Nahwegezhik, Charles

B52575 Rifleman Charles Nahwegezhik*, MM was born on 27 June 1918 in Sheguindah, Ontario, son of Charles Nahwegezhik and Nellie Misinishkotewe, of Sheguindah First Nation (on Manitoulin Island, Ontario.) He left school at 15 having almost completed Grade 8. Before enlisting he worked four years on a farm in the summer and in the bush in winter, and had worked for one year as a taxi driver.

He had two two sisters and two brothers: Ernest, and Private Roland Nahwegezhik, of the Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment, who was killed in action on 12 October 1944. Two other siblings died young.

Nahwegezhik initially joined the Sault Ste Marie and Sudbury Regiment militia on 22 November 1940 (serving for 30 days of training) and 10 June 1941 enlisted in the Active Service Army. He then trained in Toronto and Hamilton and arrived in the UK on 21 September 1943 where he continued various training and undertook various duties. On 26 August 1944, he was posted to the 1st Battalion, The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada. He was wounded in November 1944 and January 1945 but returned to the unit each time.

Rifleman Nahwegezhik was wounded by a gunshot to the head in Roland, Germany on 26 February 1945 during Operation Blockbuster and died of wounds aged 26, on 28 February. He is buried in Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, grave reference XVI. G. 13.

He was posthumously awarded the Military Medal for the final action in which he was wounded.

Military Medal Citation

“On 26 February 1945, number 7 Platoon ‘A’ Company, 1st Battalion, the Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada, attacked a strongly held enemy position over flat open ground . . . The platoon suffered heavy casualties including the Platoon Commander and Platoon Sergeant. Rifleman Nahwegezhic was seriously wounded in the head but kept advancing. Finally, the platoon had to withdraw. Rifleman Nahwegezhic refused to go back and stayed behind with his Bren gun to cover the withdrawal. His accurate and determined fire enabled the balance of his platoon to pull back and reorganize for a further successful attack. In displaying this supreme courage and devotion to duty Rifleman Nahwegezhic was in large measure responsible for the capture of the platoon objective.”

Service Record:

10 Jun 1941 – Enlisted with the Active Service Army
26 Aug 1944 – Taken on strength of QOR from reinforcement list
5 Nov 1944 – Wounded and sent back for treatment
5 Dec 1944 – Returned to QOR
4 Jan 1945 – Wounded again
26 Jan 1945 – Returned to QOR
26 Feb 1945 – Wounded in the head
28 Feb 1945 – Died of wounds
15 Jun 1945 – Posthumously awarded the Military Medal

His service file indicates his father wrote to John Diefenbaker, MP that he had not received his son’s war gratuity and final pay. The correspondence from the Director of Estates indicates that the money had been sent to the Superintendent of Reserves and Trusts in the Indian Affairs Branch because Charles was an “Indian” from a reserve. It is a reflection of the days when Indian Affairs micromanaged natives living on reserves. The file doesn’t indicate whether his father ever received the funds which amounted to $1,064.19.