Legacy Shadow Quilt: The No. 2 Construction Battalion
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LOOK
I see . . . (Describe what you see in the quilt.)
I think . . . (Explain what you think is happening in the quilt.)
I wonder . . . (What questions do you have about the quilt?)
THINK
Why is No. 2 Construction Battalion significant to Canadian history?
DO
Find the recent apology to members of the Battalion. Why is this apology important? Why is it necessary?
Details
Historical Context
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- Ozell Borden made The Legacy Shadow Quilt to commemorate the 100th anniversary of No. 2 Construction Battalion. Her brother, Captain George A. Borden, designed the quilt.
- During the First World War, Canadian recruitment offices routinely rejected Black men. Formed in 1916, No. 2 Construction Battalion was the first and only all-Black battalion in Canadian history.
- The Battalion constructed roads, bridges and railways in Europe during the war. The unit was officially disbanded in 1920.
On July 9, 2022, the federal government apologized to descendants of the Battalion at a ceremony in Truro, Nova Scotia.
The Legacy Shadow Quilt was made by Ozell Borden to commemorate the 100th anniversary of No. 2 Construction Battalion. Ozell’s brother, Captain George A. Borden, designed the quilt.
During the First World War, Canadian recruitment offices routinely rejected Black men. Black Canadians persisted, and No. 2 Construction Battalion was formed in 1916. The segregated non-combat unit was the first and only all-Black battalion in Canadian history.
The Battalion constructed roads, bridges and railways in Europe during the war. The unit was officially disbanded in 1920.
For many years, No. 2 Construction Battalion was largely forgotten. On July 9, 2022, the federal government apologized to descendants of Battalion members at a ceremony in Truro, Nova Scotia.
This Legacy Shadow Quilt was made in honour of the all-Black No. 2 Construction Battalion. It was designed by Captain (Ret’d) George A. Borden for the 100th anniversary of No. 2 Construction Battalion, and was made by his sister, Ozell Borden.
At the start of the First World War, hundreds of Black men tried to enlist in the Canadian Armed Forces, only to be rejected due to racial discrimination. Following approval from the War Office in London, England, No. 2 Construction Battalion was formally authorized on July 5, 1916.
The segregated non-combat unit was the first — and only — all-Black battalion in Canadian history. No. 2 Construction Battalion was formed in Pictou, Nova Scotia, later moving its headquarters to Truro, Nova Scotia.
On March 28, 1917, the Battalion sailed for Europe. The unit consisted of 19 officers — mostly white men — and 605 Black recruits. Recruitment took place across the country. Half of the recruits were Nova Scotian; a quarter came from New Brunswick, Ontario, and Western Canada; and the remainder came from the United States, the Caribbean, and elsewhere.
No. 2 Construction Battalion took on support roles such as clearing roadways, maintaining water and electrical systems, and constructing roads, bridges and railways. It played an essential role in Canadian Forestry Corps lumber operations in Jura and Alençon in France. Following the end of the First World War in November 1918, the men of No. 2 Construction Battalion sailed to Halifax in early 1919, and returned to civilian life. The unit was officially disbanded in 1920.
For many years, No. 2 Construction Battalion was largely forgotten. In 1992, the Government of Canada recognized the creation of the Battalion as a national historical event. In 1993, a granite monument commemorating No. 2 Construction Battalion was erected at Pictou, Nova Scotia, and was declared a national historic site.
In February 2016, Canada Post issued a first-day cover and a commemorative stamp during Black History Month, recognizing the Battalion. And, on July 9, 2022, the federal government held an official apology event in Truro, on the grounds of the final headquarters of No. 2 Construction Battalion.
- Ozell Borden made The Legacy Shadow Quilt to commemorate the 100th anniversary of No. 2 Construction Battalion. Her brother, Captain George A. Borden, designed the quilt.
- During the First World War, Canadian recruitment offices routinely rejected Black men. Formed in 1916, No. 2 Construction Battalion was the first and only all-Black battalion in Canadian history.
- The Battalion constructed roads, bridges and railways in Europe during the war. The unit was officially disbanded in 1920.
On July 9, 2022, the federal government apologized to descendants of the Battalion at a ceremony in Truro, Nova Scotia.
The Legacy Shadow Quilt was made by Ozell Borden to commemorate the 100th anniversary of No. 2 Construction Battalion. Ozell’s brother, Captain George A. Borden, designed the quilt.
During the First World War, Canadian recruitment offices routinely rejected Black men. Black Canadians persisted, and No. 2 Construction Battalion was formed in 1916. The segregated non-combat unit was the first and only all-Black battalion in Canadian history.
The Battalion constructed roads, bridges and railways in Europe during the war. The unit was officially disbanded in 1920.
For many years, No. 2 Construction Battalion was largely forgotten. On July 9, 2022, the federal government apologized to descendants of Battalion members at a ceremony in Truro, Nova Scotia.
This Legacy Shadow Quilt was made in honour of the all-Black No. 2 Construction Battalion. It was designed by Captain (Ret’d) George A. Borden for the 100th anniversary of No. 2 Construction Battalion, and was made by his sister, Ozell Borden.
At the start of the First World War, hundreds of Black men tried to enlist in the Canadian Armed Forces, only to be rejected due to racial discrimination. Following approval from the War Office in London, England, No. 2 Construction Battalion was formally authorized on July 5, 1916.
The segregated non-combat unit was the first — and only — all-Black battalion in Canadian history. No. 2 Construction Battalion was formed in Pictou, Nova Scotia, later moving its headquarters to Truro, Nova Scotia.
On March 28, 1917, the Battalion sailed for Europe. The unit consisted of 19 officers — mostly white men — and 605 Black recruits. Recruitment took place across the country. Half of the recruits were Nova Scotian; a quarter came from New Brunswick, Ontario, and Western Canada; and the remainder came from the United States, the Caribbean, and elsewhere.
No. 2 Construction Battalion took on support roles such as clearing roadways, maintaining water and electrical systems, and constructing roads, bridges and railways. It played an essential role in Canadian Forestry Corps lumber operations in Jura and Alençon in France. Following the end of the First World War in November 1918, the men of No. 2 Construction Battalion sailed to Halifax in early 1919, and returned to civilian life. The unit was officially disbanded in 1920.
For many years, No. 2 Construction Battalion was largely forgotten. In 1992, the Government of Canada recognized the creation of the Battalion as a national historical event. In 1993, a granite monument commemorating No. 2 Construction Battalion was erected at Pictou, Nova Scotia, and was declared a national historic site.
In February 2016, Canada Post issued a first-day cover and a commemorative stamp during Black History Month, recognizing the Battalion. And, on July 9, 2022, the federal government held an official apology event in Truro, on the grounds of the final headquarters of No. 2 Construction Battalion.
Summary
- Ozell Borden made The Legacy Shadow Quilt to commemorate the 100th anniversary of No. 2 Construction Battalion. Her brother, Captain George A. Borden, designed the quilt.
- During the First World War, Canadian recruitment offices routinely rejected Black men. Formed in 1916, No. 2 Construction Battalion was the first and only all-Black battalion in Canadian history.
- The Battalion constructed roads, bridges and railways in Europe during the war. The unit was officially disbanded in 1920.
On July 9, 2022, the federal government apologized to descendants of the Battalion at a ceremony in Truro, Nova Scotia.
Essential
The Legacy Shadow Quilt was made by Ozell Borden to commemorate the 100th anniversary of No. 2 Construction Battalion. Ozell’s brother, Captain George A. Borden, designed the quilt.
During the First World War, Canadian recruitment offices routinely rejected Black men. Black Canadians persisted, and No. 2 Construction Battalion was formed in 1916. The segregated non-combat unit was the first and only all-Black battalion in Canadian history.
The Battalion constructed roads, bridges and railways in Europe during the war. The unit was officially disbanded in 1920.
For many years, No. 2 Construction Battalion was largely forgotten. On July 9, 2022, the federal government apologized to descendants of Battalion members at a ceremony in Truro, Nova Scotia.
In-Depth
This Legacy Shadow Quilt was made in honour of the all-Black No. 2 Construction Battalion. It was designed by Captain (Ret’d) George A. Borden for the 100th anniversary of No. 2 Construction Battalion, and was made by his sister, Ozell Borden.
At the start of the First World War, hundreds of Black men tried to enlist in the Canadian Armed Forces, only to be rejected due to racial discrimination. Following approval from the War Office in London, England, No. 2 Construction Battalion was formally authorized on July 5, 1916.
The segregated non-combat unit was the first — and only — all-Black battalion in Canadian history. No. 2 Construction Battalion was formed in Pictou, Nova Scotia, later moving its headquarters to Truro, Nova Scotia.
On March 28, 1917, the Battalion sailed for Europe. The unit consisted of 19 officers — mostly white men — and 605 Black recruits. Recruitment took place across the country. Half of the recruits were Nova Scotian; a quarter came from New Brunswick, Ontario, and Western Canada; and the remainder came from the United States, the Caribbean, and elsewhere.
No. 2 Construction Battalion took on support roles such as clearing roadways, maintaining water and electrical systems, and constructing roads, bridges and railways. It played an essential role in Canadian Forestry Corps lumber operations in Jura and Alençon in France. Following the end of the First World War in November 1918, the men of No. 2 Construction Battalion sailed to Halifax in early 1919, and returned to civilian life. The unit was officially disbanded in 1920.
For many years, No. 2 Construction Battalion was largely forgotten. In 1992, the Government of Canada recognized the creation of the Battalion as a national historical event. In 1993, a granite monument commemorating No. 2 Construction Battalion was erected at Pictou, Nova Scotia, and was declared a national historic site.
In February 2016, Canada Post issued a first-day cover and a commemorative stamp during Black History Month, recognizing the Battalion. And, on July 9, 2022, the federal government held an official apology event in Truro, on the grounds of the final headquarters of No. 2 Construction Battalion.