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The Reality and Myths of Black Service in the Great War: No 2 Construction Battalion
Since their rediscovery, there has been a growing amount of misinformation about the service of the No. 2 Construction Battalion. These myths diminish the contributions of these men. We owe it to them to be…
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Robert Jupiter – A defender of Niagara
In Ontario, few places are as closely connected to the War of 1812 as the Niagara Region. Monuments and military sites from the period are popular tourist destinations in the region and highlight the…
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Clarence David Lapierre – Paratrooper, 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion
Clarence David Lapierre was one of the first soldiers to land in France during the Second World War as a paratrooper with the 1st Canadian Battalion. However, many people are still unaware of the…
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The Carty brothers – Artisans of a tradition
Following in their father’s footsteps, the Carty brothers all enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force during the Second World War. Overcoming the obstacles of the time, the five young men all distinguished themselves…
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The No. 2 Construction Battalion
Did you know that there was a battalion of black soldiers in the Canadian Army during the First World War? Long ignored, the members of the 2nd Construction Battalion contributed enormously to the war…
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The Courtney Brothers: A Case-Study on Enlistment of Black Soldiers in the First World War
Enlistment in the First World War did not come easy for most Black Canadian soldiers. Acceptance into the military was the responsibility of local recruitment officers, who had the power to deny individuals for…
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Congo – Canada as a Member of the United Nations
In 1960, the Congo gained its independence, but ethnic and political tensions remained high, prompting the United Nations to intervene. Canada answered the call, deploying troops to stabilize the situation and assist civilians in…
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Black soldiers during the French regime
Did you know that many black people enlisted as soldiers during the French regime in the 17th and 18th centuries? It was indeed common in the French colonies for Black people—whether free or enslaved—to…
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When the World Revolution Converged in Montreal
The “Hemispheric Conference to End the Vietnam War” was held in Montreal from November 29 to December 2, 1968 and attended by a delegation from the Black Panther Party, representatives from North Vietnam, and…
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African Canadian soldiers in the War of 1812
More and more attention is being given to African Canadians’ participation in 20th-century conflicts. However, years before the two world wars, many African Canadian soldiers had already paid the ultimate sacrifice… during the War…
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Richard Pierpoint – An unsung leader
A veteran of the American Revolutionary War and the War of 1812, Richard Pierpoint led a very full life! After arriving in North America as a slave, Pierpoint went on to become a respected…
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The First World War in Sub-Saharan Africa (1914-1918)
Major battles were waged in sub-Saharan Africa during the First World War. This second article in our two-part series on the non-European theatres of this war provides an overview of different military fronts in…
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Edwin Erwin Phillips – Mechanic for the Royal Canadian Air Force
A sergeant in the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II, Edwin Erwin Phillips had a distinguished career and was destined to a promised life before his tragic death in Poland. Edwin Erwin…
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Charles Lightfoot Roman – A True Trailblazer
Father, distinguished surgeon, soldier, author, researcher, and lecturer: these are the many hats worn by Charles Lightfoot Roman, a man whose life was a remarkable journey! From military clinics in Europe to factories in…
