Who was Francis Pegahmagabow? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Canadian Celebrities Born In March

Nick Name: Peggy

Died At Age: 63

Family:

father: Michael

mother: Mary Contin

Soldiers Canadian Men

Died on: August 5, 1952

More Facts

awards: British War Medal
Victory Medal
1914–15 Star

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Childhood & Early Life

He was born on March 8, 1889, in Parry Sound, Ontario, Canada, to Mary Contin and Michael. His parents were Ojibwe from the ‘First Nations.’ His father died of an unknown disease when he was 2 years old, and his mother returned to her native ‘First Nations’ home. She also suffered from the same disease and died later.

He was raised in Shawanaga by Noah Nebimanyquod. He soon picked up traditional skills such as fishing, hunting, and horse riding. Francis learnt the use of traditional medicine from his foster mother and practiced a mix of traditional Anishnaabe spirituality and Catholicism. He was conscious of his roots and proudly displayed the symbol of his clan, the deer. He learnt to play the traditional music of his community, like the rest of his clan.

He gained a scholarship to cater to his boarding and education, after which he worked as a firefighter with the ‘Department of Marine and Fisheries,’ in 1912. He suffered from typhoid in 1913 and was nursed back to health by the ‘Sisters of St. Joseph.’

Despite rampant discrimination against minorities in the army, he volunteered to serve in the ‘Canadian Expeditionary Force’ in August 1914, when World War I broke out. He joined the ‘23rd Canadian Regiment (Northern Pioneers)’ based at the ‘CFB Valcartier.’

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Career

His first overseas deployment was with the ‘1st Canadian Infantry Battalion’ of the ‘1st Canadian Division,’ which was the first Canadian contingent sent to fight in Europe. He was popular with his mates and soon became known in his unit as “Peggy.” His first exposure to the front line was in the Second Battle of Ypres, where the Germans used chlorine gas as a weapon for the first time on the Western Front. Pegahmagabow established himself as a valuable member of his unit. His skills as a sniper were praised by all.

He was promoted to the rank of lance corporal and went on to participate in the Battle of the Somme in 1916. He was wounded in the leg during the battle, but recovered soon enough to join his battalion, as they moved to Belgium.

He was recommended for the ‘Distinguished Conduct Medal’ by his commanding officer, for his role in carrying messages during the battle. However, this was downgraded to the ‘Military Medal.’

Pegahmagabow played a significant role in the Second Battle of Passchendaele, where he was assigned the task of linking up with the flanking unit of the ‘1st Battalion’ and guiding reinforcements. He earned a bar to the ‘Military Medal’ and was promoted to the rank of corporal. He earned his second bar to the ‘Military Medal’ during the Battle of the Scarpe in August 1918, for venturing into “no man’s land” under enemy machine gun fire to retrieve ammunition for his post that was under siege. Due to his effort, his battalion was successful in repulsing the enemy attack.

After the war was over, Pegahmagabow returned to Canada in 1919. He earned the reputation of being a skilled marksman with his ‘Ross’ rifle. According to official records, Francis had killed 378 Germans and was instrumental in capturing 300 more.

He was discharged as a lance corporal, after being awarded the ‘1914–15 Star,’ the ‘British War Medal,’ and the ‘Victory Medal.’ He continued to serve in the ‘Algonquin Regiment’ of Canada as a non–permanent member.

In February 1921, he was elected as the chief of the ‘Parry Island Band’ and caused a stir by calling for individuals with mixed race to be expelled from the reserve. He was re-elected in 1924 and served till April 1925, when he resigned due to internal politics.

Later, he was appointed as the councilor and served from 1933 to 1936. During this period, there was a change in policy that banned ‘First Nations’ chiefs from corresponding directly with the ‘Department of Indian Affairs,’ without going through the Indian agents. Pegahmagabow and a lot of the veterans of the war did not get along with the Indian agents, who had become the center of power.

Pegahmagabow termed the system “white slavery” and fought against it. The Indian agents labeled him as a “mental case” and tried to sideline him. He served as a guard in an ammunition plant during World War II, and in 1943, he became the ‘Supreme Chief of the Native Independent Government.’

Awards & Achievements

He earned his first ‘Military Medal’ for displaying courage in the face of the enemy during the second battle of Ypress, Festubert, and Givenchy.

He was awarded a bar to the ‘Military Medal’ in the battle of Passchendaele and a second bar to the medal in the battle of The Scarpe.

He also received the ‘1914–15 Star,’ the ‘British War Medal,’ and the ‘Victory Medal.’

Personal Life

Francis Pegahmagabow was married and had six children. After the war, he lived an active political life and championed the cause of the natives and war veterans. He died of a heart attack at the age of 61, in 1952.

He was respected as a skilled soldier and as a good human being. He was included in the ‘Indian Hall of Fame’ at the ‘Woodland Centre’ in Ontario. The ‘Canadian Armed Forces’ honored him by naming the ‘3rd Canadian Ranger Patrol Group HQ Building’ after him.

In 2003, his family donated his medals and his chief head gear to the ‘Canadian War Museum,’ where it remains displayed with other World War I artifacts.

People have often wondered why he was not awarded higher awards, such as the ‘Victoria Cross.’ Historians claim that this was perhaps because he did not use an observer to verify his kills and may have been discriminated against because of his ‘First Nations’ origins.

Trivia

On ‘National Aboriginal Day,’ June 21, 2016, a life-size bronze statue of Francis Pegahmagabow was installed in Parry Sound, near Georgian Bay. The statue had a ‘Ross’ rifle slung over one shoulder and a caribou at its feet, depicting Pegahmagabow’s actions during World War I and his native clan, respectively.

Francis Pegahmagabow Biography