From the West Indies to the First World War

From the West Indies to the First World War:

Stories from No. 2 Construction Battalion and Black Soldiers

In August 1914, tens of thousands of men across Canada rushed to their local recruiting offices to enlist and fight in the First World War. Many Black men who attempted to join were turned away. It was up to the Commanding Officer to accept them or not.

Over a two-year period, Black men who had attempted to enlist and Black community leaders wrote letters to the Canadian Government and Governor General of Canada. Some military officials also challenged the racist recruiting practices and proposed options to the military chain of command.

Many of these attempts were in vain. By 1916 however, there was an urgent need for increased troop contributions to include military labour units. In April 1916, Canada agreed to a request from Britain to form one or two labour battalions and it was then decided that, based on public pressure at the time, one would be a Black labour battalion.

No. 2 Construction Battalion was officially authorized as a military unit on July 5, 1916. Recruiting began in the Maritimes on July 19, and later during July, the Battalion became one of the few units that was allowed to recruit across the country, including immigrants from the Caribbean (then known as the West Indies).

The brave men of No. 2 Construction Company showed the pride and dedication of Black Canadians during World War I. They wanted to serve their country overseas in the face of blatant anti- Black racism on the home front. In serving, they played an essential role in Canada’s war effort. No. 2 Construction Company remains the largest all-Black unit created in the history of Canada and was demonstrative of the voices from all Black communities across the country.

From the West Indies to the First World War: Stories from No. 2 Construction Battalion and Black Soldiers commemorates and reveals the stories of 10 Black men who joined the Canadian battalion from the Caribbean Islands. Experience their lives through family photos, newspapers, archival documents, census records, and military records. Each soldier has a unique story of immigration, service, and settlement. All of them helped build the country we call home.