Last week in the Mid-Ocean News we carried Part One of extracts from the book I have written on the proud role blacks have played in the defence of their homeland.

The feature is set against the background of the current year-long celebration of Bermuda's 400th anniversary. And most especially because of the fact that during most of those centuries there have been virtually 'two Bermudas', one predominantly black and the other white, separate and distinctly unequal. Also in Part One we documented how the patriotism of Blacks had been exemplary and indeed most extraordinary considering their unflinching service during the dark days of slavery when it was an offence punishable by death for negroes caught with firearms.

Part Two

When the First World War broke out in 1914, the BMA was a highly trained unit. They were actually in camp at the start of the hostilities. There was no lack of loyalty or shirking of responsibility on their part. The patriotism of black Bermudians generally was exemplified by a touching letter from a former corporal, Reginald J.H. Pearman, who after 15 years of honourable service in the militia from the time of its inception, had gone to work in Lowell, Massachusetts. He also had the distinction of being one of the men sent to England to represent Bermuda on the occasion of the coronation of King Edward VII in 1901.

Mr. Pearman wrote as follows to his mother Anna S. Wilkinson:

Dear Mother: I received your last letter, also the paper, thanking you for your kindness.

Now, Mother, I have a question for you to consider.

I saw by the papers you sent that they want 100 men to go to the front.

You know that I owe a duty to the Flag of England, and I must be in the 100. I have got to go to help out those boys over there.

Now I am willing to sacrifice all for the Nation's Flag and little Bermuda.

Please give me your opinion about this valuable duty. I must and am bound to perform it. Remember you always told me that I was not born a coward. If I can serve fifteen years honourably with the BMA abroad and in Bermuda, why not serve fifteen years on the battlefield if that is essential? I am not a coward, and I am not going to let my comrades call me one if I get the chance for the front. Write me right away, please, because I want to notify my Commanding Officer at St. George's Bermuda.

Now, Mother, don't cry over this. You must save that little drop of water in case the Germans take or come in possession of little Bermuda; then do your lashing out. This is urgent. Write me right away please. —Reginald J.H. Pearman.

The Mid-Ocean News published the letter; its Editor considered it as strong an appeal to the coloured men of Bermuda to volunteer for service as any speech that had been delivered. And volunteer they did.

On May 28, 1916, 206 BMAs and four officers commanded by Major Tom Dill left St. George in convoy for Britain. They arrived there on June 9 and disembarked at Devonport. Orders were awaiting them to proceed immediately to France, where they landed on June 24.

Major Dill in his memoirs stated the contingent was divided into four detachments of equal size and were assigned to certain Corps in various sectors of the warfront.

All the Bermudians were under fire a few days later when they were engaged in the attack on the Somme, July 1. According to Major Dill they were assigned the arduous task of passing ammunition to batteries at the front from dumps so perilously under shell fire that they were compelled to work in constant danger, which they did efficiently, evincing exemplary courage and tenacity that won them praise from the beginning.

The following year, 1917, the Bermuda contingent was engaged in the thickest battles, acquitting themselves heroically during the attack on Vimy Ridge April 9 and subsequent battles which won for them commendations from Army Headquarters.

There had been severe casualties among the Bermudians, which increased when they were moved on May 23 to the Second Army Area attached to the Fifty-second Heavy Artillery Brigade at Le Don Camp near Lloesteert. From there they were in the thick of the attack on the Messines-Wyschaete Ridge on June 7, when several of the men were gassed. For the next four and a half months the Bermudians were moved from one front to another. Casualties mounted as they were exposed to daily shell fire and lethal night bombing handling ammunition at advanced dumps.

By the end of June 1917 the contingent was reinforced by the arrival from Bermuda of the second contingent of BCRGAs, forty men and two officers. They went straight to advance ammunition depots for their baptism of fire. In mid-January 1918 the BCRGAs were moved out of the line in Y pres to a rest station near Rouen. Their Corps Commander wrote to Major Dill as follows:

"Your unit has been working on ammunition supply in this area since April 1917, and though sustaining severe casualties latterly, working under the most trying climatic conditions, the work done has been consistently good.

"On leaving the VIII Corps the Corp Commander wishes his appreciation conveyed to all ranks. "

By July 7, the Bermudians were back at the front, engaged at Aire for a successful assault venture then moved into Belgium where they were active until the Armistice on November 11, 1918.

The Allied Commander-in-Chief, Lord Haig in his official report on the BCRGAs stated:

'This contingent served with the Canadian Corp during the operations of May and June subsequent to the capture of Vimy Ridge. They were employed on Heavy Ammunition Dumps and great satisfaction was expressed with their work.

"Though called upon to perform labour of the most arduous and exacting nature at all times of the day and night, they were not only willing and efficient but conspicuous for their cheeriness under all conditions. Their officers rendered valuable service in the management of the Dumps.

'The unit also worked on Ammunition Dumps from the end of June to the beginning of September with another Corps. On more than one occasion the Dumps at which they were employed were ignited by hostile shell fire and much of their work was done under shell fire. Their behaviours on all these occasions was excellent and commanded the admiration of those with whom they were serving. In fact the manner in which they carried out their work under all conditions was strikingly good.'

Major Dill was twice mentioned in despatches. Lieutenant Wrigg was awarded the Military Cross and Sergeant Sergeant the Military Medal for gallantry under fire. Gunners Manders and Knight were awarded the Military Medal for their conduct. Particulars of those actions and others are noted elsewhere.

Whereas Lord Haig memorialised the services and sacrifices of the Bermudians on the battlefield, their efforts were not lacking notice on the home front.

A Government Notice in the Official Gazette published for general information of the public carried details of correspondence between the Governor Lord Bullock and the Secretary of State for the Colonies at Downing Street, Rt. Hon. A. Bonar Law, M.P .. Dated 25 October, 1916. The letter from the Governor stated:

"In reply to your Circular (2) despatch date 7th ultimo, I have the honour to state that I have some difficulty realising the exact scope of the recommendations I should make. The local forces consist of the BMA and the BVRC. The former have been embodied since the outbreak of the war; the latter have been held liable to serve but have not been actually embodied except for some two months at the beginning of the warl They have, however performed a great deal of arduous work without which I could not have carried out the routine work of the garrison without calling on the home authorities for additional troops

"As the BMA have been embodied since the outbreak of war I assume that the services of this Corps will be recognised at the end of the war with those other troops who have been on active service. They, however, sent a contingent of 200 men to the front whose useful work has been recently acknowledged. I regret that I have not been able to send more of them at once, as requested, owing to the shortage of labour and other reasons; but have made propositions, which I hope to fulfill, for sending more next spring if my suggestions are accepted."

(To Be Continued)