NIAGARA MILITARY MUSEUM
Black military
history of niagara Traveling Exhibit
Exhibit Content Guide Part 1 Topics on the banners
Topics on the banners 1. PRE-CONFEDERATION 2. CANADA’S RESPONSE 3. NO. 2 CONSTRUCTION BATTALION 4. REMEMBERING THE FALLEN 5. FIRST BLACK PARATROOPERS
1 PRE-CONFEDERATION WAR A REVOLUTIONARY Butler’s Rangers was a Loyalist military unit
during the American Revolutionary War. Richard Pierpoint, a formerly enslaved man, joined Butler Rangers and gained his freedom by fighting under the British Crown.
B
WAR OF 1812 On 18 June 1812, the United States declared war on Great Britain. An all-Black Canadian company, the “Coloured Corps”, formed under the command of Captain Robert Raunchey.
Richard Pierpoint fought in both wars.
C
THE BATTLE OF SLABTOWN: THE WELLAND CANALS
D
AMERICAN CIVIL WAR
During construction of the Welland Canal many workers were Irish. The Catholics long history of religious rivalry and violence against Protestants, heightened over poor working conditions. Due to ongoing fights and riots the Colored Corps was hired to maintain the peace.
The Civil War was a battle to determine whether the United States of America would splinter into independent states. William Chandler, a farmer living in Fort Erie, joined along with other Black soldiers, who, if captured, could be killed or enslaved.
2 CANADA’S RESPONSE In 1914, Canadian society had a rigid racial, linguistic, religious, and ethnic structure. This structure carried over to the military. In 1914, most Black Canadian applicants were rejected. The exhibit shows: ● Principal Arthur Alexander’s letter asking why Black applicants were refused, ● Sam Hughes, Minister of Militia’s reply and ● a memo on the enlistment of “Negroes” from MajorGeneral W. Gwatkin, Chief of the General Staff. The topic of attitudes toward Black Canadians in the Canadian forces is presented.
3 NO. 2 CONSTRUCTION BATTALION The No. 2 Construction Battalion, also known as the Black Battalion, was a segregated non-combatant unit during the First World War.
Working in the mountains in France through logging operations they built and repaired trenches, roads, bridges, and railways, among other tasks.
“They gave us shovels, not rifles”
3 REMEMBER THE FALLEN In memory of Black soldiers from the Niagara region who gave their lives while serving their Country.
Junius Lyman Hokan
Charles Ernest Harper Jr.
Edward R.Smith
3 FIRST BLACK PARATROOPERS Charles Waterman Charles Waterman became the first Black paratrooper in Canada signing up in Toronto.
Clarence LaPierre parachuted into Normandy. The next day he was mortally wounded.
Clarence David Lapierre
Cleland Peter Harper Henson
Loyst William Kelly
Do you have any questions? NIAGARA MILITARY MUSEUM niamilmuseum@gmail.com (905) 358-0813 www.nmm.life
Next see: exhibit content guide: part 2 The Soldiers featured in the exhibit
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