
The military heritage of the New Brunswick Black community is
long and proud. About 1000 of the 3000 Black Loyalists had served with the
British army during the American Revolutionary War. One unit was called the
Black Pioneers, commanded by White officers but manned entirely with runaway
American slaves. Although the 1787 New Brunswick Militia Act required all able
bodied men to serve in the Militia, it was not until 1804 before Blacks were
enrolled in the
York Rangers. In 1813 an African Staff Company
was formed and attached to the St. John County Regiment.
Pioneer 104th (New Brunswick) Regiment 1814. Each regular army battalion had a Pioneer section of about 10 men who were skilled in the use of tools. Their duties included road making, bridge building, and the construction and repair of simple fortifications. All the Pioneers of the 104th Regiment were Black.
The 1st and 3rd Battalions of the York County Militia had an African Company
attached until 1849. This Company usually acted as a sapper unit . Blacks
continued to serve with Militia units until World War One when they became part
of the regular forces.
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Brunswick Community College - Saint John.