Joseph Pelly Sr. Gunner - World War II
Served in England, Germany, Holland, and Ireland, and Japan.
Honorable Discharge - Regina
April 4, 1918 - October 22, 1976
Served in World War II

He screamed, "Killed them all!" Tears streamed down his face, as he urged his comrades to run! His machine gun flicked from side to side - shooting at the enemy. My sisters and me sat on the middle of bed, as we watched our Father aim his machine gun, my Mother's broom in our direction. We watched our Father's macabre performance, like something from a horror movie. "Joe! Joe! Wake up! screamed Mom. "You're having a nightmare! Wake up! Your home, you're here…" Dad shuddered, and collapsed on the floor. Mom held him in her arms. Dad cried like a baby. I was six years old. Dad never recovered from the effects of war, physically and mentally. During the war, he never gave up on his spirituality. He always said, this is what carried him through the war.

Linda Pelly-Landrie 2001

Joseph Pelly was a proud man, used to taking charge of things, and becoming involved with helping others. Born into a farming family, he had his duty helping the family farm on the land before the War. Standing at six- foot- three, he commanded quite a figure. So, when he traveled to Regina to enlist in the Army, he had no problem getting in, as he was fit and capable of doing things physically, because of his size. He spent a few months in Regina training, and was eventually shipped off to Halifax to await the voyage that would take him across the ocean. Eventually, he and many others boarded the ship that would take him to hell on earth - the cause of the nightmares he had for years after his return. London, England was the destination for this Indian warrior.

Joe was given the status of Gunner, and also served as a sniper. He and his fellow Saulteaux comrades were also used as messengers, exchanging information, using the Saulteaux Language from one line to another. No one was supposed to know about this and it was something he never discussed with anyone. There were many horrors about World War II that were not shared with us. At night, our father's cries reminded us about his fight to keep us free. In our hearts we shared our fathers pain, and torment.
As told by the Late Pauline Pelly (Wife)

My husband, Joe talked about World War II. For him, it was not a happy memory at all. The stories shared with us were so horrific, and filled with so much pain, heartache and despair. He would tell us that war was so horrible, that he could never endure seeing any of his sons relive the nightmare of war. Joe was in the front lines, as was many of the other Indian soldiers. They saw the horrors of death first hand.
Joe was born into a very traditional family. They practiced their spirituality and honored this way of life faithfully. Before Joe left for war, his father gave him a peace pipe, with instructions to always carry the pipe near his heart. The old man told him to smoke it whenever he felt he needed special blessings. He shared a story with his family that attested the strength of his faith, and in the power of the Creator. Joe was shot, but the bullet hit the pipe instead, and broke it in half. He lay on the ground, knocked out by the force of the bullet. The Germans took prisoner Joe. When they discovered the pipe in his shirt. They taped up the pipe attempting to fix it. They wrapped Joe's wounds and took him back where they had originally found him. They told him, he was free to return to his line. When he tried to return to his line, his comrades shot him, wounding him. They mistook him for the enemy.
Joe was skilled with a gun - and so, served as a sniper. When he killed the enemy for the first time, a German, Joe watched him die. He became so distraught; he could not stop crying. His commanding officer told him that if he hadn't shot the German, he would have been killed himself.

Another incident he related to us was a time when Germans surrounded them. That night, they lay huddled in the clump of trees. His comrades asked him to lift his pipe in prayer, and he did. He told his comrades to stay where they were and not to move. One of the soldiers didn't believe in the power of his pipe, and ridiculed him. That night, this solder stole the pipe from Joe, and threw it into the bush. The next morning, Joe searched for that pipe until he found it. The unbelieving soldier said he needed a drink of water, and was going to a nearby stream for a drink. He was told not to leave, but insisted anyway. He was killed immediately by the Germans. The others who stayed with my husband lived.
After the war was over, Joe returned to the Cote Reserve where he continued to farm with his father.