The No. 2 Construction Battalion was a First World War Nova Scotia overseas construction battalion authorized on July 5, 1916, and headquartered in Pictou, NS, then Truro, NS. The unit was composed of black men, and with the exception of the chaplain, all white officers. The unit was known as “The Black Battalion”. It recruited in Nova Scotia, but also took in men from across Canada and a number from the United States. The No. 2 Construction battalion sailed from Halifax for England on March 28, 1917. Its nominal roll included forty-eight men from Cape Breton, mostly from Sydney and Glace Bay. In early May, 1917, because the battalion was under strength, its status was changed to company. Soon after, they proceeded to France where they were attached to the Canadian Forestry Corps and worked in the woods cutting logs for railroad tracks, bridges and frontline trenches. In early 1919, the unit returned to Canada and was officially demobilized in September of that year.
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Panoramic Photo - One large panoramic photo of the No. 2 Construction Battalion, taken in Truro, circa 1916-1917.
Other Rank Cap Badges - Three examples of other rank cap badges for the No. 2 Construction Battalion, circa 1916-1919.
Officer Cap Badges - One example of an officer cap badge for the No. 2 Construction Battalion, circa 1916-1919.