On thursday morning, 6 december 1917, she entered halifax harbour in nova scotia, canada laden with a full cargo of highly volatile explosives. I made it a point to walk from the harbouurfront to the anchor site in order to appreciate the magnitude of the distance this anchor traveled. Members of the halifax fire department responded quickly, and were positioning their engine up to the nearest hydrant when ss mont blanc disintegrated in a blinding white flash, creating the biggest manmade explosion. Visit mont blanc anchor site on your trip to halifax or canada.
Vessels were loading cargo, awaiting convoys, or under repair. 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. Walkers many awardwinning books bring history and science alive. Two ships, the mont blanc and the imo, crashed in the narrows this is the second of. The ship was blown apart and a powerful blast wave radiated away from the explosion at more than 1,000 metres 3,300 ft per second. Dec 27, 2012 parts of the mont blanc were found widely dispersed including a broken section of its anchor shaft weighing some 1100 pounds that was found more than two miles away. The 1917 blast from the halifax explosion was massive. Mac donald is as adept at describing the dynamics of a chain reaction explosion as she is. Mont blanc anchor site halifax 2020 all you need to. A century ago this week, the french munitions ship mont blanc and the norwegian. The detonation, equivalent to 2989 tons of tnt, threw out a powerful blast wave that tossed debris high up into the sky above halifax.
The montblanc had disintegrated, showering iron fragments and black tar across halifax. The place where the anchor shank came to rest on the morning of december 6, 1917. Pilot francis mackey was responsible for guiding the mont blanc into the harbour when it collided with the imo. One of the most devastating maritime disasters in canadian history occurred in halifax harbor, nova scotia in 1917.
A halfton chunk of its anchor still lies where it landed 2. Halifax harbour was crowded with wartime shipping on december 6, 1917. Chair believed to be made from halifax explosion debris needs. It had been sent to halifax by the british, because it was too slow for the american convoys. The ss mont blanc explosion in halifax harbor world history. In the predawn darkness of thursday, december 6, 1917, the french munitions ship mont blanc lay at anchor near the mouth of halifax harbour.
The ordinary man who died for strangers when montblanc. This niche community is located in the soughtafter north end of the peninsula, and the apartments offer extensive views of the halifax harbour and bedford basin. Halifax explosion memorial halifax, nova scotia atlas obscura. Anchor shaft blown miles from exploding ship the ss mont blanc blew up in halifax harbor in 1917.
Its still there, mounted on a low pedestal with a memorial plaque attached. Members of the halifax fire department responded quickly, and were positioning their engine up to the nearest hydrant when ss mont blanc disintegrated in a blinding white flash, creating the biggest manmade explosion before the nuclear age. Halifax explosion of december 6, 1917 geni family tree. The hms highflyer was involved in halifax and the ss high flyer was involved in texas city. There are some curious similarities between the halifax disaster of 1917 and the texas city texas disaster of 1947. 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. Stern of montblanc before the explosion during a prewar visit to halifax, aug. The toll of the halifax explosion was enormous with over 1600 men. The blast ripped through her hull and cargo at more than 1,000 metres per second. A newly discovered diary tells the harrowing story of the deadly. The halifax explosion and the persecution of pilot francis mackey by janet maybee. Dec 06, 2017 on the bright, freezing morning of dec. Nearby parks include merv sullivan park, seaview look off park and seaview park. The halifax explosion is a very interesting story and i am surprised that it is not more well known.
Mont blanc anchor site halifax aktuelle 2020 lohnt es sich. The bells were donated by barbara orra halifax explosion survivor who lost both her parents, three brothers, and two sisters on that fateful day in 1917. Norwegian vessel that collided with the french ship ss mont blanc in the 1917 halifax. The chair is made with whats believed to be a piece of a ships anchor that blew up. We stopped in halifax on a cruise ship and booked an independent tour guide. The mont blanc in halifax and the grand camp in texas city were both french registered. Dec 06, 2017 guides to records about the halifax explosion. Fascinated by the halifax explosion, i decided to find the site where the anchor of the mont blanc landed. On december 6, an unprecedented explosion, complicated by a terrible fire, destroyed half the city of halifax, canada.
The spectacle was thrilling, and drew crowds of spectators, unaware of the danger. In 1917, two ships collided in halifax harbor, resulting in the largest explosion in history up to that time. On the morning of december 6th, 1917 in the port city of halifax, nova scotia, an explosion took place that obliterated half of the town in an instant. Bacons new book, the great halifax explosion, recounts the catastrophe that unfolded when two ships collided in halifax harbor on dec.
This location is somewhat walkable so some errands can be accomplished on foot. 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. The halifax explosion and the road to recovery by janet f. Mont blanc s captain, the halifax pilot who guided the. The anchor site is located in a residential subdivision, which is located along the shores of the northwest arm. Outbound from halifax in ballast empty to load relief supplies in new york. It seemed a small, nondescript vessel, but it carried a deadly cargo. It rises 4,808 m 15,774 ft above sea level and is ranked 11th in the world in topographic prominence. In addition to the 2,925 tons of explosives in its hold, it carried barrels of highly flammable benzol and picric acid on the deck. And to this day, nova scotia sends a christmas tree to the city of boston as a. The mont blanc anchor site is located in a quiet residential area, formerly the edmonds grounds estate, near the head of the northwest arm in halifax, ns. Macdonald details the events leading up to the explosion as well as the aftermath. Library and archives canada lac holds various records that tell part of the story of the halifax explosion, its aftermath, and the relief work and investigations following the disaster. On december 6th, two of them the mont blanc and the imo collided in the narrows, a hardtonavigate stretch of the harbor.
Heroic dispatcher keyed warning, perished in cataclysmic halifax explosion back to video vincent colemans last words, tapped. The halifax explosion occured in halifax, nova scotia, on the morning of dec. 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. Mont blanc blew up to cause the halifax explosion, this shank of the anchor of the mont blanc flew 2. Dec 02, 2017 new books remember the great halifax explosion.
Its tragic because the montblanc burned for 18 minutesand people who were walking to work and school came down to watch the ship burn. The imo speared the montblanc at an angle near its bow. Approximately 2,000 people were killed by the blast, debris, fires. Halifax explosion, new books, books to read, history books, historical fiction, world war i, nonfiction. The 1917 halifax explosion threw this halfton plus anchor shaft miles, into a hill. I picked this after hearing about the release of a book about the same topic, though written by an american. The halifax explosion was the explosion of the mont blanc that destoryed a good section of the city. Only a handful of naval officers and a railway dispatcher had learned of mont blanc s explosive cargo and there was little time to spread a warning.
Effort to save chair with possible halifax explosion link. Part of its anchor shaft, weighing over 1100 pounds, flew clear over the city and landed here, more than two miles away. 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. Alumnus book explores halifax explosion western alumni. Halifax explosion memorial halifax, nova scotia atlas. The dramatic story of one of the greatest disasters in history in 1917, the port of halifax, nova scotia, was crowded with ships leaving for wartorn europe. A piece of the montblancs fivehundredkilogram anchor soared. We were unaware of the 1917 explosion when the french ship mont blanc exploded following a collision in the harbor. She arrived from the new york harbor too late on december 5 to enter the harbor that day. The accidental explosion that erased a canadian city in 1917. A piece of anchor shaft from the mont blanc weighing 12 ton was hurled to its current location 2. The monument consists of the anchor shaft from the mont blanc munitions ship which exploded during the 1917 halifax explosion. A newly discovered diary tells the harrowing story of the deadly halifax explosion.
Under charter to carry belgian relief supplies in 1917. The halifax explosion was the explosion of the mont blanc that destoryed a good. 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. Not one piece of her remained beside the dock where she. The explosion, believed to be due to an attack, occurred as a result of an incidental collision between a small vessel of the belgian relief commission, the imo, and the mont blanc, a ship loaded with three thousand tons of. The great halifax explosion sheds new light on this sad but fascinating event. Comedy arts music books docs life parents kids kids news indigenous. The residences at mont blanc are two fourstorey buildings that are part of the master planned community known as mont blanc terrace. The halifax explosion was a disaster that occurred in halifax, nova scotia, canada, on the morning of 6 december 1917. On december 6, 1917, the french munitions ship montblanc and the. Heavily damaged by blast and driven ashore in dartmouth. On december 6, 1917 two ships collided in halifax harbour. Effort to save chair with possible halifax explosion link gets boost.
The halifax explosion still reverberates the globe and mail. The first place to look is lacs thematic guide, halifax explosion. When the ships collided, mont blanc s hold was pierced, fire started and quickly spread, igniting vapours from the benzol. The explosion was so violent that a one of the mont blancs guns flew over 3. Sold and renamed imo in 1912 as supply ship for whaling operation. Family hopes to protect chair they believe has piece of halifax. Montblanc pilot francis mackey recalls halifax 1917 explosion the story fifty years later, the montblancs pilot maintains his ship had the right of way in the collision that sparked the disaster. But his book begins not with barss or the explosion. Bacon about a ship collision and explosion during world war i. On december 1917 one of the most horrific disasters in canadian history took place when the french munitions ship, the mont blanc, coll. An armchair believed to have been constructed with a piece of anchor from the halifax explosion is located in the burnside. The roots of bostons christmas tree go back 100 years to a. Montblancs crew escaped on lifeboats, while halifaxs workers and schoolchildren watched the ghost.
The halifax explosion of 1917 canada history and mysteries. The toll of the halifax explosion was enormous with over 1600 men, women and children killed. Beyond the halifax explosion, cuthbertson is the author of numerous books. A world war i story of treachery, tragedy, and extraordinary heroism bacon, john u. The bright, modern hydrostone suburb was a turning point for halifax it signaled a new start have to the darkest times today, it is a national historic site throughout halifax, explosion memorials exist, a piece of the mont blanc s anchor was blown 4 kilometres away and it sits today where at landed at regatta point the halifax north memorial. The ordinary man who died for strangers when montblanc exploded. As onlookers watched in amazement, flames reached the explosives in the mont blanc s hold, triggering an explosion that destroyed large parts of halifax and, across the harbour, dartmouth. Marc wortman has written three history books, including 1941. One ship which arrived to the halifax harbor was the mont blanc. On the morning of december 6th, 1917 in the port city of halifax, nova scotia, an explosion took place that obliterated half of the town in an instant a french munitions ship, the mont blanc. Mont blanc s captain, the halifax pilot who guided the ship that morning and the official in charge of vessel traffic in the harbour were. The mont blanc was a french munitions ship owned by cie.
As the huge cloud created in the explosion began to disperse, it revealed a scene of horror. Nov 30, 2017 ken cuthbertsons the halifax explosion and john u. The halifax explosion was the deadliest disaster in canadian history. The explosion was so violent that a one of the mont blanc s guns flew over 3. This concrete chair could be made from a halifax explosion anchor. This list includes the major vessels involved or affected in the explosion. The halifax explosion occurred on thursday, december 6, 1917, when the city of halifax, nova scotia, canada, was devastated by the detonation of the ss mont blanc, a french cargo ship that was fully loaded with wartime explosives. This concrete chair could be made from a halifax explosion. A world war i story of treachery, tragedy, and extraordinary heroism. The ss mont blanc on december 5th, 1917, the ss mont blanc arrived in the halifax port after its voyage from france. Montblanc was completely destroyed and scattered by the explosion. For the 800 or so folks who just about filled the place, thank.
Halifax explosion books tagged halifax explosion librarything. This site uses cookies to deliver our services, improve performance, for analytics, and if not signed in for advertising. How the halifax explosion laid waste to the town of. Mont blanc anchor site halifax all you need to know. Franceamerique line, out of marseilles, which had arrived from gravesend bay, new york. The halifax explosion was a maritime disaster in halifax, nova scotia, canada, on the morning of 6 december 1917. Mont blanc pilot francis mackey recalls halifax 1917 explosion the story fifty years later, the mont blanc s pilot maintains his ship had the right of way in the collision that sparked the disaster. A world war i story of treachery, tragedy, and extraordinary heroism, which launched tuesday with a great event at michigans rackham auditorium. December 6, 2017 will mark the 100th anniversary of the largest manmade explosion prior to the detonation of the atomic bombs in 1945. I made it a point to walk from the harbouurfront to the anchor site in order to appreciate. But the imo rammed the french ship broadside, its crew watching helplessly as the mont blanc caught fire and began drifting toward the halifax waterfront. The ship was a floating bomb, every substance in the cargo engineered to blow up, noted laura m. The fire on the montblanc and subsequent explosion wasnt all.
The explosion laid waste to much of halifax, killing those who were eating breakfast, in school, out. He was one of the first eyewitnesses to canadas greatest disaster, the halifax explosion. An anchor, weighing 1140 pounds landed some 2 miles away at armdale. Arriving late at the harbor, the ship needed to stay the night outside the protected area. The designation applies to the monument and the land it presently occupies. Mackey became a convenient target for public anger. Polycorp provides quality apartment living in halifax nova scotia. 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. On december 6, 1917, the french munitions ship mont blanc and the norwegian warrelief vessel imo collided in the harbour at halifax. Dec 12, 2019 the halifax explosion is regarded an unparalleled chapter in the history of maritime disasters. Ships of the halifax explosion maritime museum of the. Sep 22, 2005 set vividly against the background of world war i, curse of the narrows is the first major account of the worlds largest preatomic explosion, the epic relief mission from boston, and the riveting trial of the mont blancs captain and pilot. Montblanc pilot francis mackey recalls halifax 1917.
A french munitions ship, the montblanc, bound for europe and the western front, collided in the busy harbour with a belgian relief ship, the imo. 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. What frank baker heard was the biggest explosion of the preatomic age. That recovered anchor part is the centerpiece of a monument to the mont blanc. See more ideas about halifax explosion, halifax harbour and nova scotia. Bacons the great halifax explosion trace the reverberations of the deadly disaster. When the mont blanc exploded in the halifax harbour 100 years ago, it was the biggest manmade explosion in history prior to the atomic bomb. Photographs portray halifax after the catastrophe, as well as the beginnings of the recovery efforts.
The halifax explosion of 1917 the canadian encyclopedia. The collision of the ss imo and the ss mont blanc, heavily laden with wartime chemicals, set off an explosion that devastated the entire halifax community. Halifax explosion library and archives canada blog. A fire on board the french ship ignited her cargo, causing a massive explosion that devastated the richmond district of halifax. Fiction about the halifax explosion disaster that occurred in 1917 and killed 2,000 people. Halifax explosion the anatomy of a disaster page 5. Mont blanc and imo and the halifax explosion of 1917. Ss mont blanc drifted by a halifax pier, brushing it and setting it ablaze. Vincent colemans granddaughter tells how his widow raised 4 children after halifax explosion. The forgotten disaster that inspired nova scotias yearly.
On december 6, 1917, the french munitions ship mont blanc and the norwegian warrelief vessel imo collided in the harbour at halifax, nova scotia. We booked an independent tour guide who took us to this site nearly 2. Hidden history is a diary series that explores forgotten and littleknown areas of. Halifax explosion infosheet maritime museum of the atlantic.
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