The Black Battalion facts for kids
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| Author | Calvin W. Ruck |
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| Original title | The Black Battalion (1916-1920) Canada's best kept military secret |
| Language | English |
| Subject | Canadian military history, Canadian Black history, civil rights |
| Genre | History |
| Publisher | Nimbus Publishing Ltd. |
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Publication date
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1987 |
| Media type | |
| Pages | 116 pp. |
| ISBN | 0920852920 |
The Black Battalion (1916-1920) Canada's best kept military secret is an important book from 1987. It was written by Calvin Ruck, a respected Canadian who received the Order of Canada. The book tells the story of the No. 2 Construction Battalion. This was a special group of soldiers in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during World War I. It was the only all-Black battalion to serve for Canada in that war.
Calvin Ruck's book shares the forgotten contributions of black Canadians during the Great War (1914-1918). Their brave military history had been largely overlooked. Ruck himself was a notable figure. He served in the Senate of Canada, which is part of Canada's government, from 1998 to 2000. He also received the Governor General's Award for his work.
Contents
Discovering a Hidden History
The idea for this book came from a special event. In November 1982, a reunion was held for the Black Battalion veterans. This event was organized by The Society for the Protection and Preservation of Black Culture in Nova Scotia. It was their first public gathering. Nine surviving Black World War I veterans came together.
Seeing these veterans inspired Calvin Ruck to learn more about their past. He realized that their important efforts in the war were not widely known. His book helped to bring their stories to light for everyone to learn.
The No. 2 Construction Battalion
Calvin Ruck's book explains why the No. 2 Construction Battalion was formed. At that time, Black Canadians faced challenges joining regular army units. Because of these difficulties, a special battalion was created just for them. This allowed them to serve their country during the war.
Many Black soldiers volunteered. About 500 came from Nova Scotia alone. This made up more than half of the entire Black Battalion. This group was unique in Canadian military history. It was the only Canadian battalion made up entirely of Black soldiers to serve in World War I.
A remarkable leader, Reverend William A. White, led this Battalion. He was the first Black officer in the entire British Empire.
About the Author, Calvin Ruck
Calvin Ruck dedicated his work to sharing important Canadian history. Besides The Black Battalion, he also published another book. It was called Canada's Black Battalion: No. 2 Construction, 1916-1920. This book continued to explore the history of this special military unit.
Ruck's efforts helped ensure that the contributions of Black Canadians to their country's military history are remembered. His work earned him national recognition.
See also
- Black Canadian
- Military history of Nova Scotia
- Victoria Rifles (Nova Scotia)
- Captain Runchey's Company of Coloured Men
- Black Nova Scotians
