“First Black Canadian enrolled in the Royal Canadian Navy to be appointed Coxswain of a warship and recipient of the Order of Military Merit. ”
Raymond Lawrence was born in New Brunswick, the son of Woodford Smith Lawrence and Augusta Emma Lawrence. His interests in the navy started at an early age and when he turned twenty-two, Raymond joined the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) as a Regular Force sailor in 1953.
It is important to note that it was only mid-way during the Second World War that “Blacks who were British subjects were allowed to enlist in the RCN” (Wong 60). Prior to this, naval regulations stipulated that “… personnel entered in the naval service must be of the white race” (Sheffield) and since the RCN was the smallest of the three elements and, as a result, suffered less casualties, it could afford to be selective in its recruiting practices. On March 12, 1943, Resolution 1986 was passed by the Committee of the Privy Council, which stated that “… any male British subject of any racial origin may be entered for the period of hostilities in the Canadian Naval Forces.” (Sheffield) However, despite discriminatory recruitment policies being rescinded on paper, in practice Black Canadians were still discouraged from joining Canada’s naval forces. Recruiters continued pre-1943 practices, diverting candidates to the other services and reciting the ad-hoc, and painfully racist, narrative that their rejection was out of “genuine” concern for their safety as ships, being small and restricted spaces, would likely see minorities “suffer” at the hands of the majority. Still, others simply resorted to insubordination, openly refusing to follow the official directive and sign-off on enrollment papers. At present, only one person is known to have broken through this colour barrier – Piercy Augustus Haynes – and it took a colossal amount of perseverance and resolve to do so.
Haynes emigrated to Canada with his parents from British Guiana and, when his friends and classmates went to a Winnipeg RCN recruiter to join the navy, he also attempted to join (Ruck). An accomplished boxer and solid student, he easily passed basic requirements, yet the recruiting officer, a naval captain, turned him away and suggested he try the army. Haynes wouldn’t have it – he wrote a letter to none other than Angus L. Macdonald, Minister of National Defence for Naval Affairs, with his grievance. Unfortunately, as it was 1942, Macdonald stuck to regulations and even repeated the same old line about it being in the best interest of minorities.
Haynes refused to concede defeat and continued his campaign, repeatedly sending letters to various officials to have the directive changed. It worked – the following year the Naval Service Act was revised to allow any male who met the basic physical requirements to join, “regardless of race, colour or creed.” (Ruck) Armed with a new letter form Macdonald, which now approved his admittance into the service, Haynes went back to his local naval recruiting office, but the same captain dismissed him, refusing to even read it. Summarily, the officer was removed from his post and Haynes finally succeeded to join the RCNVR.
However, things were far from unrestricted. Haynes wasn’t permitted to serve aboard ship and was kept ashore in Halifax. It is rumored, and highly likely, that a handful of other Black Canadians managed to join, although none were admitted into the regular-force navy and, like Haynes, were barred from serving at sea (Ruck). A decade later, things would thankfully change – Lawrence would not only be able to join the regular RCN but would serve in an unrestricted capacity. At last, a Black Canadian would make the navy their career, and quite a career it would be!
Lawrence spent many years at sea aboard several HMC ships, including Algonquin, Restigouche, Cape Scott, Nipigon, Columbia, Annapolis, and Assiniboine. He rose steadily through the non-commissioned ranks, impressing his superiors and showing, more-so than any other prior, that there was a truly place for Black sailors in the modern RCN. Additionally, Lawrence was active with the Nova Scotia Tattoo, at first participating in the naval gun run and later coaching future teams at Osborne Head (presently a naval electronic test range and part of CFB Halifax’s Fleet Maintenance Facility Cape Scott).
In 1974, Lawrence was promoted to Chief Petty Officer First Class – the highest non-commissioned rank – and two years later was appointed Coxswain of Annapolis, the first black Canadian to achieve such an appointment. The importance of this cannot be understanded: the Coxswain of a warship is the senior non-commissioned officer and, along with the Captain and Executive Officer, is an integral part of the ship’s command team. Lawrence was primarily responsible for routine and discipline aboard Annapolis, an essential link between the officers and crew. Little surprise, he excelled in the role and was respected by the entire crew as a leader and mentor. A year later, Lawrence was honoured for his many years of laudable service and was invested as a Member of the Order of Military Merit, the first Black Canadian to be awarded the prestigious honour.
After serving aboard Annapolis, Lawrence was posted to Maritime Command Headquarters and trained sailors on Junior Leadership Courses. Both subordinates and superiors who worked with him described Lawrence as “always the gentleman” and a “hell of a nice guy” (quotes taken from veteran responses to an RCN Facebook post). Lawrence retired from the navy in 1985, completing an impressive thirty-two years in uniform – another first for a Black Canadian.
After leaving the navy, Lawrence took a job as a deputy sheriff. His family often referred to him as “… Chief or Father and teased him about being a new Sheriff in town, which always brought out that infectious laugh we all loved to hear.” (obit)
Lawrence passed away on March 6, 2021 at ninety years of age. The impact of his service in the RCN cannot be understated – he set the stage for future Black Canadians who have since made the RCN a career, shattering long-standing racial barriers. His example would eventually see Commander Paul Smith MSM, CD appointed as Commanding Officer of HMCS Kingston in 2014, the first Black Canadian to command a Canadian Warship. He would then take command of HMCS York in 2021, the country’s largest naval reserve division.
A special Note on Sources and Candidates
At present, information on CPO1 Lawrence is limited. The author is actively working with various partners, including the Directorate of History & Heritage, and will update the bio accordingly. There may also be questions as to why Lawrence was chosen rather than Haynes, or Gordon Munro who joined the RCN as a Radar Plotter in 1948/49 (the latter being only very recently revealed). Research on the service of Black Canadians in the RCN has only begun and, at present, information is extremely sparse. Regardless, the CNTP focused on Lawrence for the following reasons: 1) he served aboard more vessels and held more positions than any before him; 2) his career was by far the longest – he was the first Black Canadian to earn two bars to the Canadian Forces Decoration; 3) no-one prior obtained as high a rank or appointment – he was the first to become a CPO1 and to carry out the duties of a Coxswain of a warship with distinction; and 4) he was the first Black Canadian to be invested into the Order of Military Merit. As such, even if other Black Canadians had managed to join the navy before Lawrence, and it is the position of the author that several likely have, none had as successful or laudable a career. Put simply, Lawrence had a lot of “firsts”. Notwithstanding the historical contributions of those before him, most notably Haynes, Lawrence did more, through the merits of his service, to blaze a trail upon which future Black Canadians would follow. His achievements within the navy truly opened a door long, and unjustly, barred to Black Canadians wishing to serve the nation at sea.
Lawrence’s Awards and Decorations:
Canadian Forces Decoration with two bars; Member of the Order of Military Merit (1976); Queen’s Silver Jubilee Medal (1977).
Sources:
Wong, M. The Dragon and the Maple Leaf: Chinese Canadians in World War II. Pirie Publishing, 1994.
Debates of the Senate (Hansard), 1st Session, 36th Parliament, Volume 137, Issue 118 Wednesday, March 10, 1999, Comments made by Hon. Calvin Woodrow Ruck.
Sheffield, R. Scott ““Of Pure European Descent and of the White Race”: Recruitment Policy and Aboriginal Canadians, 1939–1945.” Canadian Military History 5, 1 (1996)
http://www.forposterityssake.ca/BTCB.htm
https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/dartmouth-ns/raymond-lawrence-10093070
Prepared By:
Sean E. Livingston, Co-Founder CNTP and Author Oakville’s Flower: The History of HMCS Oakville
