TRURO, N.S. –
Soldiers who made up the only all-black unit to fight for Canada during World War I experienced systemic hatred and racism before, during and after their time in uniform, the prime minister said Saturday as he formally apologized for their treatment. .
Justin Trudeau offered the apology as descendants of the 600 members of the No. 2 Construction Battalion assembled in Truro, NS, on the same grounds where the unit was formed before its overseas deployment in March 1917.
Trudeau said he was there to apologize for the appalling way the Patriots were treated.
“As a country, we failed to recognize your contributions for what they were: your back-breaking work, your sacrifice, your willingness to put your country before yourself,” Trudeau told the crowd.
Hundreds of black men in Canada were turned away when they volunteered to fight abroad in 1914 because they were not wanted in what was considered a white man’s war.
After two years of protest, the Canadian Army received approval in 1916 to establish the segregated non-combat battalion and more than 300 of those who enlisted were from Nova Scotia.
Only a few of its members would see combat, mainly because the battalion was repeatedly told their help was not needed on the front lines, and received no public recognition when they returned home.
The unit supported three major forestry operations abroad, working in sawmills and maintaining road and rail equipment.
Some members helped build a narrow gauge logging railway. They also supervised the Russian soldiers sent to their camp as laborers.
The Department of National Defense and the Canadian Armed Forces have said that the systemic racism suffered by the men of the No. 2 Construction Battalion qualifies as hateful conduct.
“For the blatant racism of refusing black volunteers to sacrifice their lives for everyone, we are sorry,” Trudeau said as descendants of the battalion applauded.
“For not allowing Black service members to fight alongside their white compatriots, for denying the members of Construction Battalion No. 2 the care and support they deserved, we are sorry. For failing to honor and commemorate the contribution of Construction Battalion No. Construction No. 2 and its descendants, for the blatant anti-Black hatred and racism that denied these men dignity in life and death, we are sorry.”
Federal Defense Minister Anita Anand told the crowd that she is committed to taking action to change the culture of the Canadian Armed Forces to be more inclusive and diverse.
“I am committed to eliminating systemic racism so that the discrimination that Construction Battalion No. 2 faced, and those that followed it, never happens again,” he said.
Many of the battalion members’ descendants said they were pleased with the apology and the fact that more people will learn about the unit’s history.
“I’m very proud. It’s been a long time coming,” said Master Corp. Nolan Reddick of New Glasgow, NS.
The 21-year veteran of the Armed Forces said his great-uncle George Reddick served in the battalion and often mentioned the poor quality of boots given to black soldiers compared to those given to their white comrades.
Reddick said his great-uncle said people in France treated them better than Canadians back home.
Tamara Tynes Powell of Truro said the battalion’s history can no longer be hidden.
His grandfather’s uncle, Jack Tynes, was a member of the battalion and said the apology helps provide the respect the men deserve.
“The apology shows that although they were treated less than human men, they are now more than heroes,” he said.
Trudeau announced that next year, during Black History Month, the Royal Canadian Mint will issue a pure silver collector’s coin honoring Construction Battalion No. 2.
This report from The Canadian Press was first published on July 9, 2022.