The 1917 halifax explosion skip to main search results. Sally walker went beyond a mere narrative, however. For more information about the halifax explosion, visit. A world war i story of treachery, tragedy, and extraordinary heroism bacon, john u. Despite its prominence in canadian history, there are few publications about the halifax explosion of 1917 that deal with the care of victims with eye injuries. Bell, after the explosion, had assisted in the medical rescue. The halifax explosion still reverberates the globe and mail. The halifax explosion tells the gripping, asyet untold story of canadas worst disastera haunting tale of survival, incredible courage and, ultimately, the triumph. The historical detail is woven into the story masterfully, and is brought to life in marijke simons illustrations. An introduction to the halifax explosion from one moment. Halifax, canada, halifax explosion remembrance book, 19171918.
The 1917 halifax explosion threw this halfton plus anchor shaft miles, into a hill. It has been called the worst manmade explosion in history. 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. Photograph of the explosion cloud taken on 6 december 1917, km away from halifax. The city of halifax was an incorporated city in nova scotia, canada, which was established as the town of halifax in 1749, and incorporated as a city in 1842. Approximately 2,000 people were killed by the blast, debris, fires. Many authors have written admirable books on disastrous events. Bacon is the author of the national bestseller the great halifax explosion andfour bestselling books about college football, including three and out, fourth and long, endzone, and bos lasting lessons, coauthored with michigan coach bo schembechler. Our collection includes numerous items about the halifax explosion. This nonfiction is an account of a tragedy which occurred in halifax, canada, at the end of the fourth year of the great war.
An introduction to the halifax explosion halifax, nova scotia, december 6th, 1917. Because halifax was the nearest port, rescue operations were launched from its harbour, and the snow funeral home became the place for final arrangements of many titanic victims. The imo can been seen beached on the far shore the james collectioncity of toronto archives in a final, fatal maneuver both captains bellowed out orders to put their engines full speed astern. Flip through image books that document the aftermath of the explosion. The halifax explosion was the biggest manmade explosion before the atomic bomb, caused when two ships collided in halifax harbour. Dan soucoups book, explosion in halifax harbour 1917 nimbus begins with a history of halifax and its harbour and how important it was for the war effort in europe. 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. The halifax explosion and the persecution of pilot.
While most canadians returned home following ve day, people and. The halifax explosion remembrance book was originally developed in 2002 as a commemorative project sponsored by the halifax foundation and its chair, the late edmund morris, a former city mayor, to mark the 85th anniversary of the halifax explosion. The halifax explosion of 1917 canada history and mysteries. That day became the most notorious day in the history of halifax. Last year marked the 100th anniversary of the halifax explosion, and its effects are not lost on us today, even after all these years. Bacon is the author of the national bestseller the great halifax explosion and four bestselling books about college football, including three and out. If you are a seller for this product, would you like to suggest updates through seller support. The halifax explosion is a fresh, revealing account that finally answers questions that have lingered for a century. Century after halifaxs great explosion, city marks. Inquiry and intrigue studies in canadian military history armstrong, john griffith on.
Explosion in halifax harbour, 1917, by dan soucoup, nimbus publishing, 128 pages. But you dont have to be historically inclined to be curious about the tragedy or want to learn about the halifax explosion and its aftermath. Information is presented in sequential order under the themes of. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that. My 10yearold son uses his lego to reenact the events of the halifax explosion of december 1917, when two ships collided in halifax harbour, creating the largest manmade explosion before the.
A romance of the halifax disaster 1918 is a rare novella by lieutenantcolonel frank mckelvey bell based on the halifax explosion of 1917. Bacon about a ship collision and explosion during world war i thats been called the worlds first weapon of. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. A former feature writer for the detroit news, his writing has been recognized three times in the best. Gough, arthur mcquade 704 robie street, halifax, nova scotia. The book broke new ground, making extensive use of oral history interviews. But what started out as a typical day did not end that way.
Train dispatcher vince coleman sacrifices his own life to save a train from the halifax explosion. The halifax explosion december 7, 2014 july 20, 2015 snapshots of canadas past. The halifax explosion was the greatest nonnuclear detonation in history. The halifax explosion in nonfiction the great halifax explosion. On december 1917 one of the most horrific disasters in canadian history took place when the french munitions ship, the mont blanc, coll. The halifax explosion was a disaster that occurred in halifax, nova scotia, canada, on the morning of 6 december 1917. The blast that obliterated the montblanc, claimed about two thousand lives, and devastated the city of halifax was the most powerful manmade explosion in history, a distinction it held until the development of atomic bombs in 1945. While the halifax explosion of 1917 was a calamity, it was not the only major wartime explosion suffered by the locals. The online version features a searchable database with detailed information for 1946 casualties more than 300 of whom are. This is a page dedicated to proving that canada has a history the equal of any its age.
The explosion, canadian author ken cuthbertson contends, is one of the few canadian historical events that the world and, indeed, canadians themselves remember. 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 halifax explosion remembrance book is the first really definitive listing for those killed in the disaster of 6 december 1917. The halifax explosion of 1945 canada history and mysteries. The halifax explosion of 1917 was a horrific tale of oversights, mistakes, assumptions, and ignorance. History is more than just words on a screen or from a textbook. Halifaxs harbor after the explosion in december 1917. A world war i story of treachery, tragedy and extraordinary heroism, by john u. This site uses cookies to deliver our services, improve performance, for analytics, and if not signed in for advertising. Here is where the buildings history becomes truly fascinating. The first place to look is lacs thematic guide, halifax explosion. A moving exhibit on the explosion, halifax wrecked, can be seen at the maritime museum of the atlantic, lower water street. Inquiry and intrigue studies in canadian military history.
A world war i story of treachery, tragedy, and extraordinary heroism by john u. Most people believe that world war ii ended with v day on 8th may 1945, but the reality was that, after the resolution in europe, war continued in the pacific. Halifax explosion library and archives canada blog. From the opening 2page spread of 5 family trees, the reader should know this story will be handled differently. Fiction about the halifax explosion disaster that occurred in 1917 and killed 2,000 people. New book details the halifax, nova scotia, explosion of 1917. Its reverberations shot through the soil, granite, and precambrian slate bedrock beneath halifax at a speed of more than 6. Pick a category from wild west, to modern times, or from medicine to entertainment, and canada can stand with them all. Collison of 2 ships ignited 3,000 tons of explosives that left 2,000 dead and 25,000 citizens homeless. The halifax explosion of 1917 the canadian encyclopedia. But you dont have to be historically inclined to be curious about the tragedy or. In 2011, halifax writer jennie marsland published her historical romance shattered, which is set before the explosion and in its aftermath.
Century after halifaxs great explosion, city marks anniversary. One of the ships was filled with ammunition and other explosives, ready to head to europe for the armies fighting in world war i. A history of the destruction of a canadian city by an explosion as powerful as a nuclear weapon. The halifax explosion devastated the north end of the city, killing nearly 2,000 and injuring 9,000. Library and archives canada, mikan id number 3531262. A fire on board the french ship ignited her cargo, causing a massive explosion that devastated the richmond district of halifax. A world war i story of treachery, tragedy, and extraordinary heroism. The blast released an explosive force equal to about 2. 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.
Halifax explosion, also called halifax explosion of 1917 or the great halifax explosion, devastating explosion on december 6, 1917, that occurred when a munitions ship blew up in the harbour of halifax, nova scotia, canada. Bacon is the author of the national bestseller the great halifax explosion and four bestselling books about college football, including three and out, fourth and long, endzone, and bos lasting lessons, coauthored with michigan coach bo schembechler. Residents have been asked to sign books of remembrance placed at halifax. Before the 1917 explosion was another great disaster the sinking of the titanic. New book details 1917 halifax, nova scotia, explosion. A cbc television miniseries in 2004 shattered city. The halifax explosion of 1917 paperback feb 25 2014. Library and archives canada lac holds various records that tell part of the story of the halifax explosion, its aftermath, and the relief work and investigations following the disaster. New books remember the great halifax explosion the star. Many books have been written on the subject of the halifax explosion. The event has fascinated everyone, from scholars to history buffs. I have also included a bibliography of interesting canadian booksbooks that are both easy to read and informative. 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. This canadian history for kids, sketches of our canada, looks at the devastation created by the halifax explosion of december 6, 1917 on december 6, 1917, as world war i continued in europe, ships carrying troops, supplies and munitions filled the harbour of the port city of halifax, nova scotia.
There are miraculous stories of people whose lives. 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. The centennial year has added more books to the list, including halifax journalist katie ingrams. Nearly 2,000 people died and some 9,000 were injured in the disaster, which flattened more than 1 square mile 2. 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 halifax explosion and the road to recovery by janet kitz. On the 100th anniversary of the halifax explosion, two new books. Each section provides a brief overview of a portion of the event with links to relevant photographs, interactive maps, true stories of survivors, animated. A fire on board the french ship ignited her cargo, causing a massive. Lessons learned 100 years after halifax explosion the star. The port was a major hub of wartime activity and halifax harbour was crowded with warships, troop transports and. On april 1, 1996, the government of nova scotia dissolved the city of halifax, and amalgamated the four municipalities within halifax county and formed halifax regional municipality, a singletier regional government covering. In 1917, halifax, nova scotia was the main base of the new canadian navy and housed the most important army garrison in canada.
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