Fiction about the halifax explosion disaster that occurred in 1917 and killed 2,000 people. Nov 30, 2017 a centurys worth of historical accounts, novels and documentaries, plus a tv miniseries, have told and retold the story. The entire halifax region delights with its impressive array of entertainment, museums, galleries, historic sit. The online version features a searchable database with detailed information for 1952 casualties more than 300 of whom are newlyconfirmed and identified victims. In 1917, halifax, nova scotia was the main base of the new canadian navy and housed the most important army garrison in canada. Score a books 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. On the 100th anniversary of the halifax explosion, two new. San francisco 1906 earthquake 3000 fatalities and 80% of the city destroyed chelsea, ma 1908 fire. Halifax explosion of december 6, 1917 geni family tree.
Katie ingram is a freelance journalist based in halifax. The halifax explosion was a disaster that occurred in halifax, nova scotia, canada, on the morning of 6 december 1917. It was december 6, 1917 and deadly war in europe still dragged on with its massive destruction and horrific toll in lives. See more ideas about halifax explosion, halifax harbour and nova scotia. Halifax has one of the deepest harbours on the east coast enabling large ships to be serviced and stocked. This site uses cookies to deliver our services, improve performance, for analytics, and if not signed in for advertising. In 1971 the tradition was reinstated and has taken place every year since, with the lighting of the annual tree signaling the start of bostons christmas festivities. Although she cant remember the blast, it doesnt take long for lenora cross to start chatting avidly about her incredible halifax explosion experience. December 6, 2017, marks the 100 anniversary of the halifax explosion. In remembrance of the halifax explosion let us guide you from bookshop to bookshop on the streets of halifax in search of stories of the disaster, one of the largest manmade explosions of all time. The database now contains 1,782 names an enduring record of the men, women and children known to have died either in the halifax explosion, in the days immediately after, or in the following months as a direct result of the events of 6 december. This is a riveting, wellwritten and researched world war i book. This indecent is quite well known to many in canada and definitely in nova scotia.
The 1917 explosion in halifax that reverberated in boston. On december 6, an unprecedented explosion, complicated by a terrible fire, destroyed half the city of halifax, canada. Halifax explosion books tagged halifax explosion librarything. Flip through image books that document the aftermath of the explosion. Survivors are no longer present at the service but victims and survivors descendants still faithfully attend. See mac donald, curse of the narrows the halifax explosion 1917, p. The harbour of halifax, nova scotia, is a huge natural haven and was a major collection point for shipping waiting to be taken in convoy to europe during world war one. A goodreads search for halifax explosion returns more than 40 titles.
A fire on board the french ship ignited her cargo, causing a large explosion that devastated the. On december 6, 1917, the french munitions ship montblanc and the norwegian. The halifax explosion of 1917 canada history and mysteries. A centurys worth of historical accounts, novels and documentaries, plus a tv miniseries, have told and retold the story. On the morning of december 6th, 1917, the french ship mont blanc, loaded, if not overloaded, with a mixture of explosives and munitions, some of it carried on deck, was inward bound for the harbour as the norwegian vessel imo. Canadas east coast port city of halifax, nova scotia, had become a.
While most canadians returned home following ve day, people and. The halifax explosion of december 6th,1917 home facebook. The norwegian ship imo left the protected anchorage of bedford basin, outbound for new york to load food and clothing for the people of occupied. The event is recorded in photographs, letters and documents at the nova scotia archives. 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. Dec 03, 2017 1917 halifax explosion december 6 new photos. In this recounting of the december 6, 1917, explosion that leveled much of halifax. The halifax explosion of 1945 canada history and mysteries. The largest nonnuclear manmade explosion occured in the maritime city of halifax, nova scotia on december 6, 1917 when a troop ship collided with an ammunition ship bound for the battlefields of europe in the city harbour. On december 6, 1917, two ships collided in halifax harbor in nova scotia, canada.
Halifax, nova scotia, canada is a modern port city teeming with culture and heritage and the perfect place for your next holiday vacation. The bells ring out and can be heard across the narrows in north dartmouth, all around fort needham, and in the areas devastated by the halifax explosion of 1917. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that. Bacons the great halifax explosion is the seminal account of one of the bloodiest manmade disasters in world history, which killed some 2,000 people. It is not what any place on earth would want to be famous for, but until 1945 and hiroshima, the explosion that occurred in halifax harbour on. National bestseller the riveting, ticktock account of the largest manmade explosion in history prior to the atomic bomb, and the equally astonishing tales of survival and heroism that emerged from the ashes, from acclaimed new york times bestselling author john u. The reading, sponsored by michigan radio and literati bookstore in ann arbor, also kicks off a national tour.
Explosion in halifax harbour, 1917 includes a detailed account of the event, chronicling many remarkable human tragedies, rescue and relief efforts, attempts to place blame for the collision, and the reconstruction program that created canadas first governmentassisted housing program. On that thursday the norwegian vessel ss imo, carrying belgian relief supplies, and the french freighter ss mont blanc, carrying munitions, collided in halifax harbour, thereby creating what was then considered to be the. While the halifax explosion of 1917 was a calamity, it was not the only major wartime explosion suffered by the locals. Just minutes before, things had been normal in halifax and dartmouth. A fire on board the french ship ignited her cargo, causing a massive explosion that. Halifax explosion infosheet maritime museum of the atlantic. A massive explosion on the waterfront had rocked the city on december 6, 1917. New book details 1917 halifax, nova scotia, explosion. The 6th of december has been a day of remembrance here in halifax since 1917. On december 6, 1917, the munitions ship montblanc exploded in halifax harbor, nova scotia, in the biggest manmade explosion prior to the dropping of the atomic bombs on japan during world war ii while sailing into the harbor on the morning of december 6, the french munitions ship montblancwith its cargo of 2,925 tons of explosives for the allied war effortencountered the imo, a. These are two cities in nova scotia skosha, canada. Dec 05, 2017 december 6, 2017, marks the 100 anniversary of the halifax explosion. New book details the halifax, nova scotia, explosion of 1917.
Buy products related to halifax explosion products and see what customers say. On the 100th anniversary of the halifax explosion, two new books. Nova scotia archives and records management halifax explosion 1917 online resources. The 918 words he wrote for december 6 make up the only eyewitness account known to be written on the day of what is now called the halifax explosion. Jul 14, 2017 the 918 words he wrote for december 6 make up the only eyewitness account known to be written on the day of what is now called the halifax explosion. An annual remembrance ceremony is held at the halifax explosion memorial bell tower on december 6, with a short silence just before 9. The halifax explosion devastated the north end of the city, killing nearly 2,000 and injuring 9,000.
New books remember the great halifax explosion the star. The blast released an explosive force equal to about 2. Halifax explosion, december 6 1917 west hants historical. On the morning of december 6 th, 1917, the steamship montblanc, inbound from the atlantic with war material for france, entered the halifax harbour narrows. Newspaper stories of the halifax explosion from pottersfield press on dec. 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. The explosion, believed to be due to an attack, occurred as a result of an incidental collision between a small vessel of the belgian relief commission, the imo, and the montblanc, a ship loaded with three thousand tons of. Kitz 4 times halifax explosion by graham metson 3 times too many to mourn by james mahar 3 times burden of desire harvest book by robert macneil 3 times miracles and mysteries. But tragedy on a massive scale happened on canadian shores on december 6, 1917 when the french cargo ship, the ss mont blanc, and the norwegian ss imo. Nearly 2,000 people died and some 9,000 were injured in the disaster, which flattened more than 1 square mile 2. On an early december morning a century ago, a french ship hauling. The halifax explosion occurred on december 6, 1917, claiming nearly 2,000 lives.
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. Dec 02, 2017 it is not what any place on earth would want to be famous for, but until 1945 and hiroshima, the explosion that occurred in halifax harbour on december 6, 1917, was the largest manmade blast the. One ship was loaded top to bottom with munitions and the other held relief supplies, both intended for wartorn europe. The halifax explosion posted on december 7, 2010 may 18, 20 by canada alive. The wreckage of the main building of the nova scotia provincial exhibition in halifax, canada, after the dec. The massive explosion killed more than 1,800 people, injured another 9,000including blinding 200and destroyed almost the entire north end of the city of halifax, including more than 1,600 homes. A blinding light, by julie lawson, nimbus publishing, 264pages. The halifax explosion december 6, 1917 metson, graham on. A view of halifax harbour from the destroyed north end of the city, following the explosion on 6 december 1917. After steaming out of new york city on december 1, 1917, laden with a staggering three thousand tons of. It left nearly 25,000 people half the citys population.
The resulting blast flattened two towns, halifax and dartmouth, and. Were coming up to the 100th anniversary of the explosion that rocked halifax and the surrounding communities on december 6, 1917 and author john bacon has done a marvelous job in relating the events that led up to the tragedy along with the suffering that took place, and people coming together to assist one another in times of urgent need. The accidental collision of a munitions ship with another vessel in halifax harbour in 1917 was the largest manmade explosion prior to hiroshima. Explosion in halifax harbour, 1917 stories of our past. The halifax explosion and the road to recovery by janet f. Halifax explosion the anatomy of a disaster page 5. The morning of tuesday, december 6, 1917 dawned clear and unseasonably warm in. The port was a major hub of wartime activity and halifax harbour was crowded with warships, troop transports and.
The halifax explosion was a maritime disaster in halifax, nova scotia, canada, on the morning of 6 december 1917. The halifax explosion dec 6, 1917 was the largest manmade explosion. Dec 06, 2017 nine firefighters were among the more than 2,000 who were killed in the halifax explosion. A moving exhibit on the explosion, halifax wrecked, can be seen at the maritime museum of the atlantic, lower water street. Nine firefighters were among the more than 2,000 who were killed in the halifax explosion. My father eric davidson and i attended the december 6 halifax explosion commemorative service every year along with many other survivors and their families as well as families of explosion victims. On december 6, 1917, the french munitions ship mont blanc and the norwegian warrelief vessel imo collided in the harbour at halifax, nova scotia. 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.
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