November 11 has been recognized as Remembrance Day since 1919. The day was specifically dedicated by the British monarch George V, on 7 November 1919, to the memory of members of the armed forces who were killed during World War I.
Remembrance Day is observed on 11 November to recall the official end of World War I on that date in 1918, as the major hostilities of World War I were formally ended "at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month" of 1918 with the German signing of the Armistice.
Although African Canadians and other racialized people were members of Canada's military during the War, there is hardly any mention of their contribution and they are not usually recognized on November 11.
In 1987 Calvin Woodrow Ruck, CM (September 4, 1925–October 19, 2004,) an anti-racism activist and a Canadian senator published The Black Battalion, 1916-1920: Canada’s Best Kept Military Secret. He was born in Sydney, Nova Scotia; his parents were immigrants to Canada from Barbados.
The Black Battalion, 1916-1920: Canada’s Best Kept Military Secret, written by Calvin W. Ruck is available at the Toronto Public Library and at University libraries. Parents, caregivers, teachers and students are encouraged to read this book.
From the onset of World War I African-Canadians began to volunteer to serve their country in the conflict overseas. Many who volunteered for the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) were turned away at the recruitment offices. In November 25, 1915 Lieutenant-Colonel George W. Fowler, Commanding officer of the 104th Battalion, requested permission to discharge twenty black recruits on the basis of race. He wrote: "I have been fortunate to have secured a very fine class of recruits and I did not think it fair to these men that they should have to mingle with Negroes." This rejection was met with protest in the African-Canadian community.
The Canadian military decided upon a compromise of sorts in which the decision to allow African-Canadian recruits to join was left up to the individual commanding officer. “…most of them were sent to the Western Front. A few Negroes were among these troops, for individual Blacks were permitted to enlist in such local regiments as would accept them ” (as reported by historian Robin Winks). Approximately sixteen black volunteers were accepted into the 106th Battalion Nova Scotia Rifles CEF between December of 1915 and July of 1916. When the Military Service Act was passed on August 29, 1917 volunteers who had previously been turned away were now forced to go to war.
In addition, it was deemed ‘acceptable’ to form an all black battalion lead by white officers that would perform construction duties and other labour rather than armed combat. The first and only black battalion in Canadian history was authorized July 5, 1916. The No. 2 Construction Battalion, CEF, was based out of Pictou, Nova Scotia with recruits from across the country. Many local young men served in this unit as evidenced by the unit role as printed in The Black Battalion, 1916-1920: Canada’s Best Kept Military Secret by Calvin W. Ruck. The Chaplain of the No. 2 Battalion was the only Black commissioned officer in the British Forces in World War I compared to six hundred in the United States. On March 28, 1917 a force of six hundred and five black troops embarked from Pier 2 in Halifax heading to the Western Front. A recruiting station also operated out of the Parker family home in Windsor. Most served in Lajoux, Peronne and Alencon. Following the Armistice of November 11, 1918, the unit returned to Canada, where it was officially disbanded on September 15, 1920. The No. 2 Construction Battalion thus faded away into the dusty annals of Canadian military history. (p21)
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