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Stories of Our Past
Explosion in Halifax Harbour, 1917
In December 1917, one of the greatest natural harbours in the world was humming with excitement. Halifax Harbour was filled with naval convoys and merchant vessels while factories worked overtime in support of the Allied war effort in Europe. But on December 6, Canada’s worst disaster struck, as two ships–one carrying high explosives–collided. The explosion killed and injured thousands, razing the city’s North End and destroying nearly everything in its path.
The story of the worst human-made explosion before Hiroshima is the account of tremendous human suffering and devastation, yet also of human bravery and survival against all odds. Chaos and confusion reigned that day in Halifax and Dartmouth but what followed was a massive relief effort involving charitable assistance from all over the globe–especially Massachusetts.
Explosion in Halifax Harbour, 1917 includes a detailed account of the event, chronicling many remarkable human tragedies, rescue and relief efforts, attempts to place blame for the collision, and the reconstruction program that created Canada’s first government-assisted housing program. The newest Stories of Our Past title includes 60 full-colour images as well as sidebars on many monuments and commemorations that pay tribute to this catastrophic event that took place 100 years ago.
The story of the worst human-made explosion before Hiroshima is the account of tremendous human suffering and devastation, yet also of human bravery and survival against all odds. Chaos and confusion reigned that day in Halifax and Dartmouth but what followed was a massive relief effort involving charitable assistance from all over the globe–especially Massachusetts.
Explosion in Halifax Harbour, 1917 includes a detailed account of the event, chronicling many remarkable human tragedies, rescue and relief efforts, attempts to place blame for the collision, and the reconstruction program that created Canada’s first government-assisted housing program. The newest Stories of Our Past title includes 60 full-colour images as well as sidebars on many monuments and commemorations that pay tribute to this catastrophic event that took place 100 years ago.
- GenresHistoryNonfiction
128 pages, Paperback
Published November 9, 2017
6 people are currently reading
20 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
October 14, 2021
3 Stars
On December 6th, 1917, Halifax, Nova Scotia, would make history as a tragic accident would take place and Halifax would never be the same again. (Taken from page 36, paragraph 2 - "Windows broke over 80 kilometres away. In Sydney, Cape Breton, 430 kilometres to the northeast, residents could feel the shock of the blast. In the Halifax harbour and in the north-end in the neighborhood of Richmond, destruction was immense: almost 2,000 people were killed, 9,000 were injured, 6,000 were left homeless, and 25,000 reported damaged homes.".) This explosion would devistate the city of Halifax and this book tells the story of that devastation.
Author Dan Soucoup accounts the events leading up to the collision that caused the explosion, the explosion itself and the aftermath of the explosion, including the court case to determine who would be held accountable for the terrible tragedy. The book is well written and a fairly easy read at only 128 pages. As a history buff myself I enjoyed this book as it provided a look into one of the most tragic events to happen in Canada. I found myself feeling emotional in a few different parts as it looked at the death and loss associated with the collision that caused the explosion. I could not imagine the pain and suffering that would have been felt by those who experienced it.
The explosion was caused by the collision of two ships; the Imo and the Mont Blanc (which was heavily carrying explosives and ammunition). As the explosion occurred people gathered around to watch with no idea about the danger that they would soon be facing. I would like to make reference to another quote found in the book - (Taken from Page 35, Paragraph 4 - "At precisely 9:04:34, A. M. The Mont Blanc was blown to pieces. The power of the explosion was unprecedented: the largest humanmade eruption to that time, second only today to Hiroshima. The toxic combination of almost three thousand tons of explosives triggered the most deadly bomb ever seen in human history. A massive fireball rose above The Mont Blanc and homes nearby were instantly flattened. Glass shattered in flying slivers cutting through everything including human eyes, faces, and chests.").
If you are looking for a brief history on the Halifax explosion this book will definitely give that to you and it also showcases photos from that terrible day.
On December 6th, 1917, Halifax, Nova Scotia, would make history as a tragic accident would take place and Halifax would never be the same again. (Taken from page 36, paragraph 2 - "Windows broke over 80 kilometres away. In Sydney, Cape Breton, 430 kilometres to the northeast, residents could feel the shock of the blast. In the Halifax harbour and in the north-end in the neighborhood of Richmond, destruction was immense: almost 2,000 people were killed, 9,000 were injured, 6,000 were left homeless, and 25,000 reported damaged homes.".) This explosion would devistate the city of Halifax and this book tells the story of that devastation.
Author Dan Soucoup accounts the events leading up to the collision that caused the explosion, the explosion itself and the aftermath of the explosion, including the court case to determine who would be held accountable for the terrible tragedy. The book is well written and a fairly easy read at only 128 pages. As a history buff myself I enjoyed this book as it provided a look into one of the most tragic events to happen in Canada. I found myself feeling emotional in a few different parts as it looked at the death and loss associated with the collision that caused the explosion. I could not imagine the pain and suffering that would have been felt by those who experienced it.
The explosion was caused by the collision of two ships; the Imo and the Mont Blanc (which was heavily carrying explosives and ammunition). As the explosion occurred people gathered around to watch with no idea about the danger that they would soon be facing. I would like to make reference to another quote found in the book - (Taken from Page 35, Paragraph 4 - "At precisely 9:04:34, A. M. The Mont Blanc was blown to pieces. The power of the explosion was unprecedented: the largest humanmade eruption to that time, second only today to Hiroshima. The toxic combination of almost three thousand tons of explosives triggered the most deadly bomb ever seen in human history. A massive fireball rose above The Mont Blanc and homes nearby were instantly flattened. Glass shattered in flying slivers cutting through everything including human eyes, faces, and chests.").
If you are looking for a brief history on the Halifax explosion this book will definitely give that to you and it also showcases photos from that terrible day.
January 18, 2020
This book answered all the questions I’ve thought about since first learning of this disaster while touring Halifax many years ago.
May 27, 2021
Interesting book. Gives a lot of information about how it happened and the aftermath.
June 4, 2021
This is the first book I have read on this topic. I found it to be a good introduction. Since I cannot compare it to other books on the topic, I am giving it a middle-of-the-road three-star rating.
November 28, 2024
So interesting about something I had never heard of. We all know about Titanic but why not this - 5 years later (I think).
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews