Francis Pegahmagabow facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Francis Pegahmagabow
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Francis Pegahmagabow shortly after World War I
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| Nickname(s) | "Peggy" |
| Born | March 9, 1891 Parry Sound, Ontario |
| Died | August 5, 1952 (aged 61) Parry Sound, Ontario |
| Allegiance |  Canada |
| Service/ |
Canadian Expeditionary Force |
| Years of service | 1914–1919 |
| Rank | Warrant Officer |
| Battles/wars | First World War
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| Awards |
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| Other work |
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Francis Pegahmagabow was an amazing First Nations soldier, leader, and activist from Canada. He is known as the most decorated Indigenous soldier in Canadian military history. He was also the most successful sniper of the First World War.
Francis Pegahmagabow was given the Military Medal three times for his bravery. He was also seriously wounded during the war. He was an expert marksman and scout. He is credited with taking out 378 German soldiers and capturing 300 others. After the war, he became a chief and a councillor for the Wasauksing First Nation. He also worked as a leader in several First Nations organizations.
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Early Life and Background
Francis Pegahmagabow was born on March 9, 1891. This was on what is now the Shawanaga First Nation reserve in Nobel, Ontario. In the Ojibwe language, his name was Binaaswi, which means "the wind that blows off."
When Francis was three years old, his father passed away. His mother then left him to go back to her home. He was raised by an elder named Noah Nebimanyquod. Francis grew up in Shawanaga. There, he learned important traditional skills. These skills included hunting, fishing, and using traditional medicine. Francis practiced a mix of Catholicism and Anishinaabe spirituality.
In 1912, Francis got help to finish his public school education. He had left school at age 12 to work in lumber and fishing camps. Later, he became a marine firefighter.
Military Service in World War I
When World War I started in 1914, Francis Pegahmagabow volunteered to join the Canadian Expeditionary Force. He joined even though the Canadian government at first made it hard for Indigenous people to join. He was assigned to the 23rd Canadian Regiment (Northern Pioneers).
He decorated his army tent with traditional symbols. One symbol was a Caribou, which represented his clan. In October 1914, he was sent overseas to fight in Europe. He was part of the first group of Canadian troops. His fellow soldiers gave him the nickname "Peggy."
Becoming a Skilled Sniper
In April 1915, Pegahmagabow fought in the Second Battle of Ypres. This was where the Germans first used chlorine gas. During this battle, he started to become known as a very good sniper and scout. After the battle, he was promoted to lance corporal.
His group also fought in the Battle of the Somme in 1916. He was wounded in his left leg during this battle. But he recovered quickly and returned to his unit. He received the Military Medal for bravely carrying messages during these two battles.
Bravery at Passchendaele and Scarpe
On November 6 and 7, 1917, Pegahmagabow earned a Bar to his Military Medal. This was for his actions in the Second Battle of Passchendaele. He had been promoted to corporal by this time. During the battle, he played a key role in connecting different units. When backup soldiers got lost, Pegahmagabow helped guide them. He made sure they reached their correct positions.
On August 30, 1918, during the Battle of the Scarpe, Pegahmagabow helped fight off a German attack. His company was running out of ammunition. They were in danger of being surrounded. Pegahmagabow bravely went into no man's land under heavy fire. He brought back enough ammunition for his unit to keep fighting. This helped them push back the enemy attacks. For this amazing effort, he received a second Bar to his Military Medal. Only 39 Canadians ever received this honor.
The war ended in November 1918. In 1919, Pegahmagabow returned to Canada. He had served for almost the entire war. He was known as a very skilled marksman. He used the Ross rifle and was credited with taking out 378 Germans and capturing 300. By the time he left the army, he had also received the 1914–15 Star, the British War Medal, and the Victory Medal.
Life After the War
After returning to Canada, Francis Pegahmagabow continued to serve in the local army group. He followed in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. In February 1921, he was elected chief of the Parry Island Band. He was re-elected in 1924 and served until 1925. A decade later, he was a councillor from 1933 to 1936.
During this time, the Canadian government department that dealt with Indigenous affairs changed its rules. It said that First Nation chiefs could no longer talk directly with them. All messages had to go through a local "Indian agent." This gave a lot of power to the agent. Francis Pegahmagabow did not get along with his agent, John Daly.
Many First Nation members who fought in World War I became political activists. They had seen the world and earned respect from their fellow soldiers. They did not want to be controlled by the Indian agents. Historians call these leaders "returned soldier chiefs." Francis Pegahmagabow was one of the most active. This caused many disagreements with John Daly. Pegahmagabow wanted to help his people be free. The Indian agents tried to stop him and his supporters.
Pegahmagabow also fought for the rights of his people regarding islands in Georgian Bay. He and other chiefs tried to get the government to recognize their claims to these islands.
During World War II, Pegahmagabow worked as a guard at a factory that made military supplies. In 1943, he became the Supreme Chief of the Native Independent Government. This was an early organization for First Nations people.
Family and Legacy
Francis Pegahmagabow was married and had six children. He passed away on the Parry Island reserve in 1952 at the age of 61.
He is honored in the Indian Hall of Fame in Brantford, Ontario. There is also a plaque in Parry Sound that remembers him and his regiment. The Canadian Forces named their 3rd Canadian Ranger Patrol Group HQ Building after him.
Honoring a Hero
A biography about Pegahmagabow was written by Adrian Hayes. It was called Pegahmagabow: Legendary Warrior, Forgotten Hero. Another book, Three Day Road by Joseph Boyden, was partly inspired by Pegahmagabow's life.
A life-sized bronze statue of Pegahmagabow was put up in his honor. This happened on National Indigenous Peoples Day, June 21, 2016, in Parry Sound. The statue shows an eagle on one arm and a Ross rifle on his shoulder. A caribou is at his feet. The caribou represents the Caribou Clan that Pegahmagabow belonged to. The eagle was his spirit animal. The artist, Tyler Fauvelle, spent many months creating the statue. It was placed in Parry Sound so more people could learn about the important contributions of First Nations people to Canada.
In 2019, the band Sabaton released a song about Pegahmagabow. It is called "A Ghost in the Trenches" and is on their album The Great War.
Binaaswi, Francis Pegahmagabow's Ojibwe name, was one of eight finalists in 2020 to be featured on Canada's $5 polymer bills.
Awards and Recognition
- He first received the Military Medal for his bravery. This was during battles like the Second Battle of Ypres. He bravely delivered important messages under fire.
- He earned his first Bar to the Military Medal at the Battle of Passchendaele.
- His second Bar to the Military Medal came at the Battle of The Scarpe in 1918. Only 38 other Canadian men received the honor of two bars.
- The 1914–15 Star
- The British War Medal
- The Victory Medal
In 2003, the Pegahmagabow family gave his medals and chief headdress to the Canadian War Museum. You can see them there as part of the World War I display. Some people have wondered why Pegahmagabow did not receive an even higher award, like the Victoria Cross. Some believe it might have been because he was a First Nations soldier. There might have been some jealousy from officers about how many Germans he was credited with. This was because he often worked alone as a sniper.
See also
- Tommy Prince (October 25, 1915 – November 25, 1977) was one of Canada's most decorated First Nations soldiers, serving in World War II and the Korean War.
