of the 3rd Canadian Ranger Patrol group after him in 2006. At the age of 12, Francis started working at the local lumber camps and fishing stations. Being that he was a native, he was exempt from the Canadian military draft at the start of the war, but enlisted immediately anyways. Signing up enhances your TCE experience with the ability to save items to your personal reading list, and access the interactive map. Known as “Peggy” to his fellow soldiers, Francis was engaged in fierce fighting at the Second Battle of Ypres in April 1915, where the Germans used chlorine gas (see Canada and Gas Warfare) for the first time. Francis’ life inspired the central fictional character in Joseph Boyden’s novel Three Day Road (2001). Francis Pegahmagabow was a marksman, who fought for the allied forces, as a sniper, against the Germans in the World War I. Francis Pegahmagabow was one of the most highly decorated Indigenous soldiers of the First World War. When the war was over, Francis had become one of the most highly decorated Indigenous soldiers in Canadian military history. An Ojibway of the Caribou clan, Francis Pegahmagabow was born in Shawanaga First Nation, just south of Pointe-au-Baril. Some members of Francis’ band also considered him difficult to work with. He is a member of the Indian Hall of Fame at the Woodland Centre in Brantford, Ontario, Canada, and his memory is also commemorated on a plaque honouring him and his regiment on the Rotary and Algonquin Regiment Fitness Trail in Parry Sound. Library and Archives Canada, Francis Pegahmagabow: Includes a biography, copy of his Attestation Paper, details from his Service Record and military medals, as well as a list of his First World War casualties. Francis Pegahmagabow MM & Two Bars, (March 9, 1891 - August 5, 1952) was the First Nation soldier most highly decorated for bravery in Canadian military history and the most effective sniper of World War I. Francis Pegahmagabow is remembered for his First World War military service and for his participation in Indigenous rights movements. In 1945, Francis served two terms as supreme chief of the Native Indian Government, an early Ontario Hubs field producer Jeyan Jeganathan looks at why Pegahmagabow, the most highly decorated First Nations solider for bravery in Canadian military history, is worth remembering. A husband and father of six, Francis Pegahmagabow passed away on 5 August 1952 at the age of 64. Victory Medal. Francis Pegahmagabow MM & two bars (March 8, 1889 – August 5, 1952) was the most effective sniper of World War I. Francis Pegahmagabow was a marksman, who fought for the allied forces, as a sniper, against the Germans in the World War I. Giga-fren - Francis Pegahmagabow , First World War veteran 100 The Germans kept coming, swarming over the trenches in attack. Your IP: 77.68.8.219 As part of a national delegation in 1943, he took part in a demonstration on Parliament Hill, After her husband’s death, Mary returned to her home of Henvey Inlet Additional troubleshooting information here. and suffered from chest pains for the rest of his life. Francis Pegahmagabow was born on what is now the Shawanaga First Nation reserve (of the larger Anishinabek nation) in Nobel, Ontario, on the shores of Parry Sound (see Reserves in Ontario). Fellow soldiers recalled Francis’ strong spiritual beliefs, which they believed gave him the courage to participate in dangerous operations. three years old, his father, Michael Pegahmagabow, passed away after battling an unknown but severe illness. • Francis Pegahmagabow was a marksman, who fought for the allied forces, as a sniper, against the Germans in the World War I. on the shores of Parry Sound (see Reserves in Ontario). in his path, Francis was determined to volunteer for the army. Corporal Francis Pegahmagabow (1891-1952) is one of the most highly decorated aboriginal soldiers in Canadian military history. In, Koennecke, Franz M., "Francis Pegahmagabow". to the battlefield. Veterans Affairs Canada, Remembering Those Who Served, Francis Pegahmagabow, "A Peaceful Man". [2] He was the most highly decorated Native American soldier in Canadian military history and the most effective sniper of the First World War. Francis was Angela Bosse Reports, “Forgotten Soldiers: First Nations Soldiers Who Served in First World War". Francis Pegahmagabow is not a well-known name, but he was a Canadian First Nation sniper-hero of World War One and the most-awarded native soldier in the Canadian military. In these ways, Francis was an early activist in the national Indigenous rights movement (see Indigenous People: Political Organization and Activism). at Ypres, Francis was promoted to lance corporal in 1915. to health by the Sisters of St. Joseph in Parry Sound. Most recently honoured by the Canadian Forces by naming the 3rd Canadian Ranger Patrol Group HQ Building at CFB Borden after him. John Daly, the Indian agent at Parry Sound, alerted the federal government of Francis’ campaigning. Francis’ mother, Mary Contin, had also become ill from the same sickness. In the summer of 1912, Francis worked as a marine fireman for the Department of Marine and Fisheries on the Great Lakes. Francis practised a combination of Roman Catholicism and Anishinaabe spirituality (see Religion and Spirituality of Indigenous Peoples in Canada). His first overseas deployment was with the ‘1st Canadian Infantry Battalion,’ which was the first Canadian contingent sent to fight in Europe. 1914, Francis indicated his occupation as “Fireman” and added “None” under next-of-kin. A bronze likeness of Company Sergeant-Major (CSM) Francis Pegahmagabow was unveiled June 21, 2016 on National Aboriginal Day in Parry Sound, Ontario, just a short drive from Sgt Pegahmagabow’s birthplace at Wasauksing First Nation. The most likely cause is that something on your server is hogging resources. His first overseas deployment was with the ‘1st Canadian Infantry Battalion,’ which was the first Canadian contingent sent to fight in Europe. Francis Pegahmagabow was a First Nations soldier most highly decorated for bravery in Canadian military history and the most effective sniper of World War I.Three times awarded the Military Medal and seriously wounded, he was an expert marksman and scout, credited with killing 378 Germans and capturing 300 more. He wanted to go to war as a way to make his mark as a warrior, much like his ancestors [5.] Aboriginal soldier most highly decorated for bravery in Canadian military history and the most effective sniper of World War I Later in life, he served as chief and a councilor for the Wasauksing First Nation, and as an activist and leader in several First Nations organizations. He was an Ojibwa from the Parry Island Band in Ontario who was awarded the Military Medal plus two bars for his battlefield service during the First World War. vocal advocate for Indigenous rights and self-determination. The bag was of skin tightly bound with a leather throng. Francis survived, but the 1st Battalion lost nearly half of its strength in just three days of fighting. During the First World War, Francis Pegahmagabow was awarded the Military Medal and earned two bars. He participated in the Battle of the Somme and was wounded in the leg. History largely remembers him as Corp. Francis Pegahmagabow — the deadliest sniper and scout of the First World War, credited with 378 kills and 300 captures. Some were offended The event featured a strong military presence, including Lieutenant General Marquis Hainse, Commander of the Canadian Army, and a 50-soldier guard of honour. Francis’ mother, Mary Contin, had also become ill from the same sickness. The most likely cause is that something on your server is hogging resources. He was also awarded a 1914–15 Star, the British War Medal and the Frustrated by the government’s treatment of Indigenous peoples and veterans, Francis became involved in local and federal politics. During the war, Francis acquired a fierce reputation among fellow soldiers as a deadly sniper; he was credited with about 378 kills. Francis Pegahmagabow was a First Nations soldier most highly decorated for bravery in Canadian military history and the most effective sniper of World War I. Francis Pegahmagabow experienced poverty and racism on return to Canada By Reg Sherren, CBC News Posted: Aug 01, 2014 4:39 PM E He was the most decorated First Nations soldier in the history of the Canadian military, but very few people have ever heard of Francis Pegahmagabow. He was taught to hunt and fish and was also introduced to traditional medicine by his foster mother. Francis Pegahmagabow MM & two bars (/ˌpɛɡəməˈɡæboʊ/; March 9, 1891 – August 5, 1952) was the First Nations soldier most highly decorated for bravery in Canadian military history and the most effective sniper of World War I. CBC NEWS Angela Bosse Reports, “Forgotten Soldiers: First Nations Soldiers Who Served in First World War", Religion and Spirituality of Indigenous Peoples in Canada, Indigenous People: Political Organization and Activism, , Remembering Those Who Served, Francis Pegahmagabow, "A Peaceful Man". Francis had intense arguments with Daly and other government agents. 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