Sgt. Tommy Prince Memorial

The Sgt. Tommy Prince Memorial, unveiled by the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry and the Lord Selkirk Association of Rupert's Land on 11 November 1989, is dedicated to the memory of Sergeant Thomas (Tommy) George Prince, soldier with the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry and winner of the Military Medal. The life-sized bronze bust of Tommy in military uniform and a beret, sits on a tall limestone block. The bust was sculpted by Otakar Pavlik. A statue of his great-great-grandfather, Chief Peguis is just a few steps away.

Sgt. Tommy Prince, the most decorated Indigenous Canadian Second World War Veteran, began his overseas service as a Sapper with the Canadian 1st Corps Field Park, Royal Canadian Engineers. Returning to Canada after some two years overseas with the Engineers, Tommy Prince was transferred to the Canadian Parachute Battalion and commenced training with the 1st Canadian Special Service Battalion. After training, he returned to Europe with the Special Service Force that came to be known by the Germans as the “Devil’s Brigade.”

In early February 1944, during a reconnaissance patrol in Italy, Sgt Prince was able to penetrate deep into enemy positions and report for several days. His courage and disregard for personal safety won him the Military Medal. In France during September 1944, Sgt Prince located the gun sites and encampment area of an enemy reserve battalion. Under most difficult circumstances, he reported back with the information and guided his brigade to capture over a thousand German soldiers. For these acts, he earned the Silver Star, an American army decoration for gallantry in action. Sergeant Tommy Prince was decorated by King George VI at Buckingham Palace with both the Military Medal and the Silver Star with ribbon on behalf of President Roosevelt. Prince was one of only 59 Canadians who were awarded the Silver Star during the Second World War and only three Canadians of this group also possessed the Military Medal.