A new comic book about the halifax explosion stirs up controversy. Christened ss runic, she was bought, sold and renamed numerous times during her career. In 1917, imo was under norwegian registry chartered by the belgian. 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. Each section provides a brief overview of a portion of the event with links to relevant photographs, interactive maps, true stories of survivors, animated. The great halifax explosion smithsonian libraries unbound.
By the end of its final flareup, spanish influenza killed more people in nova scotia than the 1917 halifax explosion, but the impact on the province of the most deadly pandemic in world history. Surviving the disaster of the halifax explosion cbc. 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. How journalists spread the word about the halifax explosion cbc. The halifax explosion on the 100th anniversary of the halifax explosion this program looks at the causes, effects, and lasting memories and legacies of the tragic event a work by parliamentary poet laureate george elliott clarke. Africville, campbell road, halifax, nova scotia 45 19171206. During the first world war, halifax was a busy port.
I discovered this photo in the halifax herald while researching other aspects of my halifax explosion project. View from the waterfront looking west from the ruins of the sugar refinery across the obliterated richmond district several days after the explosion. The explosion had profound and longlasting consequences. The aftermath of the 1917 halifax explosion is shown in a file photo. The halifax explosion was the largest manmade explosion until the first atomic bomb was detonated over hiroshima, japan, in 1945. The ss montblanc collided with the ss imo causing the largest manmade explosion prior to the abomb. The halifax explosion of 1917 the canadian encyclopedia.
Watch the halifax explosion recreated 100 years later in 360degree animation. 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. Corpses, many dismembered or burned beyond recognition, were scattered everywhere. Bacon recreates the recklessness that caused the tragedy, the selfless rescue efforts that saved thousands, and the inspiring resilience that rebuilt the town.
Why alison watt wrote a novel inspired by the halifax explosion. 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. 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. In this definitive account, bestselling author john u. On the 100th anniversary of the halifax explosion, two new. Fascimile century edition of rogers photographic advertising album smithsonian libraries copy nova scotia archives establishing blame in the halifax explosion cbc. Pauls church, halifax created during the halifax explosion in 1917, the silhouette of broken glass in the upper right hand window is said to resemble rev.
The halifax explosion was a disaster that occurred in halifax, nova scotia, canada, on the morning of 6 december 1917. Halifax explosion simple english wikipedia, the free. With survivors voices silent, the halifax explosion is now a. Nov 30, 2017 jim cuvelier, 101yearsold, is seen in his room at camp hill veterans memorial hospital in halifax on monday, nov. A column from the island farmer newspaper about the return of a large group of p. The relief effort following the halifax explosion has become ingrained in the story of the tragedy, but one littleexplored aspect of the dec. 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.
Blast cloud added february 20, 2010 possibly a copy of an original complete print heretofore referred to as the mcnabs island photograph allowing a greater view of the surrounding area. A city destroyed 100 years after the halifax explosion. The halifax explosion december 7, 2014 july 20, 2015 snapshots of canadas past. Halifax explosion the anatomy of a disaster page 1.
An introduction to the halifax explosion from one moment to. The heritage minute and other sources contain historical inaccuracies in that coleman is shown warning others in the area surrounding the depot station of the impending explosion. A world war i story of treachery, tragedy, and extraordinary heroism bacon, john u. A fire on board the french ship ignited her cargo, causing a large explosion that devastated the. The think like a historian series of videos and resources is a curriculumbased learning tool to build skills to analyze and interpret primary sources. She says the database differs from the existing halifax explosion book of remembrance in giving a broader sense of who died and where they. Ss imo was a steamship that served in passenger and freight trades and later as a whaling supply ship.
What followed was one of the largest humanmade explosions prior to the detonation of the first atomic bombs in 1945. A recent examination of the impact of the explosion on canadas navy. The blast levelled most of the city and sent shards of glass. Historians such as janet kitz, author of shattered city. I would hope that the book conveys the costs of war both at home and. Nova scotia archives halifax explosion 1917 online resources. Jul 14, 2015 the halifax explosion occured in halifax, nova scotia, on the morning of dec. John demont in their book the little tree by the sea. Halifax explosion the anatomy of a disaster page 5. 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. The halifax explosion of 1917 was caused by pranksters who filled an outhouse with methane gas, set a fuse, lit it, then ran off and watched it blow up. Mccall, governor, commonwealth of massachusetts visited halifax on november 7, 1918, to inspect the reconstruction of the areas devastated by the halifax explosion. The halifax explosion remembrance book is the first really definitive listing for those killed in the disaster of 6 december 1917. Childrens books tell of bravery, kindness after halifax explosion.
The halifax explosion july 4, 2011 admin the morning of december 6, 1917 began as most mornings in the city of halifax, nova scotiawives kissed their husbands goodbye, mothers sent their children off to school, and the harbourfront, which served as a major hub during wwi was bustling with activity, both mercantile and military. Nov 9, 2017 the halifax explosion was a maritime disaster in halifax nova scotia, canada, on the morning of dec. Army and navy personnel worked shouldertoshoulder with. The halifax explosion and the royal canadian navy 2002. 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. The first rescue train loaded with medical personnel and supplies arrives from truro, nova scotia, 100 km away. Jul 04, 2011 the halifax explosion july 4, 2011 admin the morning of december 6, 1917 began as most mornings in the city of halifax, nova scotiawives kissed their husbands goodbye, mothers sent their children off to school, and the harbourfront, which served as a major hub during wwi was bustling with activity, both mercantile and military. During the first world war, halifax was a busy port and the centre of wartime shipping for canada. No section of halifax city escaped serious damage more or less severe damage was caused as far away as sackville and windsor junction, 9 or 10 miles away from the explosion. In honour of the 100th anniversary of the halifax explosion, cbc nova scotia colourized several photos depicting life in the city after the 1917 disaster. A fraction of a second thats the duration of the explosion that blew apart the. Rewriting the history of the halifax explosion cbc. Information is presented in sequential order under the themes of.
At the time it was considered so important bc nothing very exciting ever happened in canada especially during the years 1911 thru 1931. Cbc news canada novascotia topic tag halifax explosion. While the halifax explosion of 1917 was a calamity, it was not the only major wartime explosion suffered by the locals. 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. This is a riveting, wellwritten and researched world war i book. It is a priority for cbc to create a website that is accessible to all canadians including people with visual, hearing, motor and cognitive challenges.
Buildings within a radius of half a mile of the explosion were totally destroyed and that up to one mile they were very largely rendered uninhabitable and dangerous. See more ideas about halifax explosion, halifax harbour and nova scotia. The halifax explosion was a maritime disaster in halifax, nova scotia, canada, on the morning of 6 december 1917. The online version features a searchable database with detailed information for 1950 casualties more than 300 of whom are newlyconfirmed and identified victims. Colourized photos of the halifax explosions aftermath cbc.
In 1917, imo was under norwegian registry chartered by the belgian relief commission to bring supplies to warravaged europe. She says a comic book seems like an insensitive way to tell such a tragic tale. An entire neighbourhood was destroyed, thousands killed and injured, thousands more left homeless. 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. The halifax explosion of 1945 canada history and mysteries. Devastation after the halifax explosion, showing what is left of the richmond neighbourhood.
Her articles on gardening, travel, and the arts have appeared in a variety of publications. Lessons learned 100 years after halifax explosion the star. For more information about the halifax explosion, visit. Mar 02, 2016 train dispatcher vince coleman sacrifices his own life to save a train from the halifax explosion. One of the few accounts in a 1918 commemorative booklet describes. Map of the 1917 halifax explosion canadian gis and. Halifax explosion timeline by mark pharoah on prezi. Cuvelier was an infant when the halifax explosion on dec. The halifax explosion took place on december 6, 1917 when the ss montblanc, a french cargo ship loaded with explosives collided with the ss imo, a norwegian ship in the harbour in halifax, nova scotia, canada. The story and scope of the disaster and its aftermath is revealed in fiction and nonfiction narratives for both adults and children in these selections from the collection of the cape breton regional library. Dec 05, 2017 on the 100th anniversary of the halifax explosion, two new books examine the disasters place in canadas mythology ken cuthbertsons the halifax explosion and john u. Haligonians took the opportunity to shower the governor with thanks for the immediate and ongoing relief provided through the massachusettshalifax relief committee.
Fascimile century edition of rogers photographic advertising album smithsonian libraries copy nova scotia archives establishing blame in the halifax explosion cbc digital archives. A nonfiction book about canadas worst disaster by ken cuthbertson. I discovered this photo in the halifax herald while researching other aspects of. A collision between two ships in halifax harbour in 1917 set off an explosion unrivalled until the atomic bomb. On the 100th anniversary of the halifax explosion, two new books examine the disasters place in canadas mythology ken cuthbertsons the halifax explosion and john u.
Dec 07, 2014 the halifax explosion december 7, 2014 july 20, 2015 snapshots of canadas past. Train dispatcher vince coleman sacrifices his own life to save a train from the halifax explosion. A world war i story of treachery, tragedy, and extraordinary heroism. Dupuiss book recounts the efforts of more than two dozen journalists, including james hickey, bureau superintendent for the canadian press. Fiction about the halifax explosion disaster that occurred in 1917 and killed 2,000 people. A world war i story of treachery, tragedy, and extraordinary heroism by john u. Surviving the blast that shook a nation was published by altitude in 2003. 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 halifax explosion levelled most of the city, killing 2000, and injuring 9000.
Vince coleman was also the subject of a heritage minute and was a prominent character in the cbc miniseries shattered city. History is more than just words on a screen or from a textbook. Many safetyrelated changes were made after the halifax explosion, including new rules for storage of hazardous materials and harbour navigation. It is a priority for cbc to create a website that is accessible to all canadians including.
Halifax explosion infosheet maritime museum of the atlantic. The halifax explosion of 1917 canada history and mysteries. Destroyed neighbourhoods were rebuilt to safer standards, while medical treatment, social welfare, and public health saw advances and improvements. 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.