Devastation after the halifax explosion, showing what is left of the richmond neighbourhood. Collison of 2 ships ignited 3,000 tons of explosives that left 2,000 dead and 25,000 citizens homeless. File photo by the canadian pressnational archives of canada. Halifax explosion books tagged halifax explosion librarything. At around the same time, i heard about a new book coming out set during the same time and place, the blue tattoo.
All researchers are welcome to view those records either here online, or through requests and visits to the archives. Nova scotia archives 6016 university avenue halifax, nova scotia, canada b3h 1w4. Bacon recreates the recklessness that caused the tragedy, the selfless rescue efforts that saved thousands, and the inspiring resilience that rebuilt the town. There are a few novels based on the events surrounding the halifax explosion in 1917. Nov 30, 2017 a centurys worth of historical accounts, novels and documentaries, plus a tv miniseries, have told and retold the story. A collision between two ships in halifax harbour in 1917 set off an explosion unrivalled until the atomic bomb. There are currently no confirmed living survivors of the halifax explosion, which killed about 2,000 people and leveled much of the city when a cargo ship carrying explosives collided with another vessel on december 6, 1917. The author relates the circumstances of the accident that caused the explosion, as well as the recovery efforts and subsequent inquiry into the event. I even listed it in my hopeful reading list for 2015, and finally got to it while on vacation in august in the meantime, i discovered yet another new book with the same.
Journalists, record keepers and the 1917 halifax explosion. A reference copy at the museum is available for the public to consult. An entire neighbourhood was destroyed, thousands killed and injured, thousands more left homeless. Rewriting the history of the halifax explosion cbc. 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. What is it like for a young boy to survive the halifax explosion. Dec 06, 2017 the halifax explosion affected entire generations. Halifax city clerks office files halifax explosion halifax. The museum conducts research to develop exhibits, to document its collection and to answer public enquiries. The halifax explosion and the road to recovery by janet f. The first place to look is lacs thematic guide, halifax explosion. The halifax explosion of 1945 canada history and mysteries. On the 100th anniversary of the halifax explosion, two new. A new comic book about the halifax explosion stirs up controversy.
Dec 06, 2017 guides to records about the halifax explosion. Remembrance book, an official database compiled in 2002 by the nova scotia archives and records management, identified 1,950 victims. Information is presented in sequential order under the themes of. See more ideas about halifax explosion, halifax harbour and nova scotia. 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.
A former feature writer for the detroit news, his writing has been recognized three times in the best american sports writing series. 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. 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 the anatomy of a disaster page 1. A goodreads search for halifax explosion returns more than 40 titles. New book details the halifax, nova scotia, explosion of 1917. And, amidst all the devastation, what helps him tap in to his spirit of resilience and hope. Looking down argyle street from george street in downtown halifax, nova scotia, in december 1917. Two soldiers stand amidst the devastation caused by the explosion.
December 6, 2017, marks the 100 anniversary of the halifax explosion. When torontos mayor planned to make yonge and bay oneway streets. Thematic guides halifax explosion library and archives canada. 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. The blast levelled most of the city and sent shards of glass and burning debris flying for miles. Army and navy personnel worked shouldertoshoulder with civilians on rescue, recovery and reconstruction. 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. Dec 06, 2009 there are numerous factual accounts of the halifax explosion including shattered city. The online version features a searchable database with detailed information for 1950 casualties more than 300 of whom are newlyconfirmed and identified victims. Uncovering new halifax explosion stories trident newspaper. A few months ago, i read a book called black snow, a love story set during wwi and the halifax explosion. Nova scotia archives halifax explosion 1917 online resources. The nova scotia archives is pleased to host the online version of a project recently completed by the halifax foundation. Halifax explosion book of remembrance maritime museum of.
Army and navy personnel worked shouldertoshoulder with. In this definitive account, bestselling author john u. While the halifax explosion of 1917 was a calamity, it was not the only major wartime explosion suffered by the locals. 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 operated from halifax. Survivors not only lost friends and siblings, but would forever carry the physical and mental scars of that day. I survived the halifax explosion book halifax public. The book is displayed at the entrance to the museums halifax explosion exhibit halifax wrecked. Corpses, many dismembered or burned beyond recognition, were scattered everywhere. A world war i story of treachery, tragedy, and extraordinary heroism kindle edition by bacon, john u download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. The halifax explosion books are seen as an innovative way to keep history alive for. Fiction about the halifax explosion disaster that occurred in 1917 and killed 2,000 people.
The retired history teachers latest literary work recounts one of the. Halifax municipal archives is the official repository for historical municipal government records from halifax, dartmouth, bedford and the former county of halifax, and also holds community records from the region. The halifax explosion of 1917 the canadian encyclopedia. A fire on board the french ship ignited her cargo, causing a massive explosion that. The most important archival resource for studying the halifax explosion is the nearly 60 meters of records accumulated by the halifax relief commission, 19171978. The literature of the halifax explosion atlantic books today. Historical municipal sources on the halifax explosion. The halifax explosion was a disaster that occurred in halifax, nova scotia, canada, on the. As newspapers rushed to print information, stories of tragedy and survival changed as the days went on, amid the confusion, to form a picture of a developing event.
City clerks office subject and historical reference files relating to the halifax explosion 10251 the city clerks office subject files and historical reference files are a rich information source on many events and topics, including some related to the halifax explosion. 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. 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. Victoria author michael dupuis fascination with the halifax explosion has led to a 194page book, bearing witness. Dec 02, 2017 two other books worth looking at are bearing witness. The halifax explosion is a fresh, revealing account that finally answers questions that have lingered for a century. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the great halifax explosion. The halifax explosion and the road to recovery by janet kitz, and the recent curse of the narrows.
Jefferson, rearadmiral bertram chambers, garry shutlak. On that thursday the norwegian vessel ss imo, carrying belgian relief supplies, and the french freighter ss mont blanc, carrying munitions, collided in halifax. This guide consists of specific archival references and a selected bibliography relating to the halifax explosion of 1917. The remembrance book contains a list of the 1,951 people identified as having perished as a direct result of the 1917 explosion. A world war i story of treachery, tragedy, and extraordinary heroism by john u. Bacon, whose previous books have focused on athletics and. The nova scotia archives and the maritime museum of the atlantic are the local. Nova scotia archives halifax explosion book uncovers military ties to epic disaster. The montblanc was a munitions ship on its way to join a convoy sailing to wartorn europe. Journalists, record keepers and the 1917 halifax explosion fernwood publishing by. Journalists, record keepers and the 1917 halifax explosion fernwood publishing by michael dupuis, and katie ingrams breaking disaster. The halifax explosion was a disaster that occurred in halifax, nova scotia, canada, on the morning of 6 december 1917. 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. View a brief description of this material to plan for indepth research.
A finalist for the governor generals literary award, he is the bestselling author of five books, including the critically acclaimed the halifax explosion. Every two weeks a page is turned, ensuring that each name is displayed once throughout the year. The accidental collision of a munitions ship with another vessel in halifax harbour in 1917 was the largest manmade explosion prior to hiroshima. The author relates the circumstances of the accident that caused the explosion, as well as the recovery efforts and. This site uses cookies to deliver our services, improve performance, for analytics, and if not signed in for advertising. The original chief source of information for the project was the list of 1,535 victims published in mcalpines halifax city directory for 1918, and entitled names of. The nova scotia archives acquires, preserves and makes available the provinces documentary heritage recorded information of provincial significance created or accumulated by government and the private sector over the last 300 years. One of canadas oldest archival institutions, we maintain a strong tradition of client service. Nov 26, 2016 looking down argyle street from george street in downtown halifax, nova scotia, in december 1917. Out of the photos that ive posted about the halifax explosion, this is the only one that doesnt show an. The book was presented to the museum in 2002 by the halifax foundation. 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 explosion, bacon writes, destroyed 6,000 buildings, rendering 25,000 peoplealmost half the population of halifaxhomeless in oneearsplitting whoosh and killed 1,600 instantly.
New book details 1917 halifax, nova scotia, explosion. While most canadians returned home following ve day, people and. Municipal archives halifax history search archives. The halifax explosion centennial online exhibit perkins school for. A fire on board the french ship ignited her cargo, causing a cataclysmic explosion that devastated the. 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. Halifax explosion library and archives canada blog. Halifax explosion book uncovers military ties to epic disaster peter mallett, the lookout staff victoria author michael dupuis fascination with the halifax explosion has led to a 194page book, bearing witness. 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. 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. City of halifax advisory board to the halifax relief commission special committee minute books. 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.
Halifax seeks survivors of 1917 blast national observer. Municipal archives halifax history search archives halifax. The condition of this soft cover book is good, with exception previous owners name on inside front cover. The second source, and most recent serious book having to do with the halifax explosion, is a comprehensive, fully notated and indexed monograph, scapegoat, the extraordinary legal proceedings following the 1917 halifax explosion selfpublished, 2012, with a newer edition published by new world publishing, 2014. New books remember the great halifax explosion the star. The great halifax explosion and four bestselling books about college football. Historical fiction of the halifax explosion the reader. The supporting information provided in the database, fully referenced and sourced in this online version, was compiled by searching various records held at nova scotia archives. Nova scotia marks anniversary of catastrophic halifax explosion 102 years ago friday marks the 102nd anniversary of the halifax explosion, which killed approximately 2,000 people and injured 9,000.
A centurys worth of historical accounts, novels and documentaries, plus a tv miniseries, have told and retold the story. A vivid narrative that makes extensive use of archive material, family histories. There are numerous factual accounts of the halifax explosion including shattered city. Jul 14, 2015 the halifax explosion occured in halifax, nova scotia, on the morning of dec. This one was about a brand new eye surgeon who moved to halifax and into the house of his bosspartnermentors family. Out of the photos that ive posted about the halifax explosion, this is the only one that doesnt show an area affected by the blast. Jan 17, 2019 to find records about the halifax explosion in the sir robert borden fonds, search the archives database for the keywords mg26h and halifax and explosion. On the morning of december 6, 1917, two ships, the imo and the montblanc, collided in the narrows of halifax harbour. On the 100th anniversary of the halifax explosion, an event that. A world war i story of treachery, tragedy, and extraordinary heroism. The halifax explosion remembrance book is the first really definitive listing for those killed in the disaster of 6 december 1917. What followed was one of the largest humanmade explosions prior to the detonation of the first atomic bombs in 1945. 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. 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.
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. 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. Each section provides a brief overview of a portion of the event with links to relevant photographs, interactive maps, true stories of survivors, animated. After steaming out of new york city on december 1, 1917, laden with a staggering three thousand tons of tnt and other. 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. Two other books worth looking at are bearing witness.
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