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. Nov 30, 2017 ken cuthbertsons the halifax explosion and john u. Read joels book entitled scapegoat, the extraordinary legal proceedings following the 1917 halifax explosion. 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. The resulting blast killed around 2,000 people and devastated the city of halifax, nova scotia. The halifax explosion was a disaster that occurred in halifax, nova scotia, canada, on the morning of 6 december 1917.
A cbc television miniseries in 2004 shattered city. Today marks the 100th anniversary of the halifax explosion, which took place when a french cargo ship laden with explosives collided with another ship in halifax harbour. Why alison watt wrote a novel inspired by the halifax. The halifax explosion of 1917 in many ways december 6th, 1917 was a typical early winter day in halifax.
But read the book about the halifax disaster, then watch this movie to see a good account of what it looked like. Halifax author janet kitz says the photo shows how difficult it was for babies to be identified if their mothers were dead. Halifax explosion simple english wikipedia, the free. His new book is a biography entitled betrayal of trust, commander wyatt and the. If you love your community and you love each other, you can rebuild. Jul 04, 2011 the city of boston played a large role in helping to rebuild halifax. Childrens books tell of bravery, kindness after halifax.
Dec 05, 2017 black snow is a love story set during 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 a very complete history with a strong emphasis on the victims as well, providing names and faces along with their testimonies. Oct 11, 2019 devastation after the halifax explosion, showing what is left of the richmond neighbourhood. In the blink of an eye the halifax explosion and the royal canadian navy by john griffith armstrong.
The halifax explosion at the cbc canadian broadcasting corporation shattered city. The halifax harbour explosion of 1917 remains one of the most devastating disasters in canadian history. See more ideas about halifax explosion, nova scotia and canadian history. The online version features a searchable database with detailed information for 1950 casualties more than 300 of whom are newlyconfirmed and identified victims. Watch the halifax explosion recreated 100 years later in 360degree animation. Bacon in this definitive account, bestselling author john u. It was a devastating moment in canadian history, the impact of which still resonates today. It is a priority for cbc to create a website that is accessible to all canadians including people with visual, hearing, motor.
Bacon recreates the recklessness that caused the tragedy, the selfless rescue efforts that saved thousands, and the inspiring resilience that rebuilt the town. The halifax explosion of 1917 canada history and mysteries. Surviving the blast that shook a nation was published by altitude in 2003. 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. Her articles on gardening, travel, and the arts have appeared in a variety of publications. Surviving the blast that shook a nation by joyce glasner. Nov 28, 2017 the halifax explosion was one of the worst man made explosions in history and a new documentary about it airs this sunday, a few days before the 100th anniversary of this calamitous event. A fresh generation of childrens books is finding the grace in halifaxs worst moment a massive explosion that levelled much of the city 100 years ago but inspired acts of kindness that still. The blast levelled most of the city and sent shards of glass. Trains full of medical supplies, doctors arriving from massachusetts, money flowing in from as far away as china and new zealand. An orphan of the halifax explosion nimbus, aimed at seven to 10yearold readers.
Nearly 2,000 people died when a ship loaded with explosives bumped into another vessel and. Dan soucoups book, explosion in halifax harbour 1917. Collison of 2 ships ignited 3,000 tons of explosives that left 2,000 dead and 25,000 citizens homeless. Each section provides a brief overview of a portion of the event with links to relevant photographs, interactive maps, true stories of survivors, animated. Halifax explosion project gutenberg selfpublishing. 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. A world war i story of treachery, tragedy, and extraordinary heroism by john u. Nova scotia archives halifax explosion 1917 online resources. Bacon is the author of the national bestseller the great halifax explosion and four bestselling books about college football, including three and out. A nonfiction book about canadas worst disaster by ken cuthbertson. Nov 07, 2017 a history of the destruction of a canadian city by an explosion as powerful as a nuclear weapon. 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. All three were charged with manslaughter and criminal negligence in the death of mackeys longtime friend, imos pilot, william hayes. 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.
Oct 11, 2019 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. In 1917, the thriving seaport of halifax, nova scotia, was leveled by a munitions explosion of unprecedented force when two ships collided in the citys harbor. What followed was one of the largest humanmade explosions prior to the detonation of the first atomic bombs in 1945. Halifax explosion nova scotia canada 1917 about 2000 people killed. 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. Cbcs journalistic standards and practicesabout cbc news. Nov 21, 2017 this is the unforgettable story told in john u. The halifax explosion and the persecution of pilot francis mackey nimbus publishing the author seeks to change historys perception of mr. Jul 15, 2014 read joels book entitled scapegoat, the extraordinary legal proceedings following the 1917 halifax explosion. A world war i story of treachery, tragedy, and extraordinary heroism bacon, john u.
Rare video of halifax harbour explosion depicts fiery. Film about the massive halifax explosion airs dec 3 rci. More detailed accounts of response are found in allison lawlors nonfiction book broken pieces. Babies whose mothers had not been located and children injured in the halifax explosion on dec. The halifax explosion is a twopart miniseries produced in 2003 by cbc television. The true story of the greatest manmade explosion before hiroshima by michael j. After the wreck commissioners inquiry he was arrested along with captain aime le medec of mont blanc and the ports chief examining officer, commander f. This article is about the cbc television miniseries. He also explores in detail the inquiries and prosecutions that. The halifax explosion took the same title of the book, but the miniseries had no connection to the book or its. A 45yearold woman was killed in a singlevehicle crash on highway 102 saturday morning in. Bacons the great halifax explosion trace the reverberations of the deadly disaster. Cbc viewers get a rare look at sorrow, one of arthur lismers halifax explosionera paintings that had been lost for robert macneil on his first novel burden of desire. If youd like to learn more about the halifax explosion, try this web sites.
The nova scotia government has announced two more deaths at the northwood longterm care home in halifax related to covid19. On the 100th anniversary of the halifax explosion, two new books. The sun was bright in a clear sky and the ground was clear of snow. 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. This is a riveting, wellwritten and researched world war i book. New books remember the great halifax explosion the star. It is the story of how a tragic incident at the height of the first world war became a living metaphor for the worldwide conflict, and how halifax arose from the ashes after severe destruction and devastation. The halifax explosion, a madefortelevision movie detailing the events of the halifax. Parts of nova scotia could mark the beginning of march with as much as 30 centimetres of snow. 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. And now, nearly 100 years after the halifax explosion, author janet maybee is crusading to clear mr. The halifax explosion still reverberates the globe and mail. It presents a fictionalized version of the halifax explosion, a 1917 catastrophe that destroyed much of the canadian city of halifax. This interactive recreates that event and its aftermath in a 3d virtual environment.
The halifax explosion of 6 december 1917, the biggest humanmade blast before the atomic bomb, holds a poignant place in my family history. New book details the halifax, nova scotia, explosion of 1917. To this day, haligonians send their thanks by shipping a large nova scotia christmas tree to grace bostons prudential plaza. On december 6, 1917, the french munitions ship mont blanc and the norwegian warrelief vessel imo collided in the harbour at halifax, nova scotia. Information is presented in sequential order under the themes of.
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. Halifax explosion the persecution of pilot mackey an. The halifax explosion remembrance book is the first really definitive listing for those killed in the disaster of 6 december 1917. 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. Book of remembrance online database at the nova scotia archivesa vision of regeneration virtual exhibit about the explosion and. Nearly 2,000 people died and some 9,000 were injured in the disaster, which flattened more than 1 square mile 2. The halifax explosion of 1917 the canadian encyclopedia. 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 relief effort following the halifax explosion has become ingrained in the story of the tragedy. New book details 1917 halifax, nova scotia, explosion. Aftershock the halifax explosion and the persecution of. It was directed by bruce pittman and written by keith ross leckie.
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. Theres even a cbc miniseries based on this book produced in 2003. Hrm municipal archives historical sources on the halifax explosion. An introduction to the halifax explosion from one moment to. Shattered city, an epic twopart miniseries, dramatizes a compelling piece of canadian history. Why alison watt wrote a novel inspired by the halifax explosion. Dec 02, 2017 new books remember the great halifax explosion. A troubling reality of the halifax explosion relief. Childrens books tell of bravery, kindness after halifax explosion.
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