We honour and remember the men and women who served and continue to serve, in times of war, conflict and peace.
Black Canadians have served in British and Canadian Armed Forces dating back to the American Revolution (1775–83) when enslaved people were offered freedom and land if they agreed to fight in the British cause … AND throughout our history have faced discriminatory policies and practices, yet have continued to demonstrate loyalty to Canada by enlisting for military service.
The first recognized military unit in BC is The Victoria Pioneer Rifle Corps. In 1859 when the volunteer Fire Department was being created in Victoria, several Black men volunteered to serve but they were rejected by the white men organizing the department. Undaunted, they met with Governor Douglas to offer their services as a volunteer militia unit. Here’s their story.
Image F-00641. Courtesy Royal BC Museum and Archives
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In this article
World War I: Canada Rejects Black Volunteers
BC Soldiers WWI and WWII
National Apology to the No. 2 Construction Battalion and their Descendants
Black Veteran’s Website
BCBHAS Project: No. 2 Construction Battalion Legacy
We know the World War I and World War II veterans in this article is not a comprehensive list of BC Black Veterans; and there may be others who served in other world conflicts. It’s a beginning, to raise awareness of the individual and collective contributions to Canada and the world of the many who served with inadequate recognition. It is our desire to honour the efforts and sacrifices of all who served. Are you aware of other Black Veterans from BC? Please let us know at info@bcblackhistory.ca
World War I: Canada Rejects Black Volunteers
Many of the pioneers that migrated to the British colonies beginning in 1858 were young men and women and young families. It was their grandchildren and great-grandchildren who enlisted to fight for Canada in World War I and World War II.
When World War I broke out, “Throughout the country, from Nova Scotia to British Columbia, large numbers of Black volunteers were being rejected strictly on the basis of our colour.” Calvin W. Ruck, “The Black Battalion 1916-1920 Canada’s Best Kept Military Secret”
In Chapter 1 of his book, Ruck cites numerous examples of this rejection across Canada, including Victoria BC. He reports “Colonel Ogilvie, the officer commanding Military District 11, Victoria, B.C., expressed some rigid views on the matter. In a letter to Militia Council headquarters dated December 9, 1915, he said that the colour line in British Columbia was sharply drawn compared with eastern Canada. Ogilvie’s recommendation left no room for misinterpretation: Several cases of coloured applicants have been reported on by Officers Commanding units and the universal opinion is that if this were allowed it would do much harm, as white men here will not serve in the same ranks with negros [sic] or coloured persons.”
By 1916, the war had been raging for 2 years “A blood bath was taking place on the battlefields of France and Belgium … casualties were reaching alarming proportions … the lack of sufficient reinforcements for battalions at the front was becoming a serious national problem“.
Despite this dire situation for Canada, Ruck goes on to cite several more memoranda expressing negative presumptions and questioning the capability and loyalty of Black men. Nevertheless, on May 11, 1916, the British War Office in London expressed willingness to accept an all-Black labour battalion.
The No. 2 Construction Battalion CEF, the first and only Black battalion in Canadian military history, was authorized on July 5, 1916, with headquarters at Pictou, Nova Scotia. We have found records for twelve men who in enlisted in BC.
BC Soldiers: WWI and WWII
Roll of Honour: World War I (1914-1921)
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| ALEXANDER: Roy Alexander, Pte. His military record states he was born October 20th, 1896. He enlisted in Vancouver in October 1916. His address at that time was 330 Union St. in Vancouver and he lists his brother, Arthur Alexander of 1407 Store Street in Victoria, as his next of kin. The records go on to say that he served in France with the 37th Forestry Battalion which was part of the No. 2 Construction Battalion, Service Number 931612. In February 1919, he returned to Vancouver where he was discharged. Some sources state he was also the only Black member of the 114th Veteran Guard during World War II. |
| BOWDEN: Norman Bowden. Served in the No. 2 Construction Battalion. Service Number 931349. Norman Bowden was born in Guysborough, Nova Scotia. When Bowden enlisted in Victoria he was working as a bookkeeper. He enlisted on November 6, 1916. When he returned, he married Della Bishop on October 19, 1919. Della was from Texas. |
| BURNS: Arthur Burns. Served in the No. 2 Construction Battalion. Service Number 931615. Arthur Burns was born in Chatham Ontario. When he enlisted, he was living in Vancouver, working as a carpenter. He enlisted on October 19, 1916 and before heading to fight, on October 30, 1916 married Pearl Abbington, who was born in Kingston, Jamaica. |
| GILKES: Joseph Gilkes served in the No. 2 Construction Battalion, Service Number 931350. Joseph was born in Barbados. He enlisted in Vancouver where he was working as a General Construction Foreman. He enlisted on November 18, 1916. |
| GILBERT: Robert Burt Gilbert, Pte., 103rd Battalion, Vancouver Island Timber Wolves. The Colonist newspaper article, June 30, 1918 (p.5) with this photo of Pte. Robert Burt Gilbert recounts how Gilbert single-handedly captured a German Officer and 24 of his men at Vimy Ridge. Read more |
| HARRIS: Arnold William Harris, Pte. from Revelstoke, No. 2 Construction Battalion Service No 931583. He was a mechanic. He enlisted on September 19, 1916. His attestation papers state he was born October 17, 1887, in St. Catherine, Jamaica |
| HUTCHESON: Ernest Hutcheson, No. 2 Construction Battalion, Service Number 931330. Hutcheson was born in Victoria. When he enlisted on October 16, 1916 he was working in Vancouver as a Labourer. |
| LIVINGSTON: Daniel Livingston, No. 2 Construction Battalion. Service Number 645263. Daniel Livingstone was born in Malta; an island in the central Mediterranean between Sicily and the North African coast. When he enlisted on January 12, 1916 he was married and living and working in Vancouver as a Labourer. His next-of-kin were living on St. Antoine Street, Montreal. |
| REDMAN: Daniel Redman, Pte. No. 2 Construction Battalion. Service Number 931617, enlisted at Vancouver BC in October 1916. His attestation papers state he was born in July 1894 in Virginia, USA. |
| SMITH: Cpl. Leo Alphonsus Smith, killed in action on September 2, 1918. Leo was one of seven children of John Freemont and Mary Anastasia (nee Miller) Smith. John was born in the Virgin Islands; he arrived in B.C in 1872. His father owned and operated a retail business there. In 1902 his father became secretary of the Board of Trade; a year later, elected alderman and served for four years. Leo spent much of his life in the Kamloops area. His military records list him as single and his occupation as Printer. His 1st rank was Private, 172nd Battalion, Canadian Infantry (Army). 1916-10-10 to 1916-12-07. He was then Corporal, 54th Battalion, Canadian Infantry (Army). 1916-12-07 to 1918-09-02. He is buried at Dury Mill British Cemetery, France, Leo’s mother and father remained in Kamloops until their deaths in 1927 (Mary) and 1934(John). |
| WHIMS: Hiram Whims, born in Tennessee and immigrated to Salt Spring c1859. Four grandsons who were brothers and cousins served in World War I, two served with the No. 2 Construction Battalion. William David Whims, b.1890, 2nd Depot Battalion, British Columbia Regiment, 2138848. George Harim Whims, b. 1894, No.1 Forestry Draft, 2203817. His son, Billy Whim served in World War II. Robert Clark Whims,Pte. b. 1897, No.2 Construction Battalion, Service Number 931613. His son, Harry Whims, enlisted to serve in World War II. James Douglas Whims,Pte b. 1898, No.2 Construction Battalion, Service Number 931614. - "He may have been less than honest about his age in order to enlist" Salt Spring Island Archives. Unfortunately, he died of pleurisy while on duty. He is buried in the Etaples Military Cemetery, France. He was just 18 years old. |
| WINCHESTER Charles Winchester, World War I, Army. He enlisted in Victoria; he was born in December 1886 in Port Madison, Washington. His trade is listed as lumberman. He served in England with the Canadian Forestry Corps. |
| WINTWORTH James Edward Wintworth, Pte. lived in Ganges, Salt Spring Island, B.C. He served in the No. 2 Construction Battalion, enlisted on September 16, 1916 in Vancouver, Regiment No. 2073. His attestation papers state he was born in Montreal on June 19, 1873; and is listed as a mechanic. |
| WRIGHT: Harry Wright No. 2 Construction Battalion, Service Number 931616. Wright was born in Saint Lucia, an Eastern Caribbean Island nation. At that time these islands were part of what was called the British West Indies. He was working as a Barber when he enlisted in Victoria on October 23, 1916. He had former service, 2 years in South Africa. |
Roll of Honour: World War II (1939 - 1945)
| Veteran |
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| BARNSWELL: Earl Barnswell, Army. Author Crawford Killian writes “Earl Barnswell was rejected by the navy solely on grounds of his race, but the army accepted him” |
| MORTIMER: Ebenezer “Abe” Mortimer, Cpl., Canadian Forestry Corps. He was the one of the first Blacks to join the army in Vancouver (1940). He is the son of Lucretia (nee Alexander) Mortimer and William E. Mortimer, and grandson of Charles and Nancy Alexander. Abe was inducted into the Vancouver Baseball Hall of Fame in 1967 (age 77). He died in 1969. In July 2020 the BC Labour Heritage Centre published an article about Abe. Vancouver's Favourite Umpire. “This BC Black pioneer was a lumber worker, athlete, soldier, storyteller and Hall of Famer.” |
| WHIMS: Cousins Billy Whims and Harry Whims from Salt Spring Island enlisted to serve in World War II. Photos and details below. |
| WOOD: Father and son, Robert Wood and Harry Wood from Salt Spring Island enlisted to serve in World War II. Photos and details below. |
| William "Billy" George Whims | Harold "Harry" Ormandas Whims | Robert Wood Sr. | James "Jim" Robert Wood |
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William George Whims, served in World War II, was born on SSI in [1924]), was the son of George Harim Whims, who served in WW I. Billy was stationed in Petawawa, Ontario. While on leave, he met Bernice Jordan. They were married in 1943 and settled in Ontario. | Harry Whims (Harold Ormandas Whims), born on SSI in 1926, was the son of Robert Clark Whims, who served with the No.2 Construction Battalion. Harry enlisted during WW II but it is unknown if he travelled abroad. After the war, he worked as a Sleeping Car Porter with the Canadian Pacific Railway. It is thought that he may have been with the CPR before enlisting. | Robert Wood was born on Salt Spring Island in 1893. He was married, had a family and was managing a farm for the Mouat’s Trading Co. on Tripp Road for many years. When WWII started, Robert was too old to enlist, so he wore the uniform of the Gulf Island Rangers/Pacific Coast Militia Rangers, formed to guard the Pacific coast. His son, Jim Wood, did enlist. | Jim Wood was born on Salt Spring Island in 1921, son of Robert Wood Sr. Jim became ill with tuberculosis while training in Victoria and ended up being hospitalized in Esquimalt. Jim returned to SSI and continued to help his father at the farm; later he and his brother Bob Jr. formed Wood Brothers Trucking |
All images: Billy Whims (2004032038), Harry Whims (2004032035, Robert Wood Sr.(2004032034), and Jim Wood (2004032033); courtesy of Salt Spring Island Archives. Thank-you.
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The No. 2 Construction Battalion 1916-1920 and the National Apology July 9, 2022
On July 9, 2022, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau delivered a National Apology to the Descendants and Families of the No. 2 Construction Battalion. The Apology took place in Truro Nova Scotia on the grounds where the Battalion trained.
National Apology Event Program Cover
“For the blatant anti-Black hate and systemic racism that denied these men dignity in life and in death, we are sorry. Only when the truths of the past are acknowledged can we begin to dress the wounds they created and build a better, more inclusive Canada for all. I would like to thank the descendants of No.2 Construction Battalion, members of the National Apology Advisory Committee, and members of Black communities in Nova Scotia and across Canada for their important advocacy which was instrumental in bringing this day forward. The story of No. 2 Construction Battalion, and the stories of bravery, honour, and sacrifice of many other trailblazing Canadians, will play an important role in ensuring this horrible treatment never occurs again.” The Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada.
Video (18:43) with text of the apology
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Ron Nicholson, BCBHAS, pictured in this article header photo, was a member of the National Apology Advisory Committee (NAAC) and he attended the event in Nova Scotia. Ron has this to say about the committee and the event.
“The No. 2 Construction Battalion Apology Event was held in Truro, Nova Scotia on July 9, 2022. It was both an honour and a privilege to sit on the National Advisory Apology Committee, who met by Zoom over the 5-6 months prior to the event. Although I was not a direct descendant of a member of the No 2 Battalion, my research and interest in Canadian Black History earned me the invitation to participate. On July the 8th we travelled to Pictou, NS to view the memorials erected there where the No 2 Battalion had trained: and in the evening we attended a reception at the Black Cultural Centre hosted by the Minister of National Defence.
The National Advisory Apology Committee consisted of 22 members whose focus was to prepare a report for the Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, and The Minister of National Defence, Anita Anand: to ensure that “The Apology” was meaningful and with lasting impact. I personally found the event to be significant, meaningful and even emotional at times. It was so special for me to be part of this history making event.
There was about 2–3 thousand in attendance on a beautiful warm and sunny day. The apologies given by the Prime Minister & Minister of National Defence were sincere and appreciated by all present. Other speakers included local dignitaries, and descendants of the No. 2 Battalion. Current Military dressed in the WW1 uniforms and Members of the RCMP marched in the parade that preceded the event. Gospel singers and a band performed and were very entertaining. The event was broadcast and viewed across Canada and beyond.
I commend, Russell Grosse, Executive Director, of the Nova Scotia Black Cultural Centre, and Lieutenant-Colonel Barry Pitcher, of the Canadian Armed Forces, who co-hosted all the NAAC meetings and organized the event; and I can’t forget to thank Captain Kevin Junor, who arranged for all the accommodation and local transportation for the members of the committee.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I was very happy to have made the trip”
You can watch the full ceremony (2:55:46)
Find out more about the No. 2 Construction Battalion and the History of Black Canadians in the Military
Black Veteran’s Website
The intent of this site is to raise awareness of the contribution made by Black Canadians who served in the Canadian Military during conflict and in peacetime. The site was inspired by Kathy Grant, the daughter of a Second World War veteran. “She is a public historian carrying on her father’s mission to preserve stories of Black Canadian veterans.” Black Canadians Their Stories Our Canadian History
BCBHAS Project: No. 2 Construction
Battalion’s Legacy in British Columbia and Beyond
With funding from the Commemorative Partnership Program of Veterans Affairs Canada, BCBHAS is undertaking a project is to provide historical awareness of the men who served in the No. 2 Construction Battalion, with a focus on Black British Columbians. The project will generally include researching records to find authentic documents and records; finding information about participants’ ancestry/descendants/relatives; creating online and print educational materials; creating and siting a plaque to commemorate service in the battalion; and holding a public commemoration and dedication ceremony. The project manager is BCBHAS Board Member, D.L. (Door) Gibson, MMM, CD.
You will hear more about this project in the coming months.
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Credits and Reference Material
– Images (Accession number): Billy Whims (2004032038), Harry Whims (2004032035), Robert Wood Sr. (2004032034), and Jim Wood (2004032033) courtesy of the Salt Spring Island Archives.
– Thank you to the collaborative managers/researchers, Ceridwen Ross Collins and Chris Marshall, Salt Spring Island Archives for their tireless effort in researching and sharing their materials.
– The Salt Spring Island Archives thanks Darleene Horricks, great-great-granddaughter of Hiram Whims; for additional information regarding her family members in uniform, and for her generous donation of these archival images.
– Crawford Kilian, “The Black Pioneers of British Columbia: Go Do Some Great Thing” 3rd edition, Harbour Publishing, 2020
– Calvin W. Ruck, “The Black Battalion 1916-1920 Canada’s Best Kept Military Secret”, Nimbus Publishing Limited, 1987. Calvin Woodrow Ruck, CM, senator (1998-2000), social worker, human rights activist, author; born 4 September 1925 in Sydney, NS; died 19 October 2004 in Ottawa.
– Feature Image: Red poppies in the evening sun, Bart Ros, Unsplash
– Ron Nicholson places wreath at Ross Bay Cemetery ©BC Black History Awareness Society, all rights reserved.
– Victoria Pioneer Rifle Corps, Image F-00641. Courtesy of Royal BC Museum and Archives
