During World War I, however, patriotic black Canadians attempted to join combat units to defend their country, but they were rejected on the basis of race. Still adamant to contribute to the war effort, in 1916, a segregated battalion made up of black Canadians — the No. 2 Construction Battalion — was formed, responsible for building bridges, digging trenches and clearing roads. In World War II, the persistent efforts of black Canadians to join the armed forces were finally rewarded with success; the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) was prepared to enroll blacks too — but with limits. Orders were put in place to deny blacks enrolment as aircrew and to ensure that they could only be accepted as ground crew after rigorous screening at the national headquarters level.

There was one black man however, who did make it as aircrew. Flying Officer Alan Bundy, flew 42 operational missions in Europe and was discharged from the RCAF in 1946 without any recognition.

According to a military publication entitled ‘For My Country: Black Canadians on the Field of Honour’, racist practices of the RCAF continued even after the war, well into the 1950s, even though a government policy prohibited it.

"We’ve come a long way since then," says Air Force Sergeant Joan Buchanan, a black Canadian born in Jamaica working as a Resource Management Support Clerk with the Assistant Deputy Minister’s office. She has twenty years of service this year. "Those pioneers paved the way for us — now we can choose any career in the military we want, and they made it possible."

When the Canadian Forces eventually put the sad fact of military history behind them, black Canadians were finally visible in every corner of the Forces.

"They have served in all components and elements of the forces, including NATO assignments, home defence units, the North American Aerospace Defence Command and international peacekeeping mission," reads My Country. "They demanded and won the right to stand with their fellow Canadians on the field of honour."

Black Canadians, throughout history, have done so much to make Canada the multicultural and prosperous nation we know today. This month we remember that we should never forget.

Source: Canadian Forces (DND/CF) By Jenn Gearey
Picture provided and copyrighted by Canadian Forces (DND/CF) - Flying Officer Alan Bundy was the one black man that made it as aircrew during WWII. He flew 42 operational missions in Europe and was discharged from the RCAF in 1946 without any recogniton.
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