Three statues in honour of a great Canadian war hero, philanthropist, industrialist, public servant and founder of the Princess Patricia Canadian Light Infantry were commissioned to accurately portray him and his strict military demeanour. Careful attention to detail and authenticity place Lieutenant-Colonel Andrew Hamilton Gault in the uniform and rank, complete with regimental badges and war service medals, as he welcomed his soldiers returning to Ottawa from the First World War. The other two statues are in Wainwright and Ottawa. This bronze statue was created by renowned bronze sculptor Don Begg of Studio West Bronze Foundry Ltd.
Andrew Hamilton Gault was born in England on 18 August 1882. He was descended from Scottish-Irish of Ulster who immigrated to Canada from Northern Ireland in 1842 and settled in Montreal. In 1900, at the age of 18, he was commissioned into the 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles and served with distinction as a subaltern until the end of the South African War in 1901. He was awarded the Queen's medal with three clasps.
After the war he continued military service with the Canadian Militia, eventually becoming a Captain with the 5th Royal Highlanders (Black Watch). The Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry was raised in Ottawa in August 1914 as the result of an offer by Captain Andrew Hamilton Gault, by now a prominent business man, to provide $100,000.00 to finance and equip a regiment for overseas service. The Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry was founded for service in the First World War on August 10, 1914, and paraded for the first time at Lansdowne Park, Ottawa, Ontario, on August 23, 1914. It was the last privately raised regiment in Canada.
Gault was appointed Senior Major and Second-in Command of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry. He was the first Canadian to receive the Distinguished Service Order for gallantry in the field during the First World War when he was wounded while retrieving casualties under fire at St. Eloi on 28 February 1915. He was wounded again at the Battle of Frezenberg on 8 May 1915 and again for the third time at the Battle of Sanctuary Wood on 2 June 1916, ending his field service with the Regiment. Despite losing his left leg, he refused repatriation to Canada and returned to duty as a Staff Officer with the 3rd Canadian Division until the end of the war.
On 28 March 1918, Major Gault was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel and rejoined the Regiment as Commanding Officer in November. Gault and the surviving members of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry left France for England on 7 February 1919. The Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry returned to Ottawa 19 March 1919 for their victory parade, led by Lieutenant-Colonel Gault. For his service in the Great War, Gault was also awarded the Order of the British Empire, the 3rd Class Russian Order of St. Anne with Crossed Swords and the Belgium Order of the Crown. He was Mentioned in Despatches four times and made Honourary Lieutenant-Colonel in 1920.
In 1939, Hamilton Gault was recalled for active duty with the Canadian Army in England and was promoted to the rank of Colonel in 1940 and to Brigadier-General in 1942. He commanded a Canadian Army Reinforcement Holding Unit until ill health forced him to retire later that year. He returned to Canada and his Canadian home at Mount St. Hilaire in Quebec in 1944. In 1947, Gault founded the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry Association and served as the first National President. He always maintained his connection with the Regiment and gave advice on Regimental matters which were always referred to him. Gault was appointed honourary Lieutenant-Colonel in 1948 and visited the Regiment in Calgary in 1953 and in Germany in 1954. He was appointed the first Colonel of the Regiment shortly before his death 28 November 1958.
