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. 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 blast leveled much of the north end of the city and killed about 2,000 people. The halifax explosion was a maritime disaster in halifax, nova scotia, canada, on the morning of 6 december 1917. Bacon, whose previous books have focused on athletics and. There are a few novels based on the events surrounding the halifax explosion in 1917. Train dispatcher vince coleman sacrifices his own life to save a. A fire on board the french ship ignited her cargo, causing a massive.
The 1917 halifax explosion threw this halfton plus anchor shaft miles, into a hill. Canadas worst disaster on your kindle in under a minute. This december marks 100 years since the largest manmade nonnuclear explosion in history. There are numerous factual accounts of the halifax explosion including shattered city. Dec 06, 2009 there are numerous factual accounts of the halifax explosion including shattered city. After reading about the halifax explosion in another book, i wanted to know more about it and i knew i had this book so i hunted it up. On december 1917 one of the most horrific disasters in canadian history took place when the french munitions ship, the mont blanc, coll. While the halifax explosion of 1917 was a calamity, it was not the only major wartime explosion suffered by the locals.
The halifax explosion devastated the north end of the city, killing nearly 2,000 and injuring 9,000. F our published books on the halifax explosion pro vide. The halifax explosion of 1945 canada history and mysteries. A world war i story of treachery, tragedy, and extraordinary heroism by john u. The halifax explosion of 1917 canada history and mysteries. Bacon recreates the recklessness that caused the tragedy, the selfless rescue efforts that saved thousands, and the inspiring resilience that rebuilt the town.
This one was about a brand new eye surgeon who moved to halifax and into the house of his bosspartnermentors family. The halifax explosion and the road to recovery by janet f. Aug 10, 2016 the halifax explosion was a maritime disaster in halifax, nova scotia, canada, on the morning of 6 december 1917. Exploring the aftermath of the halifax explosion a century. New books remember the great halifax explosion the star. 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. What followed was one of the largest humanmade explosions prior to the detonation of the first atomic bombs in 1945. First released in 1991, they have been shown on television, in cinemas and online, and have become a part of canadian culture. Jun 21, 2008 there are a few novels based on the events surrounding the halifax explosion in 1917.
Ss montblanc, a french cargo ship laden with high explosives, collided with the. On the morning of december 6, 1917, two ships, the imo and the montblanc, collided in the narrows of halifax harbour. Nov 30, 2017 a centurys worth of historical accounts, novels and documentaries, plus a tv miniseries, have told and retold the story. For more information about the halifax explosion visit the canadian encyclopedia. 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. Black snow is a love story set during the halifax explosion. A centurys worth of historical accounts, novels and documentaries, plus a tv miniseries, have told and retold the story. The halifax explosion is a fresh, revealing account that finally answers questions that have lingered for a century. Nov 07, 2017 the explosion, bacon writes, destroyed 6,000 buildings, rendering 25,000 peoplealmost half the population of halifaxhomeless in oneearsplitting whoosh and killed 1,600 instantly. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers. Halifax explosion disasters of the century youtube. Halifax explosion books tagged halifax explosion librarything. A goodreads search for halifax explosion returns more than 40 titles.
Train dispatcher vince coleman sacrifices his own life to save a train from the halifax. The heritage minutes are a collection of bilingual canadian 60second short films, each depicting a significant person, event or story in canadian history. Jan 23, 2020 the halifax explosion occurred when a belgian relief vessel and a french munitions carrier collided in halifax harbour during world war i. New book details 1917 halifax, nova scotia, explosion. It all happened quickly, just minutes after the munitions ship was struck by a norwegian. A moving exhibit on the explosion, halifax wrecked, can be seen at the maritime museum of the atlantic, lower water street. 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. The halifax explosion was a disaster that occurred in halifax, nova scotia, canada, on the morning of 6 december 1917. 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. 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. Dec 02, 2017 new books remember the great halifax explosion.
The cargo of the montblanc caught fire, and after burning for 20 minutes, the ship exploded. Cbc news interactives has recreated the city of halifax as it existed in 1917 to show how the halifax explosion unfolded and its effects on the people who lived there. 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. To mark the 100th anniversary of the event, revisit our heritage minute about the halifax explosion and canadian hero, vince coleman. More fires started and spread, and a tsunami wave was. Africville, campbell road, halifax, nova scotia 45 19171206. In this definitive account, bestselling author john u. The halifax explosion and the road to recovery by janet kitz, and the recent curse of the narrows. 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. On december 6, 1917, the ss imo and cargo ship ss montblanc collided in the halifax harbour, resulting in the deaths of over 2000 people and complete destruction of the turtle grove mikmaq settlement and what was known as the richmond district in the north end of halifax. The halifax explosion of december 1917 was the largest human made explosion before the atomic bomb.
It has been called the worst manmade explosion in history. Halifax explosion the anatomy of a disaster page 1. 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. Start reading the great halifax explosion on your kindle in under a minute. This halifax planning department reference file 102105314 contains news clippings, council minutes, correspondence from survivors, and reports on the controversial location and development of fort needham as a memorial park and site of the halifax explosion memorial. On the 100th anniversary of the halifax explosion, two new. 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. Most canadians will have seen the heritage minute segment on. Newspaper stories of the halifax explosion from pottersfield press on dec. The halifax explosion the think like a historian series of videos and resources is a curriculumbased learning tool to build skills to analyze and interpret primary sources. Jan 17, 2019 guides to records about the halifax explosion.
Dec 06, 2017 100 years after the great halifax explosion steve inskeep talks with author john u. Watch the videos, and download the education guide and worksheets to learn the five key steps to analyzing primary sources. Ive read other bacon books, but this one is different. Collison of 2 ships ignited 3,000 tons of explosives that left 2,000 dead and 25,000 citizens homeless.
On the 100th anniversary of the halifax explosion, two new books. Crowds gathered around to watch the fire from the initial collision. This site uses cookies to deliver our services, improve performance, for analytics, and if not signed in for advertising. Fiction about the halifax explosion disaster that occurred in 1917 and killed 2,000 people. Halifax explosion project gutenberg selfpublishing. After steaming out of new york city on december 1, 1917, laden with a staggering three thousand. Halifax explosion library and archives canada blog. 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. Halifax was devastated on 6 december 1917 when two ships collided in the citys harbour, one of them a munitions ship loaded with explosives bound for the battlefields of the first world war.
Bacon about a ship collision and explosion during world war i thats been called the worlds first weapon of. Nearly all structures within an 800metre halfmile radius, including the. 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. Halifaxs harbor after the explosion in december 1917. The munitions ship drifted towards the pier and after twenty minutes blew sky high. A former feature writer for the detroit news, his writing has been recognized three times in the best. The author relates the circumstances of the accident that caused the explosion, as well as the recovery efforts and subsequent inquiry into the event. While most canadians returned home following ve day, people and. Train dispatcher vince coleman sacrifices his own life to save a train from the halifax explosion. 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. Sally walker has done a great job of telling the story of this tragic event that occurred almost 100 years ago and left its mark on so many. 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 halifax explosion was the biggest canadian tragedy in terms of life loss and despair. It came in the form of an event that is known as the halifax explosion. Two recent major research projects were a survey of small craft throughout the province to document vanishing designs and traditional boatbuilding methods, and an oral history programme to record life aboard the hydrographic ship css acadia and cableships that. Here is a list of other and longer books about the halifax explosion. The halifax explosion was a disaster that occurred in halifax, nova scotia, canada, on the. The explosion, bacon writes, destroyed 6,000 buildings, rendering 25,000 peoplealmost half the population of halifaxhomeless in oneearsplitting whoosh and killed 1,600 instantly. Surviving the blast that shook a nation by joyce glasner. Was the explosion a disaster triggered by simple human error. New book details the halifax, nova scotia, explosion of 1917. 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. The museum conducts research to develop exhibits, to document its collection and to answer public enquiries. Century after halifaxs great explosion, city marks. The digitized copy of the reference file has had some personal. The montblanc was a munitions ship on its way to join a convoy sailing to wartorn europe.
Mac donald but it is often through historical fiction that writers and readers are able to experience both the facts of an event and the emotions of the people involved. The halifax explosion occurred when a belgian relief vessel and a french munitions carrier collided in halifax harbour during world war i. Corpses, many dismembered or burned beyond recognition, were scattered everywhere. The true story of the greatest manmade explosion before hiroshima by michael j. I have read other books about the incident, but this one is on the human side of the tragedy, not as detail as other books, thou enough information is inserted that one can understand what had happen to cause this tragic accident to occur. Rich in fact and shocking images, the story sets a blistering pace following one mans search through a ruined city for the love of his life as he confronts the wreckage of his past. 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.
Historical fiction of the halifax explosion the reader. To mark the 100th anniversary of the event, revisit our heritage minute about the. Mac donald but it is often through historical fiction that writers and readers are able to experience both the facts of an event and the. Katie ingram is a freelance journalist based in halifax. The first place to look is lacs thematic guide, halifax explosion. The think like a historian series of videos and resources is a curriculumbased learning tool to build skills to analyze and interpret primary sources. The blast released an explosive force equal to about 2.
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