On 9 July 2020 the West Hants Historical Society was loaned “They Fought to Serve” which was painted in 2017 by renowned artist Richard Rudnicki. This painting commemorates Black Canadians who served in the No. 2 Construction Battalion during the First World War and was offered by the Army Museum Halifax Citadel where Rudnicki was the artist-in-residence. Richard looked at uniforms and equipment from The Army Museum's collection to create the painting. The two officers in the painting are Captain (Reverend) White and Lieutenant-Colonel Sutherland. Photos from Lieutenant-Colonel's Sutherland personal collection (in the possession of his granddaughter) were used to situate the painting's landscape and activities.
This art depicts a chapter in the story of the Nova Scotia and West Hants African Nova Scotian Community and Rodney Johnson, a family historian and descendant of a member of No. 2 Construction Battalion, was present when it was signed over to the historical society. Army Museum Curator, Ken Hynes, noted that at least 20 members of the battalion enlisted in West Hants in 1916 and contacted the historical society:
931335 Private Allison, Clarence
931053 Private Allison, Kenneth
931198 Private Allison, William
931376 Private Atkinson, Henry
931341 Private Croxen, James
931370 Private Grey, Everett
931050 Private Hamilton, Benjamin
931367 Private Hamilton, Prescott Hilton
931052 Private Johnson, Arthur
931235 Private Johnson, Frank
931051 Corporal Johnson, George A.,
931159 Private Johnston, William
931386 Private Parris, Garfield J.,
931230 Private Smith, John
931237 Private States, Cornelius
931178 Private States, Harold
After considerable lobbying by Black Canadians and white supporters, Canada fielded one Black battalion during the First World War — but they had to fight with shovels, not rifles. No. 2 Construction Battalion was authorized on 5 July 1916 in Pictou, Nova Scotia and was composed of Black men from across Canada, the United States and the British West Indies. Its officers were white, with the exception of the unit’s chaplain, Honorary Captain The Reverend William Andrew White. The unit moved to nearby Truro after two months in Pictou.
On 9 July 2022 the Government of Canada officially apologized for the appalling way these patriots were treated.
