Private Joseph Ackabee

1. Private, 28th Battalion, Infantry (Army).
2. Private (Army).
3. Private (Army).
4. Private (Army).

Joseph Ackabee was an Ojibway and belonged to the Fort William & Eagle Lake Bands in Ontario. He was born on 01 July 1895 at Eagle Lake, Ontario. His parents were Andrew Ackabee and Mary Gilbert (Clear Sky Skaychommskook). He had at least four siblings - Elizabeth, William, Nancy and Michael. Joseph was educated in Kenora, Ontario attending St. Mary's Indian Residential School for 11 years. While there he played hockey and became proficient at the game.

On 30 December 1915 Joseph became the first native from the Kenora district to enlist with the CEF when he joined the 94th Battalion. His older brother, Michael, signed up a month later and both brothers went to Port Arthur for continued training. They headed overseas with the 94th Battalion, embarking from Halifax aboard the S.S. Olympic on 28 June 1916. When they reached England they were transferred to the 17th Reserve Battalion. Joseph was attached to the 28th battalion and reached his unit in France on 22 September 1916. He served with them until a leave took him back to the UK in November of 1917. In April of 1918 Joseph joined the 2nd Battalion of the Canadian Machine Gun Corps and served in France without injury until April of 1919. At that time he returned to England . He was transported back to Canada aboard the Minnekahda and landed in Halifax on 23 May 1919. Joseph received his official discharge due to demobilization on 25 May 1919 in Toronto.

Joseph then returned to Northwestern Ontario. Ten months after his discharge he lost his right leg below the knee when he slipped and fell under a freight train while trying to hitch a ride to his job at a lumber camp. He was employed by the Indian Lake Lumber Company from 1919 to 1932.

On 21 September, 1921 Joseph married Charlotte Moore in Kenora. They had six children - Ida (Byington), Christina (Hawlin), Jessie, Ernest, Stanley and Silas. The family moved to Winnipeg in 1943.

Joseph died in Winnipeg, Manitoba on 26 November 1973. He was buried in the Assumption Roman Catholic Cemetery.