Captain Percival Talbot "Percy" Molson, The PPCLI Soldier and Stanley Cup Champion

Born to a Prestigious Family

Percival Molson was born 14 August 1880 to Jennie and John Thomas Molson of the prestigious brewery family of Montreal. An acclaimed athlete and “gentleman-scholar” of McGill University, he was instrumental in the creation of the University Companies which would use university recruits to reinforce Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry after their heavy losses at the Battle of Frezenberg in 1915. Promoted from Lieutenant to Captain after enlistment, Molson embarked for Europe on SS Northland with No. 2 University Company on 29 June 1915, being second in command of the first of these companies to reinforce PPCLI.

A Gifted Athlete and Stanley Cup Champion

Before the outbreak of war, Percy Molson was regarded as a high calibre athlete. At age 16 he played on the Montreal Victorias hockey team, consequently becoming the youngest team member to win a Stanley Cup in 1897.

Graduating McGill University in 1901, he continued to excel in sports throughout and after his academic career. Molson was recognized as McGill’s “best all-round athlete” three years in a row, having competed in various sports, including football, hockey, racquetball, and track & field. Setting a world record at the American Athletics Meet in 1900 in Long Jump, he later qualified for the 1904 Summer Olympics in St. Louis, Missouri; although he did not place in the top three, he represented Canada in the 400-metre race, which is captured in the photo below.

A Dedicated Soldier

At the Battle of Mont Sorrel (Ypres) on 2 June 1916, the 2nd University Company was tasked with covering the Canadian Mounted Rifles. It was during this engagement that Molson was wounded; suffering non-life threatening yet serious injury to his jaw, Molson was evacuated and convalesced in Canada along with his brother Herbert, who was also wounded during this engagement. Both brothers were awarded the Military Cross for gallantry at Ypres.

Deemed medically fit in the Spring of 1917, Captain Molson returned to France to rejoin PPCLI, and was in command of a company stationed near Vimy Ridge. In the early hours of 5 July 1917, Captain Molson was visiting a platoon near Avion, and stopped to talk with the platoon’s commander Lieutenant Maclean at a point known as “the Cross Roads.” At 01:45, a trench mortar struck nearby, killing Captain Molson, Lieutenant Maclean, and Private S. E. Dudley.

The Story Revived

An exhibit was recently installed by the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry Museum and Archives at the PPCLI headquarters building in Edmonton showcasing artefacts and items once belonging to Captain Molson. The exhibit is an example to currently-serving soldiers of the athletic achievements of Captain Molson and his dedication to the PPCLI and Canada.

To learn more, come visit the PPCLI Gallery at The Military Museums.