2026 will mark the 120th anniversary of the No. 2 Construction Battalion. Officially formed on July 5th 1916, No 2 Construction Battalion was the largest Black military unit ever established in Canadian history. The men of the Battalion served with honour and determination, carrying out critical duties in the Forest of La Joux in France as part of the Canadian Forestry Corps. But their legacy reaches far beyond their military contributions — they helped push open the doors of a discriminatory system and laid the groundwork for greater inclusion in the Canadian Armed Forces. Their service became a powerful voice in the broader fight for the rights and dignity of Black citizens in New Brunswick and across the country.

The path to forming the No 2 Construction Battalion was not an easy one. With the outbreak of war in 1914, many Canadians were signing up to serve; yet it quickly became clear that Black men in Canada were being turned away due to their race. As enlistment campaigns progressed in New Brunswick, approximately 45 Black men were accepted into non-segregated units, but countless others faced rejection, exposing the racial barriers that would lead to the formation of the No. 2 Construction Battalion.

As Black men were repeatedly turned away at enlistment centers, Black communities across the country came together to advocate for their right to serve. Their efforts, combined with the determined support of Lt. Col. Daniel H. Sutherland of Moncton, led to the creation of the No. 2 Construction Battalion. Authorized in Pictou, Nova Scotia on July 5, 1916, the Battalion became a symbol of resistance, resilience, and collective pride — thanks to the strength and leadership of Black Canadians, including many from here in New Brunswick.

In honour of this historic achievement, the Fredericton Region Museum will launch a new travelling exhibition on June 29 at 2:00 pm in the museum. Curated by Black historian Jennifer Dow, this new exhibition reveals never-before-known local connections to the St John Brass Band, as well as the British Negro Protective Association, which was formed in Saint John in 1915 to advocate for the rights and legal protection of Black citizens in New Brunswick.

“The men of No. 2 Construction Battalion didn’t just serve their country — they uplifted their communities and helped lay the foundation for a more inclusive Canada” explained Jennifer. “Many of them were shaped by local activists, faith leaders, and community builders who instilled in them a deep sense of purpose and justice. Their legacy is one of strength, leadership, and unwavering courage.”

Members of No 2 Construction Battalion in the Forest of La Joux, France, 1917. Image from Canadian Military Engineers Museum 2023.39.9 Sutherland Collection

From rejection by non-segregated units, to determined advocacy for the right to serve, New Brunswick’s Black community played a central role in the creation of the No. 2 Construction Battalion. This new exhibition honours the names of local men who served, including Percy Richards, James Sadlier, Harry Jones, Edward Washington, Harold McCarty, Charles O’Ree, Seymour Tyler—and generations of their descendants who have proudly served Canada.

This new exhibition entitled “Forgotten Loyalty: New Brunswick’s Hidden Connection to the No. 2 Construction Battalion” will open on June 29 in the Fredericton Region Museum at 2:00 pm. All are welcome to attend. The museum is also accepting bookings for display in other parts of New Brunswick over the next 24 months.

We are also pleased to announce that the Fredericton Region Museum has been selected by the Digital Museums Canada program to develop a virtual exhibition on this same topic, which will be released in 2027. Funding for these initiatives are provided by the Government of Canada (Veterans Affairs Canada; Digital Museums Canada), as well as the City of Fredericton (Arts, Culture and Heritage Funding Program), Province of New Brunswick (Department of Culture and Heritage), and the York-Sunbury Historical Society.

Commencing June 26, the museum will be open summer hours: Monday to Saturday 10am to 5pm, Thursdays until 7pm (half-price admission after 5pm), and Sundays from 12 noon until 5pm.

For more information, please contact:
Alena Krasnikova, Executive Director
Fredericton Region Museum www.frederictonregionmuseum.com
Email: frederictonregionmuseum@gmail.com or phone 506-455-6041

The Fredericton Region Museum acknowledges the unceded and unconquered territory of Wəlastəkokewiyik / Wolastoqiyik. The Fredericton Museum, located in Ekwpahak | Fredericton, sits on lands designated by the Peace and Friendship Treaties of 1725-1779. These treaties did not deal in the transfer of land, rather they laid a foundation for what was to be an ongoing nation-to-nation relationship between the British Crown and Indigenous Peoples.