Nova Scotia/Nunavut Command of The Royal Canadian Legion www.ns.legion.ca 217 WHITE, Joseph WWI Joseph was born in Halifax in 1897 and grew up in the Old Town Clock on Citadel Hill, in which his father was the caretaker. His father, William “Gunner” White, served in the Royal Artillery before joining the Halifax police. A student at Dalhousie University, Joseph enlisted with the Canadian Machine Gun Corps at eighteen. He was injured in battle and transferred to the Royal Flying Corps and had a decorated career in the world’s first air war. This ace fighter pilot was honoured for his “bravery and dash in action,” downing at least 22 enemy aircraft. Joseph retired as a Captain in No. 65 Squadron. Tragically, as a member of the newlyformed Royal Canadian Air Force he died in a mid-air collision in 1925. Submitted Independently WHITE, Thomas G. SPECIAL DUTY AREA/PEACETIME Thomas was born in New Waterford, Nova Scotia in 1935. He joined the Army and served with the Highlanders, RC signals and Military Engineers. He served in Germany, Palestine, Egypt, Congo, Alert, Bermuda and he was on loan to the German Army Training Centre (GATS), 24 Sqn Royal Engineers, US Air National Guard Mass USA. Thomas G. White CD, Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation served for 39 years. He was the founding member of CAVUNP. He was the First Director and past President of RCL Branch 015 in New Waterford, NS. Thomas was also a member of Veterans Ombudsman Committee. He is a proud Veterans Service Officer for 21 years. Submitted by Independently WHITE, William A. WWI William was born in Virginia to former slaves in 1874. He came to Nova Scotia in 1899 to study at Acadia University. After graduating, he became a minister at Zion Baptist Church in Truro. Prior to joining the No. 2 Construction Battalion at Truro in 1917, William was an active voice against racial discrimination in the Canadian Expeditionary Force. He was a trail blazer. During the Great War, he was one of the few Black officers in the Canadian Army, and its only Black Chaplain. White returned to Halifax after the war, where he became the pastor of Cornwallis Street Baptist Church. He died of cancer in 1936. He is remembered fondly within the African Nova Scotian community as an inspirational and dedicated figure in the fight for racial tolerance and equality. William passed away in 1936. Submitted Independently
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