Fredericton’s first volunteers for the No 2 Construction Corps included George (second from the left) and Frank (far right) Claybourn. The Daily Gleaner, August 16, 1916; Provincial Archives of New Brunswick.

(Fredericton, NB – July 4, 2022) – On July 9, 2022 Canada will issue a National Apology to the relatives and descendants of the members of No. 2 Construction Battalion. This regiment served with distinction during the First World War despite much anti-Black racism.

In honour of this historic event, the Fredericton Region Museum wishes to recognize those brave and courageous individuals from York and Sunbury Counties who served with the No. 2 Construction Battalion. The proud legacy of military service has continued with many of their descendants being former or currently serving military members. Many of their descendants are also still living in the region:

  • Frederick Oral Lupee, Harold McCarty, A. Seymour Tyler, and C Elijah Tyler – grandsons of Julia (Patterson) Lupee-Lewis of Keswick;
  • John Wesley Eatman, son of William B. Eatman of Zealand;
  • Manzer Eatman, brother of Eldridge and William B Eatman of Zealand;
  • Charles William O’Ree, grandfather of Willie O’Ree of Fredericton;
  • Frank Morris Claybourn, son of George and Lucy Claybourn of Barkers Point;
  • Harry Timothy Jones, who later married Maude O’Ree of Kingsclear;
  • Reuben Johnson, who later married Thea Dymond, daughter of the celebrated First World War veteran Miles Dymond of Keswick;
  • Edward S. Washington, who owned and operated Washington’s Restaurant in Fredericton; and
  • Albert Carty of Saint John, father of Fredericton’s beloved Gerald Carty.

All of these men travelled overseas with the No. 2 Construction Battalion in March,1917. The No. 2 Construction Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF), was raised in Nova Scotia and was one of two predominantly Black battalions in Canadian military history, and the only Canadian battalion composed of Black soldiers to serve in the First World War.

More information regarding Fredericton’s Black heritage can be learned by visiting the Fredericton Region Museum, where the commemorative exhibition Our Black Heritage: Early Black Settlers of York-Sunbury Counties 1783 to Present opened on National Emancipation Day, August 1, 2021.

New Brunswick members of No. 2 Construction Battalion C.E.F. band, 1917 (Back row): Albert Carty*, Fred Charles Dixon, Percy William Thomas, James Albert Sadlier. (Front row): Herbert Nichols, George Richard Dixon, Band Master Sergeant George William Stewart, Arthur Seymour Tyler, and Harold Bushfan; Image courtesy of Jennifer Dow.

Since the arrival of Black Loyalists in 1783, there have been people of African descent who have contributed greatly to the development of New Brunswick. Working ever so silently, without recognition or applause, families and communities have banded together to contribute in significant ways to the social enfranchisement of themselves and their neighbours. On July 9, 2022, the Fredericton Region Museum is proud to stand as allies with the descendants of No. 2 Construction Battalion.

The museum is now operating on summer hours: Monday to Saturday, 10 am to 5 pm, and Sundays 12 noon to 5pm.

For more information, please contact:
Melynda Jarratt, Executive Director
Fredericton Region Museum www.frederictonregionmuseum.com
Email: frederictonregionmuseum@gmail.com or phone 506-455-6041