Niagara Military Museum Resource Book: Black Military History of Niagara

BLACK MILITARY HISTORY OF NIAGARA TRAVELING EXHIBIT

at

RESOURCE BOOK

The Resource Book was designed to accompany the travelling exhibit. Contained within are Factsheets which serve as a study guide for more in-depth information to topics introduced on the exhibit banners and tabletop posters. Refer to the table of contents for other useful resources included in the book.

PUBLISHED BY NIAGARA MILITARY MUSEUM, NIAGARA FALLS, ONTARIO, CANADA 2021

NIAGARA MILITARY MUSEUM The Armoury, 5049 Victoria Avenue Niagara Falls, Ontario niamilmuseum@gmail.com

Forword

“Black Canadians have a long history of military service – on operations both here at home and around the world – that dates back to well before Confederation. The Black Military History of Niagara Travelling Exhibit serves as a reminder of the legacy of service and sacrifice of Black Canadians in uniform, and we’re proud to support it through our Commemorative Partnership Program.”

- Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence

Table of Contents Factsheets

Other Resources

4

Pre-Confederation Service

8

41 Timeline: Pre-Confederation to World War I

Canada’s Response to Black Soldiers

11

No. 2 Construction Battalion

43 Servicemen and women of Niagara

15

James Grant

18

John Bright

48 Biography Worksheet Sample 59 Soldier Matchup Quiz 60 Wordsearch

20 Remembering The Fallen 22 First Black Paratroopers

62 Kahoot Quizzes 63 Links of Interest

27 Everett “Pudge” Dawson 30 The Johnson Family

86 Booking Form

34 The Brown Family 37 Gerald (Gerry) Bell 38 William (Bill) Hokan 39 Stephen Thomas, MB, CD 40 Major Edward Smith

Source Documents Civil War: 62 Chandler, William - discharge certificate

No. 2 Construction Company: 63 65 66 67 68 69

70 71 73

Bell, Ernest - Attestation Paper Recruiting Advertisement St. Catharines Miller, Joshua, Newspaper Ad Miller, Russel: Discharge Paper Letter: Alexander, Arthur, 6 Nov 1914 Gwatkin, W. Memorandum 13 April 1916

Grant, James:

75 77 78 79 80

Citation Newspaper ad, St. Catharines Standard, 27 Dec 1917, original and transcribed Casualty form, pages 1 and 2

81 82 83

Dawson, Pudge: Marriage Certificate 16 July 1942 Johnson, Douglas: Newspaper, Son of Falls Minister is Wounded in Italy Supplement to personnel record

Smith, Edward R.: card recording details of death

LaPierre, Clarence David: Canadian National Telegraph, 26 June 1944

Waterman, Charles: Newspaper: First Paratrooper in British Army Newspaper: Airborne Negroes Graduate Newpaper: Kelly, Loyst and paratroopers

Acknowledgements on page 78

BLACK MILITARY HISTORY OF NIAGARA PRE-CONFEDERATION SERVICE

BUTLERS RANGERS

American Revolutionary War

Butler’s Rangers fought for the Crown during the American Revolutionary War. The Rangers were formed by Lieutenant Colonel John Butler and were composed of Loyalists who after the war came to Canada. Slaves were offered freedom by the British if they fought during the war.

Several locals joined John Butler.

LOCALS WHO SERVED

RICHARD PIERPOINT

1. Richard Pierpoint 2. Prince Robertson 3. Peter Martin -Brought the

Born in Senegal, Africa around 1744,

attention of the kidnapping of

personal servant. He joined the Butler

Chloe Cooley, an enslaved Black

Rangers and in 1784 for fighting for the

woman, to Lieutenant Governor J.

British he was given freedom and a land

Simcoe. Simcoe then pushed for

grant of 200 acres in what is now St.

the 1793 Limited Slavery Act in

Catharines, ON. In the War of 1812 Pierpoint

Pierpoint was captured by slave traders at the age of 16 and taken to New York to be a

Upper Canada.

petitioned Major General Sir Isaac Brock’s

4. Simon Speke 5. Richard Martin 6. John Wormwood 7. James Robertson 8. Adam Lewis 9. Joseph Frey 10. John Backer 11. William Day 12. James (Jack) Baker 13. Others? The Exact Number Is Not Known.

administration to form an all Black military unit. The Coloured Corps was formed under Captain Raunchey. After the war he was given a land grant in Garafaxa Township. In 1821 he had petitioned with other Blacks to be sent back to Africa where they came from. It was turned down. Pierpoint moved to what is now known as Fergus and lived there until his death in 1838 at about age 94.

Richard Pierpoint

NIAGARA MILITARY MUSEUM HOURS: WED. TO SAT. 11 AM TO 4 PM 5049 Victoria Avenue

, Niagara Falls, ON (905) 358-1949 Email: niamilmuseum@gmailcom

The War of 1812 On

Militiaman of Raunchey's Co of Coloured Men Circa 1812

18

June

Great

1812,

Britain

rights.

The

attracted

Richard militia

the

over

British

Blacks

fight

led

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British

formation

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Queenston

the

fought war,

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the

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shore.

1813,

In to

It

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for

drive

attacks

disbanded

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the

called

March

on

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slaves

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George

repair the

on

in

on

Lake

the

members during

forces.

in attached

fortifications company the

It

The

was

was from

corps

was

1815.

LOCALS WHO SERVED James Baker

Anthony Hulls

Caleb Brown

Francis Hunt

John Call

John Jackson

Richard Call

John Jackson

Stephen Call

Michael Jackson

Thomas Christler

Thomas Jackson

Robert Chrysler

William Jones

Daniel Cokely

Corporal Robert Jupiter

Richard Collins

Corporal Isaac Lee

Sergeant John Delay

Peter Lee

Nathaniel Dooley

William Mandgo

Samuel Edmonds

George Martin

George Flemming

John Montgomery

George Freeman

Richard Pierpoint

James Garrison

Robert Pooley

Sergeant Edward Gough

Peter Randolph

John Green

Robert Sandan

Simon Grote

Robert Scott

Henry Hagan

Richard Shepherds

George Hamilton

--- --- Stephen

Prince Henry

Baptiste Shevall, Sloan

John Haras, Harris

William Spenser

James Steinburg --- Starnsbury Samuel Thomas Sergeant William Thompson John Patten, Vanpattan

Corporal Humphrey Waters Sergeant James Waters, Antrim / Antoine Willis Corporeal Francis Wilson

to

at

Canadian

Ontario

Americans.

24th,

was

under

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battles

Mississauga.

security the

role

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Corps

fort

Corps”

American

Fort

1814,

initiative

Raunchey.

Black

the

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spring

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all-Black

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significant

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other

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British.

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Engineers

important naval

many

British

December

of

played

helping

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ordered

in

of

freedom

to

the

Captain

Corps

also

of

petitioned

Coloured of

declared

serve.

alongside

of

States

violations

promise

to

Pierpoint

to

United

The Battle of Slabtown MERRITTON AND THE WELLAND CANALS During

construction

second

canal

violence

over

infrequent religious

to

“Slabtown” canallers’

dining

The

rivalry

hired

nearby

the

the

opened

fire,

in

became

what

Roberts Port

and

corporals,

fights

July

known

one

was

called

drummer

By Alex Luyckx Photography http://www.alexluyckx.com/blog/inde x.php/2019/08/14/project1867-thesecond-welland-canal/

from

1849

long

of

and

from to

of

The

50

the

of

the

the

the

turned

weather,

history known

to and

of as

Coloured

Corps

neighbourhood

bought

armed and

Colour

or

four

seven

inside injured

Lieutenant

Corps,

The

from

were

Orangemen six

of

canallers

Slabtown.

scene.

cheaply

Orangemen

approximately eighty

a

Catholic

killed

Battle

was

slabs

about

shots.

The

men

consisted

extreme

riots

and

Irish,

Protestants,

Merritton,

Catholics

as

had

and

hundreds

fired

twenty-five

Corps

of

12,

two

1824

peace.

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Coloured

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Inn

inn

also

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disease,

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Canal

majority

Catholics

constructed

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Duffin’s

the

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Welland

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sawmills. at

to

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surrounded

at

1842,

the

hazardous

pay.

Orangemen. was

in

of

headquartered

strength

of

sergeants,

the four

privates.

Duffin’s Inn – 1849 From Ontario Historical Society, Upper Canada’s Black Defenders

The American Civil War The

Civil

United pitted but

it

War,

States the

was

enslaved.

which of

Unionist even This

lasted

America north

worse

was

a

from

would

1861

against

for

fight

these that

to1865,

survive

or

southern

Black very

was

battle into

who,

mattered

if to

to

determine

independent

Confederates.

soldiers,

much

a

splinter

War

is

captured, the

Black

whether

states.

always could

The

the war

dangerous, be

killed

Canadians

of

or

the

time.

LOCALS WHO SERVED William Chandler was born 1 January 1843 in London, Canada West. He was a farmer before the war living in Fort Erie.

Chandler signed up 19 August 1863 in Buffalo, NY for a 3 year contract at the age of 19. At the Battle of Olustee, Florida on February 20, 1864 he was shot in the arm then had it amputated. In 1865 he came back to Fort Erie, Ontario married Lavina Taylor and had 9 children.

Chandler died February 19th, 1913.

John Goosberry was born in 1838 in New Orleans. He was listed as a sailor from St. Catharines, Ontario before the war.

Goosberry signed up on July 16th, 1863 at the age of 25. He was a fife player with the 54th Regiment Massachusetts Coloured Infantry and fought in the Battle of Fort Wagner. Goosberry died 16 April

Why was returning to fight

1876 near Dayton, Ohio.

in the Civil War Risky?

Abraham F. Brown from Toronto, Canada West was born in 1843.

He was listed as a sailor before the war. Brown signed up 4 April 1863 at the age of 20. He died at the regimental hospital after accidently shooting himself as he was cleaning his firearm 12

Fugitive Slave Act of 1850: required that all escaped slaves, upon capture, be returned to their masters and that officials and citizens of free states had to cooperate.

What would these men risk by returning to fight in the Civil War?

July 1863 at James Island, South Carolina.

What would be the risk if they did not return?

BLACK MILITARY HISTORY OF NIAGARA CANADA'S RESPONSE TO BLACK SOLDIERS In

1914,

Canadian

structure. military the

policy

army.

accept

This

or

rejected,

society

structure was

that

However, reject

any

was

about

Force

a

rigid

carried

over

man

up

applicants.

although

Expeditionary

it

had

to In

800

who

racial,linguistic, to

was

military.

of

commanding 1914,

most

managed

regiments,

the

For

and

officers

Black

to

including

age

enlist

James

religious,

example,

medically of

local

Canadian in

white

Grant

and

of

ethnic

the

fit

official

could

regiments

applicants

join to

were

Canadian St.

Catharines,

Ontario.

Looking at Canada's racist response to Black soldiers in World War I

Arthur Alexander served as principal of Southwestern Ontario's North Buxton School for 37 years.

Alexander had just turned 29 when he wrote this letter on 6 November 1914.

A brief reply from Sam Hughes explained, “under instructions already issued, the selection of Officers and men … is entirely in the hands of Commanding Officers, and their selections or rejections are not interfered with from Headquarters.” This response implied that Ottawa, ON was powerless to stop Black Canadians from being rejected at local recruiting stations. Authorities in Ottawa, ON were unable to enforce an “official mind” within a decentralized, locally controlled military system.

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MAJOR GENERAL GWATKIN'S MEMO

Questions to consider Share reasons why you think people decide to join the armed forces.

Should there be any restrictions on who can join? Why or why not? What would influence your thinking about this issue?

What does the memo tell you about attitudes in early 20th-century Canada?

What questions would you like to ask, if you could, that would help you understand why this memo was written?

What influences would there be on commanding officers when considering to accept or refuse enlisment requests?

RECRUITING AD for St. Catharines, ON What reasons do you think the government had for preparing this poster, given the view expressed in Gwatkin's memo above?

What wording was used to specificly recruit Black men to enist? Explain.

"IT IS NOW MORE IMPORTANT THAN A FIGHTING BATTALION" "ENLIST TODAY, AND PROVE YOUR GRATITUDE FOR THE PRECIOUS HERITAGE OF FREEDOM FOUND ONLY IN THE BRITISH EMPIRE AND UNDER THE BRITISH FLAG"

LOOKING AT

Then and Now

When you compare the photographs of then and now, what conclusions can you draw about changes in attitudes toward Black Canadians in Canadian society and the Canadian forces?

Looking at Canada's racist response to Black soldiers in World War I

Find James Grant James Grant is easily identified in this partial photo of 49th Battery taken in 1916

Has Canada's response to Black soldiers changed?

Find Major Smith Current photo of Canadian military personnel posing with counterparts from the Cameroonian military. For 8 years (2003-2010) Major Ed Smith (Retired) was the Officer in Charge of a bi-national training exercise that took place in the African nation of Cameroon. Smith is the 5th from left in the front row, not as easily identified.

BLACK MILITARY HISTORY OF NIAGARA

No. 2 Construction Battalion The No. 2 Construction Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force

— also known as the Black Battalion — was a

segregated non-combatant unit during the First World War. It was the first and only all-Black battalion in Canadian military history.

“They gave us shovels, not rifles”

Three African American soldiers with a company of engineers somewhere in France.

Photo from https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Image/IM54247

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FORESTRY: THE UNIT WORKED WITH THE CANADIAN FORESTRY CORPS OVERSEAS. LT.-COL. D.H. SUTHERLAND COLLECTION, RIVER JOHN, N.S. With the majority of Canada’s Black population in Nova Scotia, on 5 July 1916, the new unit No. 2 Construction Battalion was authorized with headquarters at Pictou, NS. Although CEF units normally recruited locally, No. 2 Construction Battalion recruited from across Canada, making it a truly national unit composed of 605 Black servicemen. This includes the 22 men from the Niagara area.

These units held non-combatant status. Several Blacks who joined the unit felt “The army let us join but wouldn’t let us fight. They gave us shovels, not rifles”. They built and repaired trenches, roads, bridges and railways, among other tasks.

In March 1917 the unit embarked at Halifax, NS and disembarked two weeks later at Liverpool and immediately took the train to their camp in southern England. There they built practice trenches and constructed and repaired roads. On 17 May 1917 No. 2 Construction Company crossed the English Channel to France. The unit took the train to Lajoux, near the Swiss border.

Here, in the Jura Mountains, it spent the rest of the war.

Attached to No. 5 District, Canadian Forestry Corps, soldiers of the battalion assisted four forestry companies in logging, milling and shipping timber. When the war ended, No. 2 Construction Company sailed for Halifax in January 1919, and on 15 September 1920, the unit officially disbanded. Canada’s first and only Black military unit was no more.

Chaplain Captain William White Upon the outbreak of the First World War, Reverend White became among the few Black commissioned officers in the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) when he enlisted in the No. 2 Construction Battalion on February 1st, 1917. In his role as Chaplain for the CEF’s only segregated unit, Reverend White fought for the equal treatment of Black soldiers both in Canada and overseas. He preached race consciousness, inspired advocacy and social advancement, and provided spiritual support for “the boys” of the No. 2 Construction Battalion.

Honour Before Glory Anthony Sherwood found his great uncle's diary in 1998. "Honour Before Glory", about Canada’s only all-Black military battalion "The No. 2 Construction Battalion" formed during WW I. It is based on the diary of Captain William White, the Chaplain, one of the few Black commissioned officer in the entire British Armed Forces during WW I. His diary is the only existing account of what happened to the Black soldiers while they were serving their country.

Above all, the film pays homage to the Black soldiers who showed that the measure of a man is made through the courage in his heart and not by the colour of his skin.

In Feb. 2016, 100 years after the No. 2 Construction Battalion was formed, Canada Post honoured its determined soldiers on an African Heritage Month stamp.

The men of the No. 2 Construction Battalion harvested, milled and shipped timber to the Western Front.

In camp, they faced harsh conditions, segregated accommodations and back-breaking work. Some did not return home.

Niagara Peninsula Recruits No. 2 Construction Battalion

Duty Roster: The Workday Schedule

Ernest Bell, 1916

BLACK MILITARY HISTORY OF NIAGARA JAMES GRANT MM 317909 February 23, 1918:

S t . Ca t h a r i n e s , ON l o c a l J a me s Gr a n t , F i e l d A r t i l l e r y d r i v e r , i s a w a r d e d t h e

Mi l i t a r y Me d a l f o r " b r a v e r y i n t h e f i e l d " i n Z o n n e b e k e , B e l g i u m, a t t h e h e a r t o f t h e Y p r e s S a l i e n t during the Battle of Passchendaele.

James Grant was the first African Canadian to be awarded with the Military Medal in the First World War. Other Black-Canadians received the following recognition: Victoria Cross:Able Seaman William Hall Military Cross: Lancelot Joseph Bertrand (7th Bn); Military Medal: John Bright (1st Canadian Infantry Battalian) David Crosby (25th Bn); Roy Fells (25th Bn); Percy Martin (RCR); John Cecil Lightfoot (8th Bn, CE);

Distinguished Conduct Medal: James Post (4th Bn, CMR).

Private James Grant was born 29 April 1897, son of George and Mary Grant of 51 Page Street in St. Catharines, Ontario. His brother John Grant served with No. 2 Construction Battalion.

Grant was a labourer who enlisted on 16 January 1916 at the age of 18, measuring 6’ tall and weighing 185 lbs.

On 11 September 1916 Grant embarked from Halifax, NS disembarking 22 September 1916 at Liverpool. After training at Milford and other camps, on 18 March 1917 he arrived in France as reinforcement with the 23rd Howitzer Battery. James was a gunner who later became a driver of a horse team. He served for 38 months with the Royal Canadian Artillery, first in the 49th Battery and finally with the 23rd Howitzer Battery.

Grant participated in some of Canada's greatest battles of the First World War including Vimy Ridge and Passchendaele.

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GRANT'S CITATION According to Grant’s citation he made two trips to bring ammunition to the battery despite intense shelling.

The newspaper article below sites another instance of bravery indicating that it was not one single act.

Definitions Limber: a two-wheeled vehicle to which a gun may be attached

Battery: an artillery unit in the army with a cluster of cannons firing as a group

Howitzer: a cannon having a comparatively short barrel, used especially for firing shells at a high angle of elevation, as for reaching a target behind cover or in a trench.

London Gazette: Dept . of Defence British supplement listing Royal Warrants of military honour recipients

In Jan. 1918 Grant was trained at Artillery School returning to the field 18 February 1918. Shortly after, he was awarded the Military Medal for "bravery in the field" in Zonnebeke, Belgium (appearing in the 2436 Supplement to The London Gazette, 23 February 1918 317909 Dvr. J. Grant, F.A.) followed by receiving his General Service Badge in May 1918.

James Grant was the first Black Canadian to be awarded with the Military Medal in the First World War.

JAMES GRANT MM James Grant was born 29 April 1897 in St. Catharines, Ontario. At age 19 Grant enlisted in the Army. Grant was known as “old General” Grant by those he served with and known for his low bass voice by the quartet he belonged to. After serving for 3 years, 4 months Grant returned home. At the age of 23, in 1920, he married 18-year-old Sadie Summers.

They had five sons: Theodor Grant, 20 yrs, born 1920 in Canada Raymond Grant, 14 yrs, born 1926 in Canada Gordon Grant, 13 yrs, born 1927 in NY Audrey Grant, 12 yrs, born 1928 in NY Elmer Grant, 10 yrs, born 1930 in NY

James Grant MM

In 1927 the family moved to Niagara Falls, NY where Grant worked as a foreman on the street work crew for the City of Niagara Falls, NY. Grant died in 1959.

James Grant with James Wesley Johnson James Wesley Johnson was in the same unit as Grant, the 23rd Howitzer Battery. Both were wounded on 9 September 1918 from a mustard gas attack and sent for recovery at Wimereux Hospital, France. Prior to service Johnson was a papermaker who lived in Merritton, Ontario with his wife Emma and their three children, Clarence, Catharine and Doris. It is no wonder Grant and Johnson remained friends throughout their lives.

Military Medal (MM) The medal is awarded for individual acts of bravery on the recommendation of a Commander-in-Chief in the

Left: James Grant MM Right: James Johson

field.

Major Edward Lancaster, Commanding Officer In the First World War prejudiced attitudes made it very difficult for Black men to join the Canadian Army. Although there was no law in place, it was left up to the commanding officers of each military unit. Some 619,636 Canadians enlisted with the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the war, and only from about 1,200 to 2,000 of these men were Black.

Major Edward Lancaster, Commanding Officer, accepted James Grant's enlistment.

Lancaster, and all ranks, had the highest regard for Grant as a man and as a soldier. They developed a close relationship and remained friends until Grant’s death in 1959.

BLACK MILITARY HISTORY OF NIAGARA JOHN BRIGHT MM 406478 25 April 1918:

John Bright was awarded the Military Medal at Passchendaele for courage and devotion to duty.

John Bright was the second of only six Black Canadians to be awarded with the Military Medal in the First World War. Other Black-Canadians received the following recognition: Victoria Cross: A b l e S e a m a n W i l l i a m H a l l Military Cross: L a n c e l o t J o s e p h B e r t r a n d ( 7 t h B n ) ; Military Medal: J a m e s G r a n t ( 2 3 r d H o w i t z e r B a t t e r y ) , D a v i d C r o s b y (25th Bn); Percy Martin (RCR); John Cecil Lightfoot (8th Bn, CE);

Distinguished Conduct Medal:

(25th Bn); Roy Fells

James Post (4th Bn, CMR).

John Bright was born 5 January 1894 in Fort Erie. John was the son of Alonzo Bright of Amigari Downs, Ontario and Mrs. Jennie Bright of Bridgeburg, Ontario, both being communities of Fort Erie.

Bright was already an active serviceman, in the 44th Regiment, Lincoln and Welland Canal Force, when he enlisted on 15 April 1915 in Hamilton, Ontario with the 36th Regiment. At age 21 he was single at the time.

Bright arrived in England on 24 June 1915 then onward to France

John Bright MM

on 25 September 1915 to join the 1st Canadian Infantry Battalion.

On 13 June 1916 in a battle at Ypres a shell went off and the trench he was in was blown in.

Bright’s ribs became crushed and fractured when he was buried. On 21 June 1916 Bright was sent to hospital in Manchester but by 30 June 1916 he returned to the field in France. On 18 April 1917 Bright was granted a good conduct stripe. On 13 December 1917 Bright was promoted to Corporal, then to Lance sergeant. According to his military record “During operations at Passchendaele this non-commissioned officer was exceptionally courageous and rendered effective service during the work of consolidation. After strenuous duties in the line, and under heavy shell fire he volunteered for and brought in relief.” On 25 April 1918 Bright was awarded the Military Medal for courage and devotion to duty at Passchendaele. This achievement was posted in the London Gazette #30573 on 25 April 1918.

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On 30 August 1918 John Bright lost his life serving his country. The Memorial Cross with scroll and plaque was mailed to his mother.

The campaign medals, the 1914–15 Star and the British War Medal, along with Bright’s Military Medal were addressed to his father.

Bright served Canada for three years. At 24 years of age he was laid to rest at Upton Wood Cemetery, Hendecourt-les-Cagnicourt, Pas-de-Calais, France.

An inscription can be found on the Fort Erie War Memorial installed by the Niagara Parks Commission in a park-like setting, overlooking Lake Erie and the start of the Niagara River.

Military Medal (MM) The medal is awarded for individual acts of bravery on

John Bright MM

the recommendation of a Commander-in-Chief in the field.

BRIGHT'S CITATION

BLACK MILITARY HISTORY OF NIAGARA REMEMBERING THE FALLEN IN MEMORY OF:

JUNIUS LYMAN HOKAN WWII Spitfire pilot Junius Lyman Hokan of St. Catharines, Ontario enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force on 11 November 1940, in Niagara Falls, ONntario during a time when the RCAF had a policy of restricting enlistment to those who were white. He served in France and Belgium during the Second World War.

Hokan was not just a pilot but also a designer of a potentially significant navigation tool. Hokan flew with British ace Johnnie Johnson with the RAF’s 610 Squadron at Dieppe. On 24 August Hokan was posted to 401 Squadron and on 26 September 1942, his squadron was on a mission. The weather forecasted gave winds of 55 kilometres per hour but the squadron ran into winds of 160 kilometres per hour. As a consequence, 60 km off the English coast the Spitfire ran out of gas. Junius had run out of fuel and his last words were "Out of petrol, bailing out, so long boys, see you tomorrow". Pilot Hokan was just 20 years old when he died. His name is inscribed on the Runnymede Memorial, located west of London, England, which records the names of British and Commonwealth air force personnel who have no known graves.

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Junius Lyman Hokan

IN MEMORY OF:

EDWARD ROBERTSON SMITH Edward Smith was born 31 July 1915 in Niagara Falls, Ontario son of Mr. Edward Anderson Smith who lived at 1052 McRae St., Niagara Falls, Ontario, along with his stepmother Catherine and stepsister Leila Hogan. In August 1938 Smith was hired as a moulder on “D-line, Dept. 22G” at McKinnon Industries (General Motors). He worked there for six years and was their first Black employee to give his life in the war. Smith also played on an all Black hockey team. When he married Madeline Inez Smith they moved to 30 Elberta St., St. Catharines, Ontario. They had one daughter, Leanna Madeline, who was eight years old when Smith enlisted. Smith enlisted in the army in Toronto, Ontario on 7 March 1944 and trained at Camp Borden.

Smith embarked from Great Britain on 28 December 1944 to North West Europe where he joined the Argyll and Sutherland

Edward Robertson Smith

Highlanders of Canada (Princess Louise's), Royal Canadian Infantry Corps. On 7 March 1945, exactly one year from his enlistment date, he gave his life in action in Germany. He was buried at Nijmegen Canadian Military Cemetery in Holland then moved to his final resting place in Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery.

IN MEMORY OF:

CHARLES ERNEST HARPER JR. Charles Harper was born 10 September 1920, son of Charles Ernest Harper and Ethel Flowers. He grew up at 62 North Street, St. Catharines, Ontario along with sisters Elsie Mae (Bush), Ruth, Florence, Jeanette, and Lorna, and brothers James, Harry, and Richard.

He and his wife, Sarah Loretta Harper lived at 9 Francis St., St. Catharines, Ontario but later Sarah moved to 28 Facer St. The former truck driver signed up in Hamilton on 15 September 1942. He served in the army with the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps. Harper was a casualty while serving in Italy and died 27 March 1944. Charles Harper rests at Moro River Canadian War Cemetery in Italy.

BLACK MILITARY HISTORY OF NIAGARA

FIRST BLACK PARATROOPERS Black Canadian Paratroopers: Loyst Kelly became Canada’s first Black paratrooper, followed by Cleland Henson and Clarence Lapierre.

LOYST WILLIAM KELLY Loyst William Kelly was born July 30, 1928 in Ingersoll, Ontario where he grew up with his parents Charles Kelly and Violet Goddard Nadalin, two brothers, Charles Jr. and Patrick, and a sister, Reta Beacham. His father, Charles Kelly served with 168th Battalion, then No. 2 Construction Battalion in the First World War and pitched for the Canadian Army baseball team, once before King George, while he was overseas.

Kelly signed up May 11, 1943 in London, Ontario at the age of 19. He trained

Loyst Kelly - from Ancetsry

with the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion at Camp Shilo in Manitoba and graduated on September 23, 1943. Kelly was the first Black Canadian

paratrooper. In February 1944 Kelly went to England where he acted as part of a paratrooper training company rather than serving in combat.

Losing his arm in a motor vehicle accident on July 6,1948 ended his military career. He married Hazel Lillian Nicholson on May 3, 1948. Loyst was buried in Ingersoll when he died on April 25, 2005. Loyst Kelly will be remembered for his contribution to Black Canadian history as the first Black Canadian paratrooper and for training paratroopers in service to Canada in the Second World War.

Father: Charles Kelly #675429 No. 2 Construction Battalion

Parachute Training, Shilo, MB Left: L. Kelly; Right: C. Henson Canadian Army photo

CLELAND PETER HARPER HENSON Cleland Peter Harper Henson was born September 9, 1917 in Dresden, Ontario. He was the son of Peter James Harper Henson and Annabell Moore. His brother Jehu William Josiah Henson served with the Essex Scottish Regiment, was taken in Germany and was a POW in Stalag 11-B for four months. Cleland Henson is the grandson of Rev. Josiah Henson of Uncle Tom's Cabin. Cleland was known to his friends as “Tex”. Henson worked as a racehorse trainer, a butcher and as a railway porter prior to enlistment.

Tex enlisted at Chatham, Ontario on September 18, 1941 and received his basic training with the Kent Regiment. After a year,

Cleland Henson

at his request, he transferred to the 43rd Parachute Battalion becoming one of three Black Canadians in that unit.

Henson graduated on October 1, 1943, just one week after the graduation of Lloyst Kelly, the first Black Canadian paratrooper. Henson embarked for the Great Britain on January 12, 1945. As part of an airborne forces’ operation on March 24, 1945 Henson parachuted, along with more than 16,000 paratroopers, into Germany during Operation Varsity. Henson was discharged on November 17, 1945 and died in Flint, Michigan on November 29, 1980.

Newspaper articles from 1943 of unknown origin

CLARENCE DAVID LAPIERRE Clarence David LaPierre was known by his friends as “Dude”. He was born November 9, 1923 in Owen Sound, Ontario. LaPierre was adopted at birth by Lilian Mabel and Marcel LaPierre. Marcel was a scrap iron dealer. “Dude” was a popular athlete at the Owen Sound Collegiate and Vocational Institute who played many sports including rugby. He earned a Technical Certificate. He was 17 when he left school in 1940. Lapierre worked with the Empire Stove and Furnace Company as a moulder for two years and was a member of the United Steel Moulders Union.

LaPierre enlisted in Toronto, Ontario on January 21, 1943. While training at Camp Borden, he transferred to the 48th Highlanders of

Clarence LaPierre

Canada. On August 6, 1943 LaPierre transferred to the Queens Own Rifles then on January 17, 1944 to the 1st Canadian Parachute

Battalion. After a four-week training course at Camp Shilo, in Manitoba became a qualified parachutist on March 3, 1944.

LaPierre arrived in Great Britain on April 2, 1944. He parachuted into Normandy as part of DDay’s Operation Overlord on June 6, 1944 landing in the drop zone east of Caen, France. The next day he was mortally wounded. He rests in Ranville, the first village to be liberated in the D-Day landings.

During the year and five months that LaPierre served he earned five medals. They are the 1939 – 1945 Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal, War Medal and Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and clasp.

LaPierre will be remembered as one of the first Black Canadian paratroopers who gave his life in service to Canada on D-Day to liberate Western Europe from harsh German occupation.

BLACK MILITARY HISTORY OF NIAGARA Charles Waterman and Gordon Milburn became the first Black Canadian paratroopers to graduate in England.

CHARLES WATERMAN Charles Waterman was born in the British West Indies but made his home in Toronto, Ontario working there as a furrier. His sister, Olive Waterman, served overseas as staff in the Registrar’s office in England in the Second World War. Waterman signed up in Toronto, Ontario and was assigned service number B107631 with the airborne force of the Canadian army. He headed to England when the first detachment was ready to go overseas. Waterman, along with Gordon Milburn, became the first Black

Charles Waterman Canadian paratroopers to graduate in England.

Waterman received his paratrooper training with the Canadian forces

in Great Britain in

preparation for the invasion of Europe. He graduated from his Parachute Course after completing jump training at the Parachute Training School at Ringway in Cheshire, United Kingdom on October 18, 1943. Waterman was attached to A Company of the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion, Canada's original airborne unit.

Waterman was an amateur boxer but must have been quite proficient in the craft because one newspaper article referred to him as a Golden Gloves semi finalist from the New York boxing ring while another said he boxed a few exhibition rounds with Black Canadian Danny Webb, professional boxer from Montreal, who was Canadian Lightweight Boxing Champion from 1946 – 1949 and is in the Canadian Boxing Hall of Fame. Webb was also Captain of the Canadian Army boxing team in England.

NIAGARA MILITARY MUSEUM HOURS: WED. TO SAT. 11 AM TO 4 PM

5 0 4 9 V i c t o r i a A v e n u e , N i a g a r a F a l l s , O N (905) 358-1949 Email: niamilmuseum@gmailcom

GORDON ASA MILBURN Gordon Asa Milburn was born November 10, 1919 in Chatham Township, Ontario. He grew up with his parents Howard and Julia (Richardson) Milburn along with two sisters (Margaret "Polly" William-Ward) and six brothers (Kenneth, William, Thomas, John, George, Garnet "Duddy").

Milburn enlisted in the military on June 19, 1941 at age 21. He requested a transfer to the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion.

Milburn was sent to the Parachute Training School at Ringway in Cheshire, United Kingdom. On October 18, 1943 he graduated from his Parachute Course with fellow Black Canadian Charles Waterman.

Gordon Asa Milburn

Milburn suffered a back injury while training which left him in lifelong pain. For seven months he trained with the 6th Airborne Division in England preparing for the invasion of France. Milburn

parachuted into Normandy as part of D-Day’s Operation Overlord on June 6, 1944.

The next mission was Operation Varsity, March 24,1945, which was a combat air assault toward the end of the Second World War. Gordon was part of the reinforcements who arrived by sea rather than a paratrooper on this mission. In an interview Milburn claimed he was “the only member of his platoon who made it across the Rhine and all the way to the Baltic Sea and the war’s end in May of 1945 without a scratch”1. Once discharged he moved to Windsor, Ontario. Gordon married Charlene and became stepfather to Sharon LaChance. They had two daughters Patricia (Allan) Ferguson and Debra (Paul) Laforet.

In civilian life Gordon was a post office employee, owned a home improvement firm in Detroit, MI and was a Windsor, Ontario realtor. The battle this 90-year-old veteran would lose was with cancer. Gordon passed away on February 22, 2010.

Gordon Asa Milburn 1 Windsor Star, 27 Feb 2010, Gord Henderson

BLACK MILITARY HISTORY OF NIAGARA EVERETTE GERALD “PUDGE” DAWSON, B15607

About Pudge Dawson On 6 September 1919, Pudge was born in Toronto, Ontario. His mother, Edna DawsonRobinson, married Robinson after the death of Pudge's father. Pudge had two brothers, Art and Orville, and a sister, Patsi. Dawson grew up in Toronto, Ontario during the depression era. He came to St. Catharines, Ontario at the age of 19 to start work at McKinnon Industries (General Motors) in 1938 and remained there until he retired in 1976.

Dawson became a key figure in the struggle for rights of Black workers in the United Auto Pudge Dawson Military Portrait

Workers, sitting on the Fair Employment Practices Committee, delegate and then

chair of the Canadian Foundry Council, chair of the Local 199 bargaining committee, and chair of Local 199 education committee among others. While home on three days leave, on 16 July 1942, Dawson married Marjorie Louise Bell.

Marjorie was the daughter of Cecilia Pettiford (Powell) and Archie (Archibald) Bell. Her siblings were Dr. Rev. Ralph Bell of Colorado, Bob Bell, Dorothy Dorsey, Leslie Bell, June Anderson, Jean Tomlinson and George Bell. Marjorie passed on 13 August 2018 in her 101st year.

Right: Pudgie at a United Auto Workers 199 event

NIAGARA MILITARY MUSEUM HOURS: WED. TO SAT. 11 AM TO 4 PM 5049 Victoria Avenue

, Niagara Falls, ON (905) 358-1949 Email: niamilmuseum@gmailcom

While home on three days leave, on 16 July 1942, Dawson married Marjorie Louise Bell.

After his leave Pudge brought his marriage certificate back and had the "boys" sign it.

About Marjorie Dawson Marjorie was the driving force behind Zion Baptist Church and volunteered at the Hotel-Dieu Hospital in St. Catharines, Ontario for over 30 years, and had always hoped to become a nurse. Marjorie was a conservator of local Black history, sharing her wealth of pictures, memories and knowledge with anyone who shared an interest in Black history.

As a forceful advocate, she was responsible for the restoration of Rev. Anthony Burns's gravestone. Burns is one of America's most famous slaves, and was pastor from 1860 to 1862 of St. Catharines, Ontario Zion Baptist Church for escaped slaves who fled to freedom from the United States to Canada on the famed Underground Railroad.

Marjorie Dawson on a visit to her fiance, Pudge, at Niagara Camp, NOTL

Dawson enlisted in the army during WWII and was a gunner in the 8th Canadian Light Anti Aircraft Regiment, 102nd Light Anti Aircraft Battery, Royal Canadian Artillery.

After the war, with a $1,500 mortgage, the Dawsons built a house on Pelham Road, St. Catharines, Ontario. In 1951 they had a son Dennis (wife Melissa). Dawson loved sports and organized football and hockey games, a passion he shared with his son. Pudge passed away on Dec. 29th, 1990.

Pudge Dawson seated on the Bofors 40 mm gun, often referred to simply as the Bofors gun, an anti-aircraft autocannon. The Bofors would be operated with a crew of four.

"The Dauntless Four" Best

of

friends

Dauntless

Four,

and

Bofors

Pudge

gun

crew

Dawson,

known

Tommy

as

Dell,

The Joe

Boudreau and Domenic DeNapoli all returned from WWII safe and sound.

BLACK MILITARY HISTORY OF NIAGARA

The Johnson Family Soloman Earll and Sarah Woods Soloman Levis Earll was the son of a slave who settled in the Owen Sound area. According to the 1871 Census Grey North, Ontario, Soloman’s father, Elias Earll (1812-1891) and his wife Louisa Douglas (1866-1867) farmed in the Owen Sound area (Chatsworth).

In 1894 Soloman Earll married Sarah Woods, both born in Grey County, and settled into the Owen Sound, Ontario area. The town is the most northern terminus (the Underground Railroad) in Canada.

Soloman and Sarah had twelve (12) children. Their oldest child was Susannah (Susie) Ann Earll.

Solomon Levi Earl died on 24 October 1924 at a quarry explosion at the Oliver Quarries where he was employed. He worked with his nephew Nathan Woods, Jr.

Clifford Samuel Johnson and Susannah (Susie) Ann Earll Clifford Samuel Johnson married Susannah (Susie) Ann Earll in Dresden on 2 June 1914. They had seven children, two daughters and five sons:

Velma Johnson, born December 25, 1914, Dresden, ON Alma Johnson, born April 10, 1916, Owen Sound, ON Clarence Johnson, born June 14, 1918, Owen Sound, ON Douglas Melford Johnson, born March 29, 1921, Dresden, ON Clifford Beverly Johnson, born January 9, 1927, Owen Sound, ON Paul Johnson, born September 15, 1932, Harrow, ON David Johnson, born April 19, 1935, Guelph, ON

Clifford Johnson became a minister with the British Methodist Episcopal (BME) Church. Rev. Johnson and Susie ministered at the BME Church on Peer Lane at one time. The Church bore witness to early Black settlement of the Niagara region and assisted newly arrived Underground Railroad refugees. It was constructed on Murray Street, Niagara Falls, Ontario in 1836 and was later rolled on logs to Peer Street and Grey Avenue.

Clifford also was a railway porter with the Canadian National Canadian Pacific Railway (CNCP).

Susie lost her husband Clifford Johnson in 1957 in London, ON. Susie became an ordained minister in the early 1960s. She married Thomas Wilson in 1962. Rev. Susannah Johnson passed away in Owen Sound in November 1973.

NIAGARA MILITARY MUSEUM HOURS: WED. TO SAT. 11 AM TO 4 PM 5049 Victoria Avenue , Niagara Falls, ON

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Sgt. Douglas Melford Johnson, B62483 (Irish Regiment of Canada / No. 2 District Depot (Ontario Regiment) – a tank regiment

Born 29 March 1921 in Dresden, Ontario, Douglas Johnson was fourth child of Clifford Johnson and Susan Earll.

At age 21 Douglas Melford Johnson enlisted at Hamilton, Ontario on January 6, 1941 with No. 2 District Depot but later transferred to the Irish Regiment of Canada. Johnson was a single man who stood 5’6” and was a pro boxer for some time.

Johnson held a sergeant’s rank for over two years and was an instructor in infantry in the United Kingdom and North Africa.

After enlistment in Hamilton with the Ontario Regiment (T) C wing he received training at Camp Borden with the Canadian Armoured Corps (A-8). In July 1942 Johnson was off to England with the 2nd Canadian Armoured Corps Replacement Unit (CACRU). Next Taken on Strength with 1st CACRU. While training in England he completed Q Command Boxing Course and Q-2 NCO Gas Course.

He was then TOS to No. 1 Canadian Base Replacement Depot (CBRD) and in June 1943 shipped to Africa.

He was confirmed as a sergeant in July 1943. Later, Johnson was posted to Italy where he was wounded and spent his 23rd birthday in hospital. The Irish Regiment of Canada landed in France in February 1945 and Johnson rejoined them in March 1945.

In April 1945 Johnson felt his colour had been a handicap and he relinquished his sergeant’s rank returning to private. Once demobilized, on 13 March 1946 he was discharged in Toronto, Ontario. He died in 1977.

Left: Douglas Johnson with Shep April 1945, Piccadilly Circus Right: 1943 with friend in Africa

Beverly Clifford Johnson Born in Owen Sound, Ontario to Rev. Clifford and Susie Johnson (Earll) 9 January 1927, Beverly was the first “coloured baby” born in the General and Marine Hospital. He enlisted in the Royal Canadian Navy in 1947. He received the Canadian Forces Decoration. Beverly went on after the War to serve in the Navy until retirement in 1969.

Together with his wife, Gertrude, they raised their family in Nova Scotia. Beverly moved with his family to Owen Sound, Ontario for a few years in the early seventies and worked as a jail guard at the Owen Sound, Ontario jail.

He later moved back to Nova Scotia in 1979. He died in Nova Scotia, 27 January 1990 at the age of 63.

Beverly C. Johnson in the Navy

David Gibson Johnson David Gibson Johnson was born 19 April 1935 in Guelph, Ontario, the youngest son of Rev. Clifford and Susie Johnson (Earll).

David Johnson enlisted in the Army as a soldier with The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada, 2nd Battalion, Signalman Platoon as a wireless operator. David was deployed to Korea. Military decorations received were the Korean Medal, Volunteer Medal, Peacekeeping Medal and the United Nations Medal.

David and Beverley's bio taken from Bonita Johnson de Matteis Lest We Forget 2003.

1952 before David shipped out to Korea. He was 18 at the time, soon to be 19 as he crossed the international date line.

David Johnson , wireless operator in Korea

David Johnson in Korea

David Johnson on a return trip to Korea in 2009

Clarence Johnson Pte. Clarence Johnson was the first of five sons born to Rev. Clifford Johnson and Susie Johnson (Earll). Clarence did not enlist as so many others his age did. He was conscripted. He had very strong beliefs against war and killing. “The day he got his papers he was very upset” said younger brother David, “I remember he handed me an orange as he opened the papers and cried, “Oh, no…not this” and tears came to his eyes.” Clarence reported for duty in Toronto and from there was sent to Chiliwack to train with the Artillery. As a result of the many maneuvers done in training his shoulder was dislocated numerous times. He received an Honourable Discharge and returned home to Niagara Falls where his parents ministered at the B.M.E. Church. Clarence later went into the ministry. Rev. Clarence Johnson, a well known and loved minister never married. He died in London Ontario, 28 September 1968. He was 49 years old.

Clarence Johnson Taken from Bonita Johnson de Matteis Lest We Forget 2003.

BLACK MILITARY HISTORY OF NIAGARA

The Brown Family James Andrew & Agnes Brown James Andrew and Agnes Brown resided at 286 Rawden St., Brantford, Ontario. They had four sons, Gordon, Frank, Andrew and Tom, and one daughter Evelyn Morey.

Andrew James Brown, 931681

Memorial Cross

Andrew was reported to be only 16 years old when he volunteered with No. 2 Construction Company signing up on 28 December 1916 in Windsor, Ontario. In Feb. 1919 he was hospitalized because a railway tile fell on his right toe. Andrew was discharged 1 March 1919 Medically Unfit. After returning from France he spent several months at the Hamilton, Ontario sanitorium with pulmonary tuberculosis and died 26 December 1919 at only 18 years of age. His mother received a Memorial Cross, plaque & scroll.

Pte. Gordon Douglas Brown, 3310038 Brown was born on 25 April 1897 in Brantford, Ontario. At age 20 Gordon Douglas Brown stood 5”7”, weighed 140 lbs., was single and a labourer employed with Verity Plow Co. He was conscripted in Brantford, Ontario. On 5 January 1918 into the 2nd Depot Battalion, 2nd Central Ontario Regiment. Brown arrived in England 18 March 1918. On 18 August 1918 Brown left for France where he served with the 116th Battalion. On 3 October 1918 he suffered a gun shot wound to the left knee and was transferred to hospital in Witley, England. Brown sailed from Liverpool on 1 February 1919 to Canada. On demobilization Brown was discharged 3 March 3 1919 in Toronto, Ontario.

Gordon married Lorna Selby and they had five daughters, the twins Kathleen Saunders (b: 1924 d: 2007) and Constance Duncan (b: 1924 d: May 2009), Thelma, Marilyn and Carol (b: c. 1940 d: 2009) as well as 4 sons Stephen, Philip (b: c. 1938 d: 2009), William(b: 1923 d: 1989) and Stan.

NIAGARA MILITARY MUSEUM HOURS: WED. TO SAT. 11 AM TO 4 PM 5 0 4 9 V i c t o r i a A v e n u e , N i a g a r a F a l l s , O N (905) 358-1949 Email: niamilmuseum@gmailcom

Gordon Douglas Brown

Constance (Connie Brown) Duncan Connie Duncan and her twin sister Kathleen Saunders were born in 1924 in Brantford, Ontario. Connie was one of 9 children.

According to her 2009-04-01 interview Transcribed by: K.E. Lyn Royce, Connie signed up in Brantford, Ontario in 1942 while taking a break from her job at Watrous, she saw a recruitment ad on Market Street. A few months later, at her mother’s home in Hamilton, ON, Connie received a letter from Ottawa, Ontario saying she was to report to Toronto, Ontario and that’s how her mother found out.

Connie spent 3 months at the Canadian Army Trades school, Kenilworth Avenue North, Hamilton, Ontario, training with tools to repair firearms. From there she went to Toronto, Ontario to work at a depot behind Union Station.

Connie Brown, Union Station

The current Scotiabank Arena, formerly The Canada Post building built in 1938, was handed over to Department of National Defence for war storage purposes upon completion in 1941 but returned to Canada Post in 1946.

From her 2009-04-01 interview Transcribed by: K.E. Lyn Royce Connie said: “And we used to march along the Gardiner; not the Expressway, but the, down below...Lakeshore Road. Uh, every morning with the men; we all had to fall in, and that's where I worked with guns. Overhauling them; checking them out; doing this part, fixin' that...”

Kathleen and Bill Brown, M. Bruce Duncan Connie Brown's twin sister, Kathleen, signed up in Hamilton, Ontario with the Air Force. Her oldest brother, Bill Brown, signed up with the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (RHLI) and served overseas.

Connie married Myron Bruce Duncan on 29 June 1947 at Stewart Memorial Church, Hamilton, Ontario. They had a daughter, Aileen, and a son, Stan. Myron went by his middle name, Bruce, and served with the Irish Regiment of Canada.

29 June 1947 Wedding of Connie and Bruce Duncan

Bruce Duncan, Irish Regt of Canada

BLACK MILITARY HISTORY OF NIAGARA Gerald (Gerry) W. A. Bell, “Canada's first Black airman” Gerald (Gerry) W. A. Bell, the son of Ernest Bell of St. Catharines, Ontario and Florence Bell (nee Morton) was born in Hamilton, Ontario on 17 February 1909.

From

1928

to

1930

he

studied

medicine

at

the

University of Western Ontario. In 1929 he received his private and commercial pilot ratings as well as an Air Engineers Certificate. In 1931 he joined the RCAF. A rising sprinter, Bell competed with Jessie Owens in 1933 in international competition. They met again in Berlin, Germany at the 1936 Olympics where Bell was a track and field trainer. In Hamilton, Ontario Bell was

an instructor for barnstorming, aviation, and bush flyers. When the war broke out in 1939, Bell relocated to Yorkshire, England where for the next four years he trained the pilots of the 6th Bomber group. He tested new aircraft, trained pilots, and joined 424 Squadron as an air gunner on flying operations against the enemy. Following the war, Bell served at bases across Canada and with No. 3 Wing in Germany before retiring in 1961 as a Warrant Officer. After 25 years of military service Bell began a 12-year career as a quality control officer at de Haviland and later at Spar Aerospace. In retirement Bell helped restore one of only two flying Avro Lancaster Bombers now housed permanently at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Hamilton.

BLACK MILITARY HISTORY OF NIAGARA

William (Bill) Hokan Bill Hokan of St. Catharines, Ontario, joined the military in 1951 and served with the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry for 20 years.

During that

time Bill served in Canada, Korea, and Germany.

With the Kingsway Legion Bill’s achievements include serving as sergeant-at-arms, Cadet and Band Liaison Officer, Executive and 1st Vice-President as well as starting the Blind Shuffleboard League. Bill received a Certificate of Merit in 1986, Life Membership with the Legion in 1992 and the Meritorious Service Medal in 1996. In 1961 Bill won the Golden Glove Championship and was an accomplished side drummer playing with Military Bands.

William (Bill) Hokan

William Hokan's nephew, Chris Jax - shown at his promotion to Master Bombadier 10th Battery, 56th Field William (Bill) Hokan

Bill’s sister, Private

Regiment (Currently in Navy based

Phyllis Jean Nicholson

in Esquimalt, BC)

served with the Canadian Army Medical Corp.

BLACK MILITARY HISTORY OF NIAGARA STEPHEN THOMAS, MB, CD Sergeant Stephen Thomas, MB, CD was born in Scarborough, Ontario and attended Birchmount Collegiate.

In 2000, while attending high school and participating In a militia “Co-op” Course, he joined the 7th Toronto regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery, a reserve unit, and achieved the rank of Master Bombardier.

In 2003/04, he completed hIs first tour in Afghanistan, in Kabul (OP Athena, Roto 0). Subsequently, in 2005, he transferred to The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada, a reserve infantry regiment also based In Toronto, Ontario later becoming a member of the regiment’s parachute company.Thomas’ second deployment to Afghanistan occurred between July 2006 and March 2007, as part of

Master Corporal Stephen Thomas

Task force 3-06. At this time, he was based In Kandahar and operated through the NSE as force protection.

Then Master Corporal Stephen Thomas was awarded the Medal of Bravery for action in Afghanistan: “On October 3, 2006, in Kandahar, Afghanistan, Corporal Piotr Burcew, Captain Jason Demaine, then Lieutenant, Corporal Adrian Markowski and Master Corporal Stephen Thomas, then corporal, saved the lives of their fellow soldiers and local Afghan civilians by unloading ammunition from a disabled burning vehicle during a suicide bomber attack. Despite having to cross through flames, they repeatedly returned to the vehicle to retrieve mission-essential cargo and high-explosive ammunition that posed a deadly threat to those nearby. They moved away from the scene just moments before the fire raged out of control, detonating the remaining rounds.”

Courtesy

of

The

Queen's

Own

Rifles

of

Canada

Regimental

Museum

and

Archives

https://qormuseum.org/soldiers-of-the-queens-own/thomas-stephen-louis/

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, Niagara Falls, ON (905) 358-1949 Email: niamilmuseum@gmailcom

BLACK MILITARY HISTORY OF NIAGARA MAJOR EDWARD CASSELL SMITH (RETIRED) Ed Smith was born and raised in St. Catharines, Ontario. He joined the Canadian Forces in his early 20s having graduated basic training in June 1986, at CF Base Chilliwack. Smith served Canada in mny regions of the world. For 8 years (2003-2010) Smith was the Officer in Charge (OIC) of a bi-national training exercise (CANCAMEX) that took place in the African nation of Cameroon. Smith was presented with the Order of Military Merit at Rideau Hall by Governor General Michaëlle Jean. The 25year veteran served in Bosnia and as a UN peacekeeper in South Sudan. Smith retired in 2011 after 25 years of service at the rank of Major.

Then Captain, Edward Cassell Smith (Retired) is presented with the Order of Military Merit at Rideau Hall by Governor General Michaelle Jean.

Major Ed Smith (Retired) preparing for a freedom of the city parade in North Bay, with members of 22 Wing North Bay formed up behind him.

Photo of Canadian military personnel posing with counterparts from the Cameroonian military.

For 8 years (2003-2010) Major Ed Smith (Ret’d) was the Officer in Charge (OIC) of a bi-national training exercise (CANCAMEX) that took place in the African nation of Cameroon.

Major Ed Smith (Retired) on graduation day of basic training in June 1986, CFB Chilliwack

NIAGARA MILITARY MUSEUM HOURS: WED. TO SAT. 11 AM TO 4 PM 5049 Victoria Avenue

, Niagara Falls, ON (905) 358-1949 Email: niamilmuseum@gmailcom

The intent of Niagara Military Museum, which seeks to share the stories of Black Canadians who served, is to encourage readers to submit family history or community stories to add to the

Call for Contributors!

DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHOS STORY YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE?

Resource Book and expand the story.

The Black Military History of Niagara exhibit tells the stories of those from the Niagara Peninsula and Southwestern

HELP US FIND OTHERS WHO SERVED AND MAKE THEIR STORY KNOWN

Ontario, who have served in the military from the Pre-Confederation to present day.

Black Canadians have served in Canada’s conflicts from the earliest

contact: niamilmuseum@gmail.com

days yet the stories of Black Canadians in the military are not well known.

Little was known of John Bright from Fort Erie, Ontario. John Bright was the second of only six known Black Canadians to be awarded with the Military Medal in the First World War.

Donna Bright contacted the museum and brought the story her great great uncle forward. Unaware of the historical

EXAMPLE OF LOST HISTORY:

JOHN BRIGHT'S STORY MAY HAVE BEEN LOST WITHOUT RECEIVING A COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTION

significance he held, Bright will now receive some well-deserved recognition.

CAN YOU HELP ADD TO THIS HISTORY? Please send submissions to niamilmuseum@gmail.com with the subject line “RB submission”!

COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTIONS TO BE INCLUDED IN A FUTURE PUBLICATION

Also see:

BLACK MILITARY HISTORY OF NIAGARA TRAVELING EXHIBIT ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

DEDICATED TO: WILMA MORRISSON BLACK MILITARY HISTORY OF NIAGARA COMMITTEE: at

Maggie Craig, Kathy Doherty, Jim Doherty, Bob Foley, Donna Ford, Major Robert Sears, Art Tilley

MANY THANKS TO THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF FAMILIES: The Johnson Family: Bruce Johnson,

son of Douglas Melford Johnson,

Matteis, daughter of Douglas Melford Johnson Museum

Bonita Johnson de

and the Grey County

for images from Lest we Forget copyright 2003,

Angela

Hulme (Johnson) daughter of David Johnson, Beverley D. Johnson daughter of Beverly Clifford Johnson, Micheal S. Johnson son of Beverly Clifford Johnson; Deanna Murray grand-daughter of Beverly Clifford Johnson

Dennis Dawson, Donna Ford,

son of Marjorie Bell and Pudge Dawson

niece of James Grant, and Chair of Central

Ontario

Network of Black History

Major Ed Smith,

RCAF (Retired)

Maggie Craig Ron Nicholson Rochelle Bush,

Salem Chapel, BME Church

Lezlie Harper Wells, Aileen Duncan,

Niagara Bound Tours

Daughter of Connie (Brown) and Bruce Duncan

NIAGARA MILITARY MUSEUM The Armoury, 5049 Victoria Avenue Niagara Falls, Ontario niamilmuseum@gmail.com