The accidental collision of a munitions ship with another vessel in halifax harbour in 1917 was the largest manmade explosion prior to hiroshima. Nov 30, 2017 barsss story he was one of the first to arrive to tend to the injured is featured in the great halifax explosion, american author and journalism instructor john u. A world war i story of treachery, tragedy and extraordinary heroism, by john u. Dec 06, 2017 halifaxs harbor after the explosion in december 1917. The book is displayed at the entrance to the museums halifax explosion exhibit halifax wrecked. Jun 25, 2009 this feature is not available right now. Others maintain that it was a tragic accident of unimaginable proportions.
Be the first to ask a question about the great halifax explosion. The great halifax explosion book pima county public. Two perspectives on halifax one year after the explosion. Nova scotia archives and records management halifax explosion 1917 online resources.
Army and navy personnel worked shouldertoshoulder with civilians on rescue, recovery and reconstruction. This one was about a brand new eye surgeon who moved to halifax and into the house of his bosspartnermentors family. Century after halifaxs great explosion, city marks anniversary. Halifax explosion the anatomy of a disaster page 1. The accidental collision of a munitions ship with another vessel in halifax harbour in 1917 was the largest manmade explosion prior to. A collision between two ships in halifax harbour in 1917 set off an explosion unrivalled until the atomic bomb. The author relates the circumstances of the accident that caused the explosion, as well as the recovery efforts and subsequent inquiry into the event. The ruins of the canadian port of halifax in the wake of the explosion in december almost people were killed and injured when two ships collided at the height of the first.
A moving exhibit on the explosion, halifax wrecked, can be seen at the maritime museum of the atlantic, lower water street. That accident sparked a fire and an apocalyptic explosion that was the largest manmade blast prior to the. Many books have been written on the subject of the halifax explosion. Was in love with one sister, but married the other out of duty because she was blinded during the explosion. To me, its a double tragedy not only that more than 1800 people died on that day and over 9000 were injured 200 blinded by flying glass right here in nova scotia, but that this isnt taught in schools. Dec 05, 2017 lessons learned 100 years after halifax explosion. Nov 21, 2017 this is the unforgettable story told in john u. The halifax explosion of 1917 in many ways december 6th, 1917 was a typical early winter day in halifax. Century after halifaxs great explosion, city marks. Vessels were loading cargo, awaiting convoys, or under repair. Dec 05, 2017 black snow is a love story set during the halifax explosion. The resulting blast was the biggest manmade explosion of the preatomic age, according to analysts. The halifax explosion was a disaster that occurred in halifax, nova scotia, canada, on the morning of 6 december 1917. This list includes the major vessels involved or affected in the explosion.
There are a few novels based on the events surrounding the halifax explosion in 1917. More nova scotians were killed in the explosion than were killed in wwi. The first world war had been underway for three years, exposing canadian servicemen to injury, death and hardship, but bringing prosperity to halifax. Unfortunately, the ss imo, was on its way out of the harbor and on the wrong side of the channel. Jefferson, rearadmiral bertram chambers, garry shutlak. Ss montblanc, a french cargo ship laden with high explosives, collided with the norwegian vessel ss imo in the narrows, a strait connecting the upper halifax harbour to bedford basin.
The online version features a searchable database with detailed information for 1952 casualties more than 300 of whom are newlyconfirmed and identified victims. Bacons the great halifax explosion trace the reverberations of the deadly disaster. Score a book s total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. Halifax explosion books tagged halifax explosion librarything. A world war i story of treachery, tragedy, and extraordinary heroism bacon, john u. The great halifax explosion and millions of other books are available for. A newly discovered diary tells the harrowing story of the deadly halifax explosion on the eve of the disasters centennial, a sailors 1917 journal details a rare eyewitness account of the. Africville, campbell road, halifax, nova scotia 45 19171206. Two more histories have been added to the dozens of other books. Jul 14, 2017 a newly discovered diary tells the harrowing story of the deadly halifax explosion on the eve of the disasters centennial, a sailors 1917 journal details a rare eyewitness account of the. It was the result of an unlikely collision in the narrows of halifax harbour, involving the french ship, mont blanc loaded with tons of wet and dry picric acid, tnt, gun cotton and benzol and the belgian relief vessel, imo, under norwegian registry. Though given clearance to leave the port on 5 december, imos departure was delayed because her coal load did not arrive until late that. Goodbye, hoping to stop an incoming train from saint john nb with hundreds of people on board.
Halifax harbour 1918 le port dhalifax 1918 goose lane. Crowds gathered around to watch the fire from the initial collision. The halifax explosion was the greatest nonnuclear detonation in history, killing 2,000 people and obliterating homes and businesses over a large swath of the city. Canadian troops and supplies passed through the port on. An entire neighbourhood was destroyed, thousands killed and injured, thousands more left homeless. The halifax explosion remembrance book is the first really definitive listing for those killed in the disaster of 6 december 1917. The halifax explosion is a fresh, revealing account that finally answers questions that have lingered for a century. The richmond neighbourhood of the historic port city and naval base a. Also, the lighthouse at peggys cove may be the most photographed lighthouse in canada. That accident sparked a fire and an apocalyptic explosion that was the largest manmade blast prior to the 1945 dropping of the atomic bomb on hiroshima. A fire on board the french ship ignited her cargo, causing a massive explosion that. A history of the destruction of a canadian city by an explosion as powerful as a nuclear weapon. On december 6, 1917, the french munitions ship mont blanc and the norwegian warrelief vessel imo collided in the harbour at halifax, nova scotia.
Gough, arthur mcquade 704 robie street, halifax, nova scotia. Fiction about the halifax explosion disaster that occurred in 1917 and killed 2,000 people. As it approached the lively port city of halifax, montblancs deadly cargo erupted with the force of 2. Army and navy personnel worked shouldertoshoulder with. Sep 14, 2015 two more books about the halifax explosion.
It devastated the busy port city, leveling more than a square mile of the waterfront, killing. The sun was bright in a clear sky and the ground was clear of snow. The munitions ship drifted towards the pier and after twenty minutes blew sky high. Jul 04, 2011 the spectators had no idea that 20 minutes later, the fire would trigger the largest manmade explosion to that date. While my maternal grandfather and two of his brothers were fighting in the trenches of europe, their father, my great grandfather, and a brotherinlaw, were working as stevedores on the halifax waterfront. In many ways it was a typical early winter day in halifax that december 6, 1917. December 6, 2017, marks the 100 anniversary of the halifax explosion. New book details the halifax, nova scotia, explosion of 1917. Dartmouth lies on the east shore of halifax harbour, and halifax is on the west shore. A world war i story of treachery, tragedy, and extraordinary heroism. Ships of the halifax explosion maritime museum of the. The halifax explosion dec 6, 1917 was the largest manmade explosion before hiroshima.
It was his final message and the first time the world heard about the disaster in halifax. Explore free books, like the victory garden, and more browse now. Was the explosion a disaster triggered by simple human error. The halifax explosion occurred when a belgian relief vessel and a french munitions carrier collided in halifax harbour during world war i. The great halifax explosion a world war i story of treachery, tragedy, and extraordinary heroism book. Bacon, whose previous books have focused on athletics and university of michigan sports, will read from and discuss the great halifax. Lessons learned 100 years after halifax explosion the star. Halifax, nova scotia, canada is a modern port city teeming with culture and heritage and the perfect place for your next holiday vacation. Canadian troops and supplies passed through the port on their way. Dec 02, 2017 new books remember the great halifax explosion. New books remember the great halifax explosion the star. The halifax explosion of 1917 canada history and mysteries. Remembering the halifax explosion through a childs eyes, 99 years later.
The halifax explosion diary of charlotte blackburn by julie lawson, whos a scaredy cat by. Halifax explosion of 1917 a thick cloud of smoke billowing over halifax and nearby towns, such as africville, in nova scotia, canada, after a munitions ship exploded in the halifax harbour on december 6, 1917. The spectators had no idea that 20 minutes later, the fire would trigger the largest manmade explosion to that date. Halifaxs harbor after the explosion in december 1917. Insinuating herself into a nazi spy ring in halifax, she discovers a german plot to destroy the port, inspired by the actual events of 1917. The halifax explosion was a disaster that occurred in halifax, nova scotia, canada, on the. The halifax explosion 1917 9780002007870 by mac donald, laura and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. This site uses cookies to deliver our services, improve performance, for analytics, and if not signed in for advertising.
The great halifax explosion a world war i story of treachery, tragedy, and extraordinary heroism. Few living people recall that the largest manmade explosion in history prior to the advent of the nuclear age took place in halifax, nova scotia. A year after the city was devastated by the halifax explosion harold gilman british, 18761919 and arthur lismer canadian, 18851969 were working in halifax as war ar. On the 100th anniversary of the halifax explosion, two new books. Halifax explosion book of remembrance beside the name of each victim is listed the age and local residential addresses at the time of the explosion, in addition to their burial sites. Nearly 2000 people died from the halifax explosion, many killed instantly from the blast. Dec 06, 2017 the resulting blast was the biggest manmade explosion of the preatomic age, according to analysts. In 1917, the thriving seaport of halifax, nova scotia, was leveled by a munitions explosion of unprecedented force when two ships collided in the citys harbor.
Historic halifax titanic burial site halifax explosion tour. Jun 21, 2008 this one was about a brand new eye surgeon who moved to halifax and into the house of his bosspartnermentors family. The entire halifax region delights with its impressive array of entertainment, museums, galleries, historic sit. Today in historythe halifax explosion occurred on december when the city of halifax in nova scotia, canada, was devastated by the detonation of the ss montblanc, a french cargo ship that was fully loaded with wartime explosives. Halifax explosion book of remembrance maritime museum of.
The halifax explosion of 6 december 1917, the biggest humanmade blast before the atomic bomb, holds a poignant place in my family history. There have been numerous books written about this mystery and an american television series titled the curse of oak island. Tides of honour and the blue tattoo september 14, 2015 a few months ago, i read a book called black snow, a love story set during wwi and the halifax explosion. The halifax explosion occurred on december 6, 1917, when the city of halifax, nova scotia, canada, was devastated by the detonation of the ss montblanc, a french cargo ship that was fully loaded with wartime explosives. See more ideas about halifax explosion, nova scotia and canadian history. Halifax harbour was crowded with wartime shipping on december 6, 1917. The halifax explosion still reverberates the globe and mail. After steaming out of new york city on december 1, 1917, laden with a staggering three thousand tons of tnt and other explosives, the munitions ship montblanc fought its way up the atlantic coast, through waters prowled by enemy uboats. Whatever the cause, on a bitter morning in 1917 in the port of halifax, nova scotia, 1,600 people were killed and 9,000 injured when a french munitions ship exploded after striking another vessel. The most destructive moment of world war i occurred far from the.
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