No. 2 Construction Battalion
Encyclopedia
The No. 2 Construction Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force
(CEF), was the only all-black battalion
in Canadian military history and also the only one to serve in World War I
. Commanded by Lieutenant Colonel D.H. Sutherland, formerly of the 193rd Battalion, CEF
, all but one of the unit's 19 officers were white, the exception being Honorary Captain William A. White
.
Members of the black community petitioned the military for inclusion in the Canadian Expeditionary Force. Several options were entertained, but it was eventually decided that a segregated non-combat unit would be formed. On May 11, 1916, The British War Office
informed the Governor General that it approved of the formation of this unit. So on July 5, 1916, No. 2 Construction Battalion was authorized. Its headquarters was initially in Pictou, Nova Scotia
, but moved to Truro, Nova Scotia
in September 1916.
The original intention was to recruit the unit primarily from the Maritimes, with companies also being raised in Ontario
and western Canada. A little over a month after the unit was authorized, however, only 180 recruits had been obtained. By November 1916, the recruiting situation had improved little, leading Lt. Col. Sutherland to propose raising a company in the British West Indies
. While nothing came of this, the battalion did manage to obtain about 165 men from the United States
. When the men were finally assembled in March 1917 to prepare for departure overseas, the battalion's overall strength was just over 600 men.
The unit departed from Halifax, Nova Scotia
on board the SS Southland on March 28, 1917 and arrived at Liverpool
, England
ten days later.
In May 1917, the unit was downgraded in status to a company and attached to the Canadian Forestry Corps
. By the fall of 1917, the unit was operating in the Jura mountains of France, headquartered at La Joux. It was employed primarily in the production of timber
for use by the allied
armies and repairing roads. Members of the unit hoped to be able to take part in the action of the trenches but only a few eventually did. Even so, some were injured, and some lost their lives to artillery fire, poison gas, and construction accidents.
The men of No. 2 Construction Battalion returned to Canada in early 1919 and the unit officially disbanded on September 15 of the same year.
In 1981, The Society for the Protection and Preservation of Black Culture in Nova Scotia, which had been incorporated in 1977, chose as its first public event a reunion of black First World War veterans. This reunion was held November 12-14, 1982 in Halifax, Nova Scotia and was attended by nine of the approximately twenty known surviving black veterans. They were: William Carter (No. 2), John W. Hamilton (No. 2), Percy J. Richards (No. 2), Gordon C. Wilson (No. 2), Albert D. Deleon (CFC
), A. Seymour Tyler (No. 2), Sydney M. Jones (106BN, The RCR
), Isaac Phills (85BN), and John R. Pannill (Merchant Navy).
In 1992, the No. 2 Construction Battalion, CEF, was designated an event of national historic significance by the government of Canada, and a commemorative plaque was placed in Pictou, Nova Scotia the following year.
In February 2007, controversy arose over the purchase of the Victory Medal
for a former member of the unit, 931309 Sapper PR. P.F. Fenton, by Dave Thomson of St. George, Ontario on behalf of the Black Cultural Centre in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
for over $7,400 (Cdn). 1, 2
Canadian Expeditionary Force
The Canadian Expeditionary Force was the designation of the field force created by Canada for service overseas in the First World War. Units of the C.E.F. were divided into field formation in France, where they were organized first into separate divisions and later joined together into a single...
(CEF), was the only all-black battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
in Canadian military history and also the only one to serve in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. Commanded by Lieutenant Colonel D.H. Sutherland, formerly of the 193rd Battalion, CEF
193rd (Nova Scotia Highlanders) Battalion, CEF
The 193rd Battalion, CEF was a unit in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War. Based in Truro, Nova Scotia, the unit began recruiting during the winter of 1915/16 throughout Nova Scotia. After sailing to England in October 1916, the battalion was absorbed into the 17th...
, all but one of the unit's 19 officers were white, the exception being Honorary Captain William A. White
William A. White
Reverend Captain William Andrew White, II, D.D. was an American-born Canadian missionary and World War I chaplain, the only black chaplain in the entire British Army during the war. He was the father of singer Portia White....
.
History
This outbreak of war, few if any blacks were serving in the Canadian military because of the racial attitudes prevalent at the time. Initially, some blacks attempted to enlist in the Canadian Expeditionary Force, but most were rejected. The Department of Militia and Defence's policy towards recruitment was to defer to the judgement of the individual commanding officer, and since most—if not all—held deeply ingrained beliefs about the inferiority of blacks, very few were accepted. Rejected black recruits were often told that "this is a white man's war".Members of the black community petitioned the military for inclusion in the Canadian Expeditionary Force. Several options were entertained, but it was eventually decided that a segregated non-combat unit would be formed. On May 11, 1916, The British War Office
War Office
The War Office was a department of the British Government, responsible for the administration of the British Army between the 17th century and 1964, when its functions were transferred to the Ministry of Defence...
informed the Governor General that it approved of the formation of this unit. So on July 5, 1916, No. 2 Construction Battalion was authorized. Its headquarters was initially in Pictou, Nova Scotia
Pictou, Nova Scotia
Pictou is a town in Pictou County, in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. Located on the north shore of Pictou Harbour, the town is approximately 10 km north of the larger town of New Glasgow....
, but moved to Truro, Nova Scotia
Truro, Nova Scotia
-Education:Truro has one high school, Cobequid Educational Centre. Post-secondary options include a campus of the Nova Scotia Community College, as well as the Nova Scotia Agricultural College in the neighboring town of Bible Hill.- Sports :...
in September 1916.
The original intention was to recruit the unit primarily from the Maritimes, with companies also being raised in Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
and western Canada. A little over a month after the unit was authorized, however, only 180 recruits had been obtained. By November 1916, the recruiting situation had improved little, leading Lt. Col. Sutherland to propose raising a company in the British West Indies
British West Indies
The British West Indies was a term used to describe the islands in and around the Caribbean that were part of the British Empire The term was sometimes used to include British Honduras and British Guiana, even though these territories are not geographically part of the Caribbean...
. While nothing came of this, the battalion did manage to obtain about 165 men from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. When the men were finally assembled in March 1917 to prepare for departure overseas, the battalion's overall strength was just over 600 men.
The unit departed from Halifax, Nova Scotia
City of Halifax
Halifax is a city in Canada, which was the capital of the province of Nova Scotia and shire town of Halifax County. It was the largest city in Atlantic Canada until it was amalgamated into Halifax Regional Municipality in 1996...
on board the SS Southland on March 28, 1917 and arrived at Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
ten days later.
In May 1917, the unit was downgraded in status to a company and attached to the Canadian Forestry Corps
Canadian Forestry Corps
The Canadian Forestry Corps was an administrative corps of the Canadian Army with its own cap badge, and other insignia and traditions.The Canadian Forestry Corps was created 14 Nov 1916. The crest of the Canadian Forestry Corps consists of a circle, with a beaver on top, superimposed on a pair of...
. By the fall of 1917, the unit was operating in the Jura mountains of France, headquartered at La Joux. It was employed primarily in the production of timber
Timber
Timber may refer to:* Timber, a term common in the United Kingdom and Australia for wood materials * Timber, Oregon, an unincorporated community in the U.S...
for use by the allied
Allies
In everyday English usage, allies are people, groups, or nations that have joined together in an association for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose, whether or not explicit agreement has been worked out between them...
armies and repairing roads. Members of the unit hoped to be able to take part in the action of the trenches but only a few eventually did. Even so, some were injured, and some lost their lives to artillery fire, poison gas, and construction accidents.
The men of No. 2 Construction Battalion returned to Canada in early 1919 and the unit officially disbanded on September 15 of the same year.
In 1981, The Society for the Protection and Preservation of Black Culture in Nova Scotia, which had been incorporated in 1977, chose as its first public event a reunion of black First World War veterans. This reunion was held November 12-14, 1982 in Halifax, Nova Scotia and was attended by nine of the approximately twenty known surviving black veterans. They were: William Carter (No. 2), John W. Hamilton (No. 2), Percy J. Richards (No. 2), Gordon C. Wilson (No. 2), Albert D. Deleon (CFC
Canadian Forestry Corps
The Canadian Forestry Corps was an administrative corps of the Canadian Army with its own cap badge, and other insignia and traditions.The Canadian Forestry Corps was created 14 Nov 1916. The crest of the Canadian Forestry Corps consists of a circle, with a beaver on top, superimposed on a pair of...
), A. Seymour Tyler (No. 2), Sydney M. Jones (106BN, The RCR
The Royal Canadian Regiment
The Royal Canadian Regiment is an infantry regiment of the Canadian Forces. The regiment consists of four battalions, three in the Regular Force and one in the Primary Reserve...
), Isaac Phills (85BN), and John R. Pannill (Merchant Navy).
In 1992, the No. 2 Construction Battalion, CEF, was designated an event of national historic significance by the government of Canada, and a commemorative plaque was placed in Pictou, Nova Scotia the following year.
In February 2007, controversy arose over the purchase of the Victory Medal
Victory Medal (United Kingdom)
The Victory Medal is a campaign medal - of which the basic design and ribbon was adopted by Belgium, Brazil, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Romania, Siam, Union of South Africa and the USA in accordance with decisions as taken at the Inter-Allied Peace Conference at...
for a former member of the unit, 931309 Sapper PR. P.F. Fenton, by Dave Thomson of St. George, Ontario on behalf of the Black Cultural Centre in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
Dartmouth founded in 1750, is a community and planning area of the Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia. Located on the eastern shore of Halifax Harbour, Dartmouth has been nicknamed the City of Lakes after the large number of lakes located in the city.On April 1, 1996, the provincial...
for over $7,400 (Cdn). 1, 2