The journal of americas military past welldocumented. The port was a major hub of wartime activity and halifax harbour was crowded with warships, troop transports and. In december 1917, a cargo ship carrying explosives detonated near the port city of halifax, nova scotia. It tells the riveting story of two world war i ships that collided in halifax harbor in 1917, causing one of the most powerful explosions in historya devastating blast that ripped through the canadian towns of halifax and dartmouth. The halifax explosion, historys largest explosion before. Bacons new book, the great halifax explosion, recounts the catastrophe that unfolded when two ships collided in halifax harbor on dec.
The blast dominated global headlines, transformed canada and the united states from. Bacon about a ship collision and explosion during world war i. In 1917, halifax, nova scotia was the main base of the new canadian navy and housed the most important army garrison in canada. T he halifax explosion was caused when two ships collided in the narrowest part of halifax harbor on the morning of thursday, december 6, 1917 the ss mont blanc, a french ship was arriving from new york city filled with munitions for world war i in europe. Dec 01, 2017 on december 6, 1917 in halifax, nova scotia, two ships collided in the harbor. A world war i story of treachery, tragedy, and extraordinary heroism. Seconds later, the ship would explode and set off the 3,000 tons of explosives inside. The great halifax explosion al kresta interviews john. Bacon has tracked the disaster in halifax a century ago to the celebratory annual tree lighting in boston. 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. On the other side was a group of countries led by germany. The book is a welltold sad story of the halifax explosion on 1917 which killed perhaps as many as 3,000 people 1,953 deaths accounted for and injured over 9,000 people.
The great halifax explosion provides information about a terrible disaster that occurred in halifax harbor during world war i. A true story about the tragic explosion at halifax harbour, canada, in the early hours of december 6, 1917. As it approached the lively port city of halifax, montblancs deadly cargo erupted with the force of 2. Dec 07, 2017 the great war week by week 100 years later s4 e48 all quiet on the eastern front action in east africa i the great war week 175 duration. Dec 06, 2017 halifaxs harbor after the explosion in december 1917.
The great halifax, nova scotia explosion of 1917 old colony. Few living people recall that the largest manmade explosion in history prior to the advent of the nuclear age took place in halifax, nova scotia. Dec 06, 2017 100 years after the great halifax explosion steve inskeep talks with author john u. One hundred years ago, a massive explosion rocked halifax, nova scotia when a shipthe montblanccarrying six million pounds of explosives caught fire in the harbor. The halifax explosion was caused when two ships collided in the narrowest part.
Bacon, in his excellent book, the great halifax explosion new york, 2017, writes that shock waves from the concussion rushed outward at 2,100 miles per hour, seven times faster than the. Many of the dead rest there, as do some of the victims of the sinking of the rms titanic, five years earlier. The great halifax explosion sheds new light on this sad but fascinating event. On one side of the war was a group of countries that included great britain, canada then part of great britain, france, russia, and the united states. Farther from the harbor, the homes of halifax lay in ruins. After reading about this shocking and littleknown disaster, your students will no doubt be eager to learn more. 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. Suddenly montblancs deadly cargo erupted with the force of 2.
In halifax s fairview cemetery is a small memorial to the great explosion. In this definitive account, bestselling author john u. Many houses were made of wood, which caught fire after the explosion toppled kitchen stoves. In his new book, the great halifax explosion, author john u. A world war i story of treachery, tragedy and extraordinary heroism, by john u.
The great halifax explosion al kresta interviews john u. Dec 07, 2017 one hundred years ago, a massive explosion rocked halifax, nova scotia when a shipthe montblanccarrying six million pounds of explosives caught fire in the harbor. For the 800 or so folks who just about filled the place, thank. The blast leveled much of the north end of the city and killed about 2,000 people. 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. This week in the great war, we see some action in italy and none at all in russia the peace negotiations are well underway.
Students will identify the key details in this narrative nonfiction feature about the 1917 explosion of a cargo ship in halifax harbor. Excerpt from the great halifax explosion book details collision of 2 ships and the explosion that altered a city, residents and relations between canada and u. The narrative nonfiction telling lets readers understand it through the experiences of a yearold survivor. Century after halifaxs great explosion, city marks. Theyll love being able to drag around the frame to get a 360degree view of the scene. The great halifax explosion book columbus metropolitan. It would be the biggest and most devastating explosion in history until the invention of the nuclear bomb. The halifax explosion started when two ships collided in the harbor of the nova scotian capital of halifax. The halifax explosion was a disaster that occurred in halifax, nova scotia, canada, on the morning of 6 december 1917. 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 s. The great halifax explosion national bestseller the riveting, ticktock account of the largest manmade explosion in history prior to the atomic bomb, and the equally astonishing tales of survival and heroism that emerged from the ashes, from acclaimed new york times bestselling author john u. A world war i story of treachery, tragedy, and extraordinary heroism kindle edition by bacon, john u download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets.
See more ideas about halifax explosion, halifax harbour and mont blanc. A world war i story of treachery, tragedy and heroism. Corpses, many dismembered or burned beyond recognition, were scattered everywhere. 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.
The great halifax explosion downloadlibrary overdrive. 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. This interactive 3d video of the explosion and its aftermath is a fabulous tool to help studentsespecially visual learnersfully grasp the logistics of the disaster. After reading about this shocking and littleknown disaster. In 1917, a ship laden with the most explosives ever packed on a vessel sailed out of brooklyns harbor for the battl. 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. From the acclaimed new york times bestselling author.
The great halifax explosion a world war i story of treachery, tragedy, and extraordinary heroism by john u. What happened when a ship packed with six million pounds. 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. Nearly 2,000 people died and some 9,000 were injured in the disaster, which flattened more than 1 square mile 2. Bacon, a gripping narrative history of the largest manmade detonation prior to hiroshima. Sep, 2017 everything within a halfmile of the explosion was completely obliterated. Details the lapses in procedure and judgment that led up to the catastrophe, describing both the victims accounts and the enormous outpouring of aid from both canada and america. A world war i story of treachery, tragedy, and extraordinary heroism by john u. 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. After steaming out of new york city on december 1, 1917, laden with a staggering three thousand tons of tnt and other explosives, the munitions ship montblanc approached the lively port city of halifax. Watch the halifax explosion recreated 100 years later in 360degree animation. A world war i story of treachery, tragedy, and extraordinary heroism bacon, john u. How did noble driscoll feel when he woke up the explosion. The imo came to rest against the dartmouth shore on the other side of the harbor.
A world war i story of treachery, tragedy, and extraordinary heroism hardcover november 7, 2017. Bacon about a ship collision and explosion during world war i thats been called the worlds first weapon of. A massive smoke cloud ripples upward above the halifax explosion. John u bacon is the author of the great halifax explosion. A history of the destruction of a canadian city by an explosion as powerful as a nuclear weapon. The great halifax, nova scotia explosion of 1917 old. The great halifax explosion smithsonian libraries unbound. The great halifax explosion a world war i story of treachery, tragedy, and extraordinary heroism book. This nonfiction is an account of a tragedy which occurred in halifax, canada, at the end of the fourth year of the great war.
With clare stone, max morrow, paul doucet, lynne griffin. The great halifax explosion world history quiz quizizz. The crash sparked the largest manmade explosion until the atomic bomb. 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. Hes also written the new york times bestsellers three and out and fourth and long. A fire on board the french ship ignited her cargo, causing a massive explosion that. In the richmond section of halifax, the awful blast was accompanied by a shower of debris, oil and aviation fuel. A world war i story of treachery, tragedy, and extraordinary heroism, which launched tuesday with a great event at michigans rackham auditorium. The geography and a series of events and errors that occurred in halifax, nova scotia, on december 6 th, 1917, contributed to the most catastrophic and dramatic manmade violence to a surrounding area and its inhabitants before the atomic age. 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. What followed was one of the largest humanmade explosions prior to the detonation of the first atomic bombs in 1945. Halifax explosion, also called halifax explosion of 1917 or the great halifax explosion, devastating explosion on december 6, 1917, that occurred when a. When i first encountered the halifax explosion, i knew immediately it was a ticktock of a story just waiting to become a book.
Bacon recreates the recklessness that caused the tragedy, the selfless rescue efforts that saved thousands, and the inspiring resilience that rebuilt the town. A world war i story of treachery, tragedy, and extraordinary heroism kindle edition by bacon, john u download it once and. After steaming out of new york city on december 1, 1917, laden with a staggering three thousand tons of tnt and other explosives, the munitions ship montblanc fought its way up the atlantic coast, through waters prowled by enemy uboats. The city had acted as the center of relief and recovery efforts in that tragedy. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the great halifax explosion.
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