Special free screening of Honour Before Glory Nov. 9

A film highlighting the role of Canada's first all-Black battalion in World War 1 will be screened in the run-up to local Remembrance Day ceremonies.

Honour Before Glory tells the story of No. 2 Construction Battalion, a segregated battalion that allowed Black men who had previously been turned away by recruiters to enlist for Canada.

The film is based on the diary of the battalion's Chaplain, Captain William Andrew White, who was the only Black commissioned officer in the entire British Army during WWI.

The unit formed after Black communities across the country put pressure on the government. It was composed of men from across Canada, the United States and the West Indies. All its officers bar Capt. White were white.

The men were not allowed to fight with guns but were sent to France's Jura Mountains in 1917 to contribute to the war effort with shovels. They were attached to the No. 5 District, Canadian Forestry Corps and worked cutting lumber that was used to build trenches, railways and aircraft.

The battalion was disbanded without recognition for their service sacrifices at the end of the war.

This summer, the Government of Canada issued a formal apology to the members of the battalion and their families.  Defence Minister and Oakville MP Anita Anand spoke at the ceremony. 

"The members of the No. 2 Construction Battalion were discriminated against before, during and after their service in the Great War," she said. "We are deeply sorry to all of the Battalion’s descendants, and to the members of the Battalion who are no longer with us today, I hope that today’s apology will help recognize every Black Canadian who bravely served this country in times of war, and in the pursuit of peace. May today contribute to building a Canada that lives up to the ideals that the members of the Battalion fought so bravely to protect.

"We have more road to travel but we will keep walking that road together until we get this right."

Honour Before Glory was made in 2001 by actor and filmmaker Anthony Sherwood. Sherwood will be on hand at the screening to take questions from the audience.

The Gemini award-winning film will be screened Nov. 9 at 6.30 p.m. It is being presented by Anand, Oakville-North Burlington MP Pam Damoff and Oakville Councillor Jeff Knoll.

The screening at the Film.ca theatre at 171 Speers Road, Unit 25, will be free of charge but tickets must be reserved through Event Brite via a link on Damoff's website.

*** Do you know someone with a connection to No. 2 Battalion? If, so BurlingtonToday would love to speak to them. Please contact [email protected].