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#1
29-08-16, 03:44 AM
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....No.2 Construction Company...in a trench...
Canadian official photograph N° O.3319., from the Western Front ~ WW1 1914-18. "Three coloured 'guys' get themselves snapped in a German dug-out on the Canal du Nord."
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-t...%252520036.jpg
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"There truly exists but one perfect order: that of cemeteries. The dead never complain and they enjoy their equality in silence." - “There are things we know that we know,” “There are known unknowns. That is to say there are things that we now know we don't know. But there are also unknown unknowns. There are things we do not know we don't know.” Donald Rumsfeld, before the Iraqi Invasion,2003. Age is something that doesn't matter, unless you are a cheese. 
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#3
29-08-16, 12:34 PM
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Quote:
Hi Bill....I tried very hard to confirm point #1 and, point #2 is certainly is...... Jo
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"There truly exists but one perfect order: that of cemeteries. The dead never complain and they enjoy their equality in silence." - “There are things we know that we know,” “There are known unknowns. That is to say there are things that we now know we don't know. But there are also unknown unknowns. There are things we do not know we don't know.” Donald Rumsfeld, before the Iraqi Invasion,2003. Age is something that doesn't matter, unless you are a cheese.
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#4
29-08-16, 01:30 PM
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Quote:
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#5
29-08-16, 03:50 PM
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Hi Jo.
Je pense que c'est ce cap badge? (I Think it's tis cap badge?) Bonne fin de journée au Québec. http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/for...attach/jpg.gif
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#8
29-08-16, 09:32 PM
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Bill, the BWIR tended to be used as labour troops rather than infantry, there being a prejudiced view of their abilities back then. Being assigned to a Construction Battalion would have fitted in with the prevailing attitude towards them at the time.
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#9
29-08-16, 10:18 PM
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The photo in question is available online from Library and Archives Canada. http://collectionscanada.gc.ca/pam_a...r_list=3194350
The description given (usually as per the original photographer's description) is similar as in the OP "Three coloured soldiers in a German dug-out captured during the Canadian advance east of Arras" . The difference being the Canadian notation. The photo is credited to William Rider-Rider, a noted official Canadian war photographer.
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#10
29-08-16, 10:55 PM
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Unfortunately, the official photographers took pictures of various units during operations, so it is not conclusive either way.
I tried copying and expanding the portion of the image with the badge, but it didn't have the clarity for a positive id.
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Res ipsa loquitur
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#12
30-08-16, 02:01 AM
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While not an iconic image widely known except to those who may have an interest in the 2nd Construction Company in particular or Black Canadian soldiers in general, it has been often used to illustrate the subject and usually associated with the unit mentioned.
The photo is included on the Veterans Affairs Canada webpage honouring the service of Black Canadians in uniform. (the page is of interest personally because one of the photos there is of a friend who I served with in Egypt nearly forty years ago. If these three soldiers were not Canadian, a few websites would probably have to change. While the 2nd Construction Coy was the only "black" unit, they were not the only soldiers of colour in the CEF. In looking at the possibility that elements of that unit were in the area (east of Arras) at that particular time, a quick look through the war diary of the company indicates that the company was in the area of Lajoux (in the Jura - over near Switzerland) at that time. However, two officers and 180 ORs were attached to No. 1 District, Central Group, Canadian Forestry Corps from 1 Jan 1918. This HQ was located at Alencon (Normandie), so there was an element located closer (but not too close) to Arras. There were no details in the No. 1 District HQ war diary to indicate that any of the companies under them specifically moved to the Arras area.
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#13
30-08-16, 10:06 AM
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Hi for all.
I am French and live very close Arras. For Blackadder 1916: From Alençon to Arras there is about 350 km (more than 200 miles...) I send my cap badge because I collect Commonwealth cap badges. I don't see any answer about it... A nice day for everybody.
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