Continuing with the theme of last week, I again this year bring you stories related to Black History Month. Mention was given to some of those written about in the past in this space. Names like black Medal of Honor recipients Joseph Noil, Joachim Pease and Robert Sweeney. I reminded you that much more than what was in the latest blog is available at this site by simply using the search engine at above right on this page.
Feedback tells me some of you have now done so. More should do so because in earlier blogs I often go into considerable detail about the Medal of Honor recipient, or others written about, and feel you should see the expanded stories as well as the latest snippets. Often these contain tidbits not readily available elsewhere.
Any serious writings about the Black soldiers and sailors and heroism is often incomplete and could be viewed as a disservice. I say this because far too often what is left out is the ugly head of racism. A scourge on mankind dating back centuries, not just in Canada and the US and England but elsewhere as well.
I am little qualified to take on the task of articulating this issue. Others hopefully will be ever watchful of these matters. But I have seen it regularly in the research being done regarding our military heroes,
But today's is a lead up...
Feedback tells me some of you have now done so. More should do so because in earlier blogs I often go into considerable detail about the Medal of Honor recipient, or others written about, and feel you should see the expanded stories as well as the latest snippets. Often these contain tidbits not readily available elsewhere.
Any serious writings about the Black soldiers and sailors and heroism is often incomplete and could be viewed as a disservice. I say this because far too often what is left out is the ugly head of racism. A scourge on mankind dating back centuries, not just in Canada and the US and England but elsewhere as well.
I am little qualified to take on the task of articulating this issue. Others hopefully will be ever watchful of these matters. But I have seen it regularly in the research being done regarding our military heroes,
But today's is a lead up...
As you can see, Timothy O'Hea (above) was not a Black man. Nor was he racist that we know of. But let's look at some other facts.
He was a soldier assigned to Canada from England. He was with a Sergeant and a handful of others who were to ride with a train west bound and traveling through the eastern townships of Quebec when he discovered the train almost on fire. It was attached to a passenger train. It also was concealing the transport of some 2000 rounds of ammunition, back in 1866, along with about 95 barrels of gunpowder en-route to the Lake Erie area to support the soldiers fearing impending Fenian attacks.
Also on board the same train were some 800 Doukhobor Immigrants heading to Western Canada.
The train was about to catch fire... and while the soldiers abandoned their posts for protection the lone O'Hea made 19 trips to gather a pail-full of water to throw on the smouldering mess. It did not explode and the immigrants were saved.
Each was LOCKED in carriage cars at the time. This was to prevent them leaving the train before arriving out west.
Racism at best!
Ohea's deed earned him a Victoria Cross, the only one in the history of the VC to be awarded for action on soil from what would, a year later become known as CANADA. Canadian. (Though others were presented within what was later Canada as well.)
He was a soldier assigned to Canada from England. He was with a Sergeant and a handful of others who were to ride with a train west bound and traveling through the eastern townships of Quebec when he discovered the train almost on fire. It was attached to a passenger train. It also was concealing the transport of some 2000 rounds of ammunition, back in 1866, along with about 95 barrels of gunpowder en-route to the Lake Erie area to support the soldiers fearing impending Fenian attacks.
Also on board the same train were some 800 Doukhobor Immigrants heading to Western Canada.
The train was about to catch fire... and while the soldiers abandoned their posts for protection the lone O'Hea made 19 trips to gather a pail-full of water to throw on the smouldering mess. It did not explode and the immigrants were saved.
Each was LOCKED in carriage cars at the time. This was to prevent them leaving the train before arriving out west.
Racism at best!
Ohea's deed earned him a Victoria Cross, the only one in the history of the VC to be awarded for action on soil from what would, a year later become known as CANADA. Canadian. (Though others were presented within what was later Canada as well.)
We now jump forward from 1866 to 1946 and travel eastbound from Quebec to Nova Scotia. You will hopefully recall the story I brought a few weeks back about Viola Desmond and the new Canadian $10 bills recently issued for circulation.
Above we see the new bill front at right, and reverse at left that features her image. The bill is the first in Canada ever to have the major feature inverted to a standing position and requiring the bill to be turned on its end for proper viewing. It is also the first with a non-royal woman, and for a black Canadian. It of course has her in a standing position as she stood up... for her rights!
It all started with her being refused to be allowed to remain in a main floor movie house seating, back in 1946, whilst all black people were "required" to seat in an upper balcony.
The issues raised by her, would be similar to the bus boycott after the conviction in 1955 of Alabama's famous Rosa Parks' case where the black woman refused to give up seating so that a white passenger could sit. A case that is well known across North America and happening nine years after the Canadian case.
But like the Eveready Battery, the Canadian Mint keeps on giving!
Above we see the new bill front at right, and reverse at left that features her image. The bill is the first in Canada ever to have the major feature inverted to a standing position and requiring the bill to be turned on its end for proper viewing. It is also the first with a non-royal woman, and for a black Canadian. It of course has her in a standing position as she stood up... for her rights!
It all started with her being refused to be allowed to remain in a main floor movie house seating, back in 1946, whilst all black people were "required" to seat in an upper balcony.
The issues raised by her, would be similar to the bus boycott after the conviction in 1955 of Alabama's famous Rosa Parks' case where the black woman refused to give up seating so that a white passenger could sit. A case that is well known across North America and happening nine years after the Canadian case.
But like the Eveready Battery, the Canadian Mint keeps on giving!
A few weeks ago the Mint and Canadian government revealed a new 99.999 silver 20$ collector coin that also depicts Viola Desmond on it. As you can see above, it has a duplicate of her actual signature, and the double date of 1919 and 1965 for her years of birth and passing. The coin set will come complete with an actual ten dollar bill as shown above and a certificate of authenticity and will be made available in July, her month of birth.
Purchasing details are on the net and those interested should remember that there is a limited production run so order early.
I will be away on the 10th so the next blog will be on the 17th. Hope to see you then.
Bart
Purchasing details are on the net and those interested should remember that there is a limited production run so order early.
I will be away on the 10th so the next blog will be on the 17th. Hope to see you then.
Bart
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