The forgotten disaster that inspired nova scotias yearly. The largest manmade explosion in the world to that time, it killed over 1,600 people and wounded some 9,000 others. Halifax, nova scotia, canada what ss montblanc explosion death toll. Dec 06, 2017 100 years after the great halifax explosion steve inskeep talks with author john u. See more ideas about halifax explosion, halifax harbour and nova scotia. On december 6, 1917, the french munitions ship montblanc and the norwegian warrelief vessel imo collided in the harbour at halifax, nova scotia.
Montblanc was vaporized in one fifteenth of a second. On that thursday the norwegian vessel ss imo, carrying belgian relief supplies, and the french freighter ss mont blanc, carrying munitions, collided in halifax harbour, thereby creating what was then. Explosion in halifax harbour, 1917, by dan soucoup, nimbus publishing. Dec 06, 2017 on the bright, freezing morning of dec. Lessons learned 100 years after halifax explosion the star. The imo was only slightly damaged and, not knowing the cargo on the mont blanc, its crew remained with the ship at 09. Century after halifaxs great explosion, city marks. The events of the horrific halifax explosion are well documented. Century after halifaxs great explosion, city marks anniversary. The cargo of the montblanc caught fire, and after burning for 20 minutes, the ship exploded.
It was not just some local thing, said janet kitz, author of several books on the halifax explosion. On december 6, 1917, the french munitions ship montblanc and the. The fire on the montblanc and subsequent explosion wasnt all. Almost 2,000 were killed, 9,000 were injured many were blinded. Six million pounds of explosives detonated after the munitions ship montblanc collided with another vessel in halifax harbour. When the ships collided, montblancs hold was pierced, fire started and quickly spread, igniting vapours from the benzol.
Suddenly, the mont blanc s explosive cargo blew up, flattening. 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. 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. Dec 12, 2019 the halifax explosion is regarded an unparalleled chapter in the history of maritime disasters. On the 100th anniversary of the halifax explosion, two new books. Arriving late at the harbor, the ship needed to stay the night outside the protected area. The halifax explosion remembrance book is the first really definitive listing for those killed in the disaster of 6 december 1917. The blast released an explosive force equal to about 2. The halifax explosion is regarded an unparalleled chapter in the history of maritime disasters. The captain and crew, fearing an imminent explosion, took to lifeboats and rowed to the dartmouth side of the harbour.
After the collision the mont blanc was grounded at pier 6 and 20 minutes later kaboom. The aging french ship had been loaded in new york with a deadly cocktail of highly volatile explosives. Jul 14, 2015 the halifax explosion occured in halifax, nova scotia, on the morning of dec. The halifax explosion devastated the north end of the city, killing nearly 2,000 and injuring 9,000. On the morning of december 6 th, 1917, the steamship montblanc, inbound from the atlantic with war material for france, entered the halifax harbour narrows.
Bacon about a ship collision and explosion during world war i thats been called the worlds first weapon of. This nonfiction is an account of a tragedy which occurred in halifax, canada, at the end of the fourth year of the great war. See more ideas about halifax explosion, nova scotia and halifax harbour. In the early hours of december 6, 1917, the mont blanc, a frenchowned freighter loaded to the gunnels with thousands of tons of tnt, collided with a belgian relief ship and exploded in the halifax harbor killing 2,000 people and injuring more than 9,000 others. Halifax has long since been rebuilt, but memories of the disaster are still fresh. A fire on board the french ship ignited her cargo, causing a cataclysmic explosion that devastated the. The ship was a floating bomb, every substance in the cargo engineered to blow up, noted laura m. On december 6, 1917, the french munitions ship mont blanc and the norwegian warrelief vessel imo collided in the harbour at halifax, nova scotia. That recovered anchor part is the centerpiece of a monument to the mont blanc. Dec 02, 2017 this allowed curious people, unaware of what the ship was carrying, to gather and watch for nearly 20 minutes, until 9. The mont blanc was literally a floating bomb carrying tnt, gun cotton, and picric acid, all high explosives that were capable of simultaneous. The halifax explosion of 1917 canada history and mysteries. This site uses cookies to deliver our services, improve performance, for analytics, and if not signed in for advertising. The blast ripped through the city killing almost 2,000 people, injuring.
The mont blanc burned for twenty minutes and came to rest by pier 6 of halifaxs north end. The mont blanc was a munitions ship on its way to join a convoy sailing to wartorn europe. The collision caused the mont blanc to head towards shore. This canadian history for kids, sketches of our canada, looks at the devastation created by the halifax explosion of december 6, 1917 on december 6, 1917, as world war i continued in europe, ships carrying troops, supplies and munitions filled the harbour of the port city of halifax, nova scotia. Dec 06, 2017 century after halifaxs great explosion, city marks anniversary. It has been called the worst manmade explosion in history. The ss mont blanc on december 5th, 1917, the ss mont blanc arrived in the halifax port after its voyage from france. The montblanc was a munitions ship on its way to join a convoy sailing to wartorn europe. Bacon about a ship collision and explosion during world war i. The halifax explosion and the road to recovery by janet f. Mustread books about the halifax explosion halifax magazine. Fire broke out immediately on the french freighter. On the 100th anniversary of the halifax explosion, two new. 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.
Knowing the fate of the mont blanc, the captain and crew abandoned ship and rowed to the dartmouth shore. Jan 17, 2019 on the morning of december 6, 1917, two ships, the imo and the mont blanc, collided in the narrows of halifax harbour. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that. The halifax explosion was a disaster that occurred in halifax, nova scotia, canada, on the morning of 6 december 1917. Fire broke out instantly and as there was no possible way to save the munitionsladen ship the captain ordered the crew to the lifeboats. A moving exhibit on the explosion, halifax wrecked, can be seen at the maritime museum of the atlantic, lower water street. On the morning of december 6, 1917, two ships, the imo and the montblanc, collided in the narrows of halifax harbour. This allowed curious people, unaware of what the ship was carrying, to gather and watch for nearly 20 minutes, until 9. A fire on board the french ship ignited her cargo, causing a massive explosion that. The mont blanc was carrying extremely explosive munitions, including tnt and benzol. On thursday morning, 6 december 1917, she entered halifax harbour in nova scotia, canada laden with a full cargo of highly volatile explosives. On that day, the collision of the ships mont blanc and imo in halifax harbor triggered an eruption of almost 3,000 tons of picric acid, tnt, and gun cotton.
The online version features a searchable database with detailed information for 1950 casualties more than 300 of whom are newlyconfirmed and identified victims. On wednesday, a halifax explosion commemoration ceremony will be held in fort needham memorial park, not far from the spot in halifax harbour where the french munitions ship ss montblanc blew up. John boileau, a historian and retired canadian army colonel, has written a book, 6. The source of the explosion was a single cargo ship. The collision of the ss montblanc and the halifax explosion.
Nov 30, 2017 six million pounds of explosives detonated after the munitions ship montblanc collided with another vessel in halifax harbour. Halifax explosion library and archives canada blog. A world war i story of treachery, tragedy, and extraordinary heroism by john u. 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. New books remember the great halifax explosion the star. Nova scotia archives halifax explosion 1917 online resources. A cubic mile of air was consumed by the terrific explosion, whose force was sufficient to annihilate the montblanc and push the sea away, exposing the harbor floor for an instant. As she made her way through the narrows towards bedford basin, she was involved in a collision. Nov 30, 2017 the halifax explosion shared the headlines with the major wartime events. That accident sparked a fire and an apocalyptic explosion that was the largest manmade blast prior to the. 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 norwegian ship imo left the protected anchorage of bedford basin, outbound for new york to load food and clothing for the people of occupied.
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. One hundred years ago, on december 6, 1917, the french munitions ship mont blanc collided with the belgian relief vessel imo in the halifax harbour. On wednesday, a halifax explosion commemoration ceremony will be held in fort needham memorial park, not far from the spot in halifax harbour where the french munitions ship ss mont blanc blew up. Ss mont blanc, 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.
What followed was one of the largest humanmade explosions prior to the detonation of the first atomic bombs in 1945. Ironically, the crew of the offending montblanc escaped largely unhurt from the carnage caused by their exploding ship the only casualty being one seaman killed by falling. Bacon in this definitive account, bestselling author john u. Halifax explosion books tagged halifax explosion librarything.
The french freighter mont blanc arrived at halifax from new york, intending to join a convoy assembling to cross the atlantic. 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. As it approached the lively port city of halifax, montblancs deadly cargo erupted with the force of 2. On december 6, 1917, the french munitions ship mont blanc and the norwegian warrelief vessel imo collided in the harbour at halifax, nova. Halifax explosion the persecution of pilot mackey an. Bacon recreates the recklessness that caused the tragedy, the selfless rescue efforts that saved thousands, and the inspiring resilience that rebuilt the town. Stern of mont blanc before the explosion during a prewar visit to halifax, aug. A former feature writer for the detroit news, his writing has been recognized three times in the best american sports writing series. In this definitive account, bestselling author john u. A cargo ship accident that occurred between a french ship carrying explosives and a norwegian vessel carrying provisions for wartime relieving provisions, the halifax disaster in 1917 happened just towards the fagend of the first world war. The halifax explosion was the deadliest disaster in canadian history. Its tragic because the montblanc burned for 18 minutesand people who were walking to work and school came down to watch the ship burn.
Who was to blame for huge halifax explosion 100 years ago. Crowds along the waterfront gathered to watch the fire. She was transporting 2,925 tons of various explosives to france, including gun cotton, tnt, drums of. Ablaze, and with explosions on her deck filling the sky, the mont blanc grounded. The explosion occurred when a french munitions ship, the mont blanc, entering halifax harbor collided with a ship carrying relief supplies for belgium, the imo, which was sailing out of the harbor. The cargo of the mont blanc caught fire, and after burning for 20 minutes, the ship exploded. The 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. Francis mackey was a respected harbour pilot with a spotless record of twentyfour years service when he boarded mont blanc on the evening of 5 december 1917 and spent the night anchored outside the closed submarine nets. At first, a small fire broke out aboard the mont blanc, which grew bigger crowds of people and emergency responders linded the shores of halifax and dartmouth to get a better look. After the collision the montblanc was grounded at pier 6 and 20 minutes later kaboom. A series of mischances the next morning led the outward bound norwegian vessel, imo, into collision with mont blanc, gashing her forward hold deeply. The halifax explosion shared the headlines with the major wartime events.
The united states navy and coast guard provided invaluable aid. The 1917 halifax explosion was an unfortunate but predictable tragedy, given the sea traffic and munitions cargo, resulting in sudden largescale damage and catastrophic injuries, with 1950 dead. Stern of montblanc before the explosion during a prewar visit to halifax, aug. When the french munitions ship montblanc and the belgian relief.
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