2016 No. 2 Construction Battalion single stamp from booklet

Honoring the Legacy of Little-Known World War I Soldiers

In 2016, Canada issued this neat mint stamp to honor the men of the No. 2 Construction Battalion.  The battalion consisted of black soldiers who had previously been prevented from enlisting in the war effort due to prejudice. 

Then on July 5, 1916, the No. 2 Construction Battalion was formed, giving these men the chance to join the war as part of the Forestry Corps in France.  Their job was to harvest, mill, and ship timber to the Western Front.  Their work was hard and they faced segregation, and some never returned home.  Some also managed to find ways to fight, including at Vimy Ridge. 

The stamp’s designer proclaimed that it “celebrates the drive, commitment and effort of these somewhat forgotten soldiers… I hope that uncovering their story allows them to take their fair place in Canadian history.”  Now you can add that history to your collection with this meaningful mint stamp.