Surprising Canadian WW1 history and the Blencowes

Canadians long known for their tolerance to and support of equality are surprised to learn that in WW1 there was intolerance and racial discrimination in the community even in a time when the nation needed to pull together. In 1871 Thomas Blencowe b.1838 Middleton Cheney and his wife Elizabeth (nee Ward) arrived on the “Prussian”in Quebec City Canada. They proceeded to Simcoe County on the shores of Lake Simcoe in Ontario to set up home and a living as Farmers.

Sometime between 1871 and 1883 Elizabeth died, there doesn’t appear to be any children from that marriage.

In 1883 Thomas married Hannah Lavinia Eddy (or Addy) age 19 a woman of African descent .

Hannah was no recent immigrant to Canada in fact she came from a rich history of Black Canadians who joined forces with the British in 1776 war of independence forming a ‘Black’ regiment and fighting on the British side. These soldiers and families settling in Nova Scotia in what was called Upper Canada .¹

Hannah’s grandparents may well have again formed a part of the Black regiment that fought for Canada in the 1812 war between USA and Canada.

Interestingly whether they fought or were camp followers, they were the first black pioneers to the province of Ontario. From history of Simcoe County ‘The first black pioneers that settled in Simcoe County arrived as soldiers in the War of 1812. They were members of Capt. Runchey’s “ Company of Coloured Men”. “The company saw action at Stoney Creek, Queenston Heights, Lundy’s Lane and Saint David’s. After the War of 1812 some of the veterans settled in the Simcoe County area.“ ²

Thomas and Hannah had seven children between 1883-1900 they being Charlie (1883),William Edward,(1885), Frank (1888) Thomas (1894) Eda (1896), Edward James (1897) Nellie (1900)

Thomas and the family lived in a rural hamlet of Oro and likely farmed the land there between the current city of Barrie and the town of Orillia
When 1914 came round sons Frank, Thomas and Edward James wanted to enlist in the Canadian Expeditionary Force. There was a problem though (much to the surprise of some modern-day Canadians) segregation and discrimination was still being practised unofficially .

Canadians of African descent who volunteered were not getting accepted for the Army and reasons given were not acceptable.

Arthur Alexander a Black Leader from Buxton Ontario wrote to the Government to protest four months after the war began. The answer he received was “it was up to the Company Commanders who they selected”, the subsequent correspondence over the next year or so makes very sad reading and the rejection of able-bodied men on race only grounds was indefensible. The result was more protest from the Canadian Black Community and eventually, authorities agreed to a Black Battalion to be formed.

In July 1916 the battalion was formed and it was called No 2 Construction Company.

FRANK BLENCOWE,1888, ONTARIO, PRIVATE, 931604, CEF NO. 2 CONSTRUCTION BN.

Frank joined No.2 Construction Company in October 1916, and March 1917 embarked for England.After a period of training in England the No 2 Construction Coy. was to embark for the Western front and landed in France on 17 May 1917.

In May 1917, the unit was downgraded in status to a company and attached to the Canadian Forestry Corps.By the fall of 1917, the unit was operating in the Jura mountains of France.

It was employed primarily in the production of timber for repairing roads. Members of the unit hoped to be able to take part in the action of the trenches but only a few eventually did. Even so, some were injured, and some lost their lives to artillery fire, poison gas, and construction accidents.4

Frank was in France through to the Armistice and on 11th Dec.1918 he was transported back to England and posted to Kinmel Park, Canadian Discharge Depot, Wales for a what turned out for him and most Canadian soldiers a long waiting period before shipping home. This long wait caused Canadian forces in general to be very frustrated and upset (see March 1919 riot of Canadian Soldiers) . Frank eventually was posted to Canada on 19th Jan. 1919 and on the 8th Feb. discharged at London Ontario.

While the story so far shows a racist selection environment existed in 1914/15, Frank’s brother Edward James joined a regular Canadian Regiment May 1916, showing the selection criteria was arbitrarily applied.

Edward James Blencowe, 1897, Edgar, Ontario, Sapper, 853472, 177th (Simcoe Foresters), 123rd (Pioneer) Bn CEF and 7th Engineers

177th Bn	123rd Pioneer Bn	7th Canadian Engineers

Edward served from 1916-1919 fighting at Passchendaele and other actions of the 123rd Bn in the war.4

In many cases the 123rd Battalion served with front line troops, and in fact, in front of the front line troops, to improve roads, and establish battlements, fortification and dugouts for the front-line infantry troops to use and occupy. They suffered many casualties. One of their principal roles was to build plank roads to facilitate movement of troops, artillery pieces, and supply columns, only to have the Germans shell the roads, requiring immense efforts to get Canadian forces to and from the front. In 1918 the 123rd was disbanded and men moved to battalions of the Canadian Engineers. Edward returned home to Toronto in Mar.1919.

THOMAS BLENCOWE, PRIVATE, 3108518, CEF NO. 2 CONSTRUCTION BN.

Thomas the youngest brother joined up with the No2 Construction Coy. in Nov. 1917 and was attested in March 1918, too late to be sent overseas by the time initial training had been completed.

At the end of the war the No. 2 Construction Company was given a heroes welcome as this photographed taken in post war Toronto attests.This maybe was an act of atonement for the disgraceful treatment at the beginning of the war.

This photograph was taken at the dedication of a plaque in memory of the members of the No. 2 Construction Battalion, an all-Black non-combat battalion that served in World War I. The plaque was (and is) in the main hall of Queen’s Park.[/caption]

Thus three Black brothers Frank,Thomas and Edward James Blencowe, served their country and the Commonwealth repeating history from 1776 and 1812. All the brothers married and lived in Canada after the war.

Sources

1. Wikipedia – Black Loyalists
2. Extract from Wikipedia No. 2 Construction Battalion
3. Black Pioneers – Simcoe County 1812 Vets
4. Canada’s Black Battalion : No. 2 Construction, 1916-1920
5. The Army records for Frank, Edward James, and Thomas Blencowe