A world war i story of treachery, tragedy, and extraordinary heroism bacon, john u. There are other books that are much more detailed but this book is certainly a good beginning. The story of the orphanage and its children didnt stop with the howards and the robertsons. A fire on board the french ship ignited her cargo, causing a massive explosion that devastated the richmond district of halifax. Heres what you need to know about the halifax explosion.
Jesse mceachern was registered in the halifax explosion death registration book 1917 no. Halifax explosion 100th anniversary halifax regional municipality. Bacons the great halifax explosion trace the reverberations of the deadly disaster. Collison of 2 ships ignited 3,000 tons of explosives that left 2,000 dead and 25,000 citizens homeless. His new book is a biography entitled betrayal of trust, commander wyatt and the. The remembrance book contains a list of the 1951 people identified as having perished as a direct result of the 1917 explosion.
December book of remembrance for the halifax explosion. These names are listed in the halifax explosion remembrance book displayed at the museum. The halifax explosion remembrance book is the first really definitive listing for those killed in the disaster of 6 december 1917. The story of the 1917 halifax explosion and the boston tree. Halifax explosion remembrance book database, 19171918. Seven years later, after the halifax explosion on december 6, 1917, the basement of the school was put into service as a mortuary for the unidentified dead. The halifax explosion of 6 december 1917, the biggest humanmade blast before the atomic bomb, holds a poignant place in my family history. Halifax explosion project gutenberg selfpublishing. The 1917 halifax explosion the central event of the book works multifold. Im reading barometer rising by hugh maclennan in remembrance for some reason i thought the anniversary was the 10th so im behind. Allen, the third director of perkins institution now perkins school for the blin. The book has a fairly large print and many contemporary photos. There is a halifax explosion book of remembrance on display at the maritime museum of the atlantic.
The remembrance book lists the names of the almost two thousand people who died in the explosion in 1917. This nonfiction is an account of a tragedy which occurred in halifax, canada, at the end of the fourth year of the great war. The illustrated account of a disaster that shook the world. 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. With survivors voices silent, the halifax explosion is now a second. The online version features a searchable database with detailed information for 1952 casualties more than 300 of whom are newlyconfirmed and identified victims. The halifax explosion 1917 by laura macdonald in a sweeping narrative, curse of the narrows tells a tale of ordinary people in an extraordinary situation, retracing the steps of survivors through the wreckage of a city destroyed. If youre interested in learning more about the halifax explosion of 1917, i highly recommend blizzard of glass. Halifax explosion 1917 victims funeral halifax explosion, shock. Residents have been asked to sign books of remembrance placed at halifax.
Christened ss runic, she was bought, sold and renamed numerous times during her career. A building destroyed in the halifax explosion, 6 december 1917. It also qualifies for my 12 in12 challenge, whats in a name challenge, mixitup reading challenge, nonfiction nonmemoir challenge, the new authors challenge, and the dewey decimal challenge. 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. Commemorated on page 198 of the first world war book of remembrance.
New book details 1917 halifax, nova scotia, explosion. 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. Approximately twenty minutes later, a fire on board the french ship ignited her explosive cargo. If you are unfamiliar with the explosion in halifax, nova scotia in 1917 then this book would be of interest to you.
The book was completed in february 2015, and given to our collection by the nova scotianunavut command of the royal canadian legion. A few days after the explosion, a pale, griefstricken man was reported to be standing outside what remained of the building. Jul 15, 2014 read joels book entitled scapegoat, the extraordinary legal proceedings following the 1917 halifax explosion. The remembrance book contains a list of the 1,951 people identified as having perished as a direct result of the 1917 explosion.
With survivors voices silent, the halifax explosion is now a. The halifax explosion was the largest manmade explosion prior to the atomic bomb. During todays ceremony, the book was installed as a part of the museums halifax explosion exhibit and will remain on permanent display. Lessons learned 100 years after halifax explosion the star. Approximately 2,000 people were killed by the blast, debris, fires. The online version features a searchable database with detailed information for 1946 casualties more than 300 of whom are recentlyconfirmed and identified victims. The online version features a searchable database with detailed information for 1950 casualties more than 300 of whom are newlyconfirmed and identified victims. The halifax explosion was a maritime disaster in halifax, nova scotia, canada, which happened on the morning of 6 december 1917. The halifax explosion was a disaster that occurred in halifax, nova scotia, canada, on the morning of 6 december 1917. Collection of clippings related to the relief effort for those blinded by the disastrous explosion of a weapons ship off the coast of halifax, nova scotia on december 6, 1917, which left between 500600 people with eye injuries. Heres what you need to know about the halifax explosion of 1917. The halifax explosion occured in halifax, nova scotia, on the morning of dec. Dec 06, 2017 she is listed in the halifax explosion remembrance book as one of the deceased, as her remains were not found.
Its been sitting on my shelf for the past six years. The norwegian vessel collided with, a french cargo ship laden with high explosives, in the narrows, a strait connecting the upper halifax harbour to bedford basin, causing a large explosion on the french freighter, devastating the richmond district of halifax. 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. Dec 02, 2017 this is a terrific onestop overview of the devastating human cost that was 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 halifax explosion occurred on december 6, 1917, claiming nearly 2,000 lives. The third book of remembrance commemorates the members of canadas armed forces from halifax regional municipality who have lost their lives while in service to canada since 1953.
The list contains only names and no other information. Blizzard of glass the halifax explosion of 1917 by sally m. On december 6, 1917, the imo, a belgian relief ship, accidently. She is listed in the halifax explosion remembrance book as one of the deceased, as her remains were not found. Halifax explosion memorial halifax, nova scotia atlas obscura. Dan soucoups book, explosion in halifax harbour 1917 nimbus begins with a history of halifax. 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 aftermath of the 1917 halifax ship explosion is shown in a file. While it is somewhat repetitive, it is a very good introduction to the terrible halifax explosion.
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. 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. 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. Blizzard of glass the halifax explosion of 1917 by sally. In 1917, imo was under norwegian registry chartered by the belgian.
Mary jane mceachern was registered in the halifax explosion death registration book 1917 no. Ss montblanc, a french cargo ship fully loaded with wartime explosives, collided with the norwegian vessel ss imo in the narrows, a strait connecting the upper halifax harbour to bedford basin. This book is the first ive read for the war through the generations reading challenge. Her brother edwin and mother anne were killed in the blast, which leveled most of the north barrington street structure. Ss montblanc, a french cargo ship fully laden with wartime explosives, collided with the norwegian vessel ss imo in the narrows, a strait connecting the upper halifax harbour to bedford basin. Dec 03, 2014 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. Construction of chebucto road school was completed and the school opened to students in 1910. Halifax disaster clippings, 19171918 halifax explosion.
The nova scotia archives halifax explosion book of remembrance, a database of victims with 1950 names a vision of regeneration, the explosion and reconstruction by the nova scotia archives just one big mess. The book contains the names, ages, residential address at the time of explosion and burial location of all 1,951 people lost in the explosion. Beeds book is the first book ive read of the explosion. The halifax explosion occurred on december 6, 1917, claiming nearly 2,000 lives. Halifax explosion remembrance book a list of those who died fatality no 202 name of deceased mceachern, jesse date of death 6 december 1917 gender female age 14 address 7 richmond st. Dec 05, 2017 december 6, 2017, marks the 100 anniversary of the halifax explosion. Many of these bodies are believed to have belonged to 1,951 known victims from the halifax foundation list but the bodies were not recognizable. She is listed in the halifax explosion remembrance book as one of the. The halifax explosion still reverberates the globe and mail.
Page 43 of this book reprints a listing of dartmouth residents reported killed by the explosion. Blast cloud right photo noted by historian janet kitz in her book, survivors children of the halifax explosion, as having been taken by a soldier stationed at york redoubt from a slightly closer and straighton vantage point. Dec 01, 2017 the halifax explosion was the largest manmade explosion prior to the atomic bomb. The accidental collision of a munitions ship with another vessel in halifax harbour in 1917 was the largest manmade explosion prior to hiroshima. The halifax explosion remembrance book, an official database compiled in 2002 by the nova scotia archives and. A world war i story of treachery, tragedy, and extraordinary heroism. When the register was closed in december 1918, it contained 1,631 entries. In 1917, imo was under norwegian registry chartered by the belgian relief commission to bring supplies to warravaged europe. On the morning of december 6th, 1917 in the port city of halifax, nova scotia, an explosion took place that obliterated half of the town in an instant.
Dec 01, 2017 memorial service commemorates 100th anniversary of halifax explosion posted. Halifax, canada, halifax explosion remembrance book, 19171918. Nov 21, 2017 this is the unforgettable story told in john u. The halifax explosion, december 6, 1917 obviously i wasnt around during the halifax explosion, but its a big part of the provinces history. Halifax explosion book of remembrance maritime museum of.
Aug 17, 2010 actual footage following the 1917 explosion in halifax, showing devastation and the relief effort, beginning with activities the day after the explosion and following the reconstruction in the. Halifax explosion book of remembrance the remembrance book contains a list of the 1,951 people identified as having perished as a direct result of the 1917 explosion. New books remember the great halifax explosion the star. Dec 06, 2017 but residents of halifax, and canadians in general, associate the city with an even more deadly maritime disaster an explosion in 1917 after a seemingly minor harbor collision between a french.
The 1917 munitions explosion killed nearly 2,000 people but was little known outside of halifax. 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. Halifax explosion book of remembrance maritime museum of the. Two ships had collided, one of which was laden with munitions intended for use in world war i, and when it blew up, it was the largest manmade explosion in history until the trinity atomic bomb tests. Halifax explosion the anatomy of a disaster page 5. Memorial service commemorates 100th anniversary of halifax e. Halifax explosion remembrance book a list of those who died fatality no 1894 name of deceased mceachern, mary jane date of death 6 december 1917 gender female age 56 address 7 richmond st. Oct 11, 2019 shattered houses in halifax s north end, following the halifax explosion on 6 december, 1917. Kitz ons msm january 12, 1930 may 10, 2019 was an educator, author and historian in halifax, nova scotia who played a key role in the recognition of the 1917 halifax explosion, the largest manmade explosion prior to the atomic bomb and the worst manmade disaster in canadian history. There were about 250 unidentified bodies buried after the explosion. The ruins of the oland brewery, after the halifax explosion, 1917. Dec 05, 2018 the parks memorial bells will ring out and prayers will be said, but experts who have studied the halifax explosion say the voices of its survivors are no longer able to tell the stories of the. Halifax explosion, dec 6, 1917 remembrance from a variety of resources the initial resource used for this community was the remembrance book, the official register of explosion fatalities. On the 6th december, 1917, the french steamer with a cargo of high.
The halifax explosion of 1917 this book is the first ive read for the war through the generations reading challenge. Nov 30, 2017 ken cuthbertsons the halifax explosion and john u. Century after halifaxs great explosion, city marks anniversary. The halifax explosion remembrance book, an official database compiled in 2002 by the nova scotia archives and records management identified 1,950 victims. Nova scotia archives halifax explosion 1917 online resources. The book started as a concept proposed to the halifax foundation by edmund morris.
In 1917, there was an explosion in halifax, nova scotias harbor. Halifax explosion remembrance book database, 19171918 open. Only two books had been written about the event in the 70 years. Fiction about the halifax explosion disaster that occurred in 1917 and killed 2,000 people. The halifax explosion occurred near halifax, nova scotia, canada, on the morning of december 6, 1917. Almost 2000 people killed as a result of the blast.
774 355 1595 1462 1362 781 416 241 1492 27 890 76 1604 1069 770 562 926 1467 193 1561 1518 575 1540 1286 763 1650 70 1057 929 569 839 475 672 69 59