Archives documenting the service of Black Canadians in No. 2 Construction Battalion added to the Canada Memory of the World Register
Ottawa, November 19, 2024 – Following the observance of Remembrance Day, Library and Archives Canada and the Canadian Commission for UNESCO (CCUNESCO) are pleased to announce the addition of the records of the No. 2 Construction Battalion to the Canada Memory of the World Register. The Canada Memory of the World Register recognizes documentary heritage of national significance and is administered by the Canadian Commission for UNESCO in accordance with UNESCO’s Memory of the World Programme, which aims to safeguard and promote access to documentary heritage of universal value.
The records tell the story of Black soldiers who served in the No. 2 Construction Battalion—a segregated unit of the Overseas Military Forces of Canada during the First World War, which had its headquarters in Nova Scotia. The fully digitized collection consists of the unit’s administrative records, the personal diary of Captain William Andrew White (the battalion’s only Black officer, an ordained Baptist minister who served as the chaplain), and government military service files of soldiers in the unit. These soldiers were recruited from established Black communities in the Maritimes, in southwestern Ontario, and across Canada, the Caribbean and the United States.
The records are key historical documents for understanding anti-Black racism within Canadian military history. As volunteer recruits, the men of the No. 2 had originally aspired to serve on the front lines, hoping to bring honour and opportunities to themselves and their communities. Instead, the racist attitudes of white men who didn’t want to serve alongside Black soldiers were upheld, and these Black soldiers were assigned to manual labour within a segregated unit. Still, as the diary of Chaplain White testifies, they carried out vital work with dedication and pride. Following the end of the First World War, while white veterans were honoured with recognition and financial benefits, the No. 2 Construction Battalion was unceremoniously disbanded.
This collection of records was important to supporting the advocacy effort by the National Apology Advisory Committee that secured the July 2022 Government of Canada apology for the systemic anti-Black racism that members of No. 2 Construction Battalion endured before, during, and long after the First World War.
Through the advocacy efforts of the veterans’ descendants and communities, the story of the No. 2 Construction Battalion has been preserved over time. The addition of the records of the No. 2 Construction Battalion to the Canada Memory of the World Register affirms their important role in raising awareness of the service, sacrifices and indignities endured by Black Canadian soldiers and highlights the accessibility of this unique collection to students, researchers and the general public.
Library and Archives Canada is privileged to have the records of the No. 2 Construction Battalion inscribed to the Canada Memory of the World Register. This collection represents the most extensive records detailing the contributions of Black Canadians during the First World War, encompassing both government and private archival holdings. Its inclusion not only acknowledges Black Canadians’ honourable service during the First World War, but also their cultural and social diversity and ongoing struggles for recognition. By remembering the important military service of the No. 2 Construction Battalion, we recognize a history long overlooked, celebrate their resilience, and give voice to the stories that have shaped our country.
– Leslie Weir, Librarian and Archivist of Canada
As young and newcomer Canadians are exposed to historical narratives associated with Canada’s contribution to the First World War, it is essential that the story of the No. 2 Construction Battalion be an integrated component. By embedding knowledge in our collective memory of the anti-Black racism these soldiers and veterans endured, we can both honour their service and fortify space in Canadian history for the contributions of Canadians of African descent. The records held by Library and Archives Canada are invaluable tools for research and education available to all those interested to learn and share these important stories.
– Yves-Gérard Méhou-Loko, Secretary General, Canadian Commission for UNESCO
About the Canadian Commission for UNESCO
The Canadian Commission for UNESCO (CCUNESCO) serves as a bridge between Canadians and the vital work of UNESCO—the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Through its networks and partners, the Commission promotes UNESCO’s values, priorities and programs in Canada and brings the voices of Canadian experts to the international stage. Its activities are guided by the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and other UNESCO priorities. CCUNESCO operates under the authority of the Canada Council for the Arts.
About Library and Archives Canada
The mandate of LAC is to acquire and preserve the documentary heritage of Canada for the benefit of present and future generations and to be a source of enduring knowledge accessible to all, contributing to the cultural, social and economic advancement of Canada. LAC also facilitates cooperation among communities involved in the acquisition, preservation and diffusion of knowledge and serves as the continuing memory of the Government of Canada and its institutions.
For more information, please contact:
Vanessa Poulin-Gladu
Manager, Public Affairs
Canadian Commission for UNESCO
613-862-1637
vanessa.poulin-gladu@ccunesco.ca
Media Relations
Library and Archives Canada
819-994-4589
media@bac-lac.gc.ca