the king said, “Sgt. Prince’s courage and utter disregard for personal safety were an inspiration to his fellows and a marked credit to his unit.”
Prince was also honoured by the United States government with the Silver Star medal and was one of only three soldiers in the Second World War to receive both the Military Medal and the Silver Star. Prince also received nine service medals throughout his service.
Prince, who died in November 1977, is buried in Brookside Cemetery in Winnipeg.
The minister noted the plaque honouring Prince will be permanently installed in the Hall of Honour, located on the main floor of the Legislative Building, later this week.
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