The halifax explosion of 1917 the canadian encyclopedia. Nov 17, 2014 sailor victor magnus captured the scene when a ship carrying explosives caught fire in halifax, canada, resulting in the deaths of 2,000 people. The 1917 explosion in halifax that reverberated 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. Harrison ford, 77, was out on april 24, piloting his aviat husky. What followed was one of the largest humanmade explosions prior to the detonation of the first atomic bombs in 1945. New book details the halifax, nova scotia, explosion of 1917.
Devastation after the halifax explosion, showing what is left of the richmond neighbourhood. It shattered the port of halifax and surrounding area. Those who made the movie managed to weave the facts of the story into the lives of a host of interesting characters that were realistically portrayed by an outstanding cast of adult and child actors. The city of halifax was immediately devastated with 1,600 people killed almost instantly and over 9,000 injured. Halifax explosion the anatomy of a disaster page 1. December 6, 1917 posted on december 8, 2015 by trevor hammond on december 6, 1917, the munitions ship montblanc exploded in halifax harbor, nova scotia, in the biggest manmade explosion prior to the dropping of the atomic bombs on japan during world war ii. The halifax explosion of 1917 was caused by pranksters who filled an outhouse with methane gas, set a fuse, lit it, then ran off and watched it blow up. The halifax explosion 1917 includes three reading texts parts written at two levels for a to. Video shows aftermath of halifax explosion of 1917 the. Nearly 2,000 people died when a ship loaded with explosives bumped into another vessel and detonated. The norwegian ship imo left the protected anchorage of bedford basin, outbound for new york to load food and clothing for the. The halifax explosion was a disaster that occurred in halifax, nova scotia, canada, on the morning of 6 december 1917. In the richmond section of halifax, the awful blast was accompanied by a shower of debris, oil and aviation fuel from the now obliterated ammunition ship. A collision between two ships in halifax harbour in 1917 set off an explosion unrivalled until the atomic bomb.
The great halifax explosion of 1917 exhibit explained. 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 harbour. Oct 18, 20 devastation after the halifax explosion, showing what is left of the richmond neighbourhood. One hundred years ago the halifax harbour was rocked by a massive man made explosion like nothing the world had seen to that point. The halifax school for the deaf was near, yet, all survived. Photographs taken by wwi sailor show the halifax explosion. 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 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 explosion, on thursday 6 december 1917, almost. This was the largest manmade explosion in history until july 1945 when the first atomic bomb blew up. Rare video of halifax harbour explosion depicts fiery.
The explosion that ensued was one of the worlds greatest prior to the arrival of atomic bombs. Sep, 2017 everything within a halfmile of the explosion was completely obliterated. The characters are well done in fact, the city of halifax and the countdown to the explosion itself are characters in their own right. The film stars vincent walsh, tamara hope, clare stone, zachary bennett. 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 early 2018, staff at halifaxs prominent maritime museum of the atlantic has plans to set aside one of their tuesday evening talks for matthys presentation as well as to show the exhibit to the general public. With clare stone, max morrow, paul doucet, lynne griffin. The halifax harbour explosion of 1917 remains one of the most devastating disasters in canadian history. The halifax explosion, historys largest explosion before.
It presents a fictionalized version of the halifax explosion, a 1917 catastrophe that destroyed much of the canadian city of halifax. 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. The halifax explosion 1917 includes three reading texts parts 1. Before the 1917 explosion was another great disaster the sinking of the titanic. This is a true story about the horrific explosion in halifax harbour in dec 1917.
Nova scotia hasnt forgotten the generosity of the volunteers and doctors from boston who rushed to the scene of the halifax explosion to help in. Ive just been in the right place at the wrong time. The explosion which followed levelled two square miles of the city, killed over 1600 people and left thousands wounded and homeless. At 9 am in 1917 the halifax explosoin happened because a ship, the mont blanc. Ive just been in the right place at the wrong time among.
Dec 06, 2017 article content continued arnpriors doug snair was a yearandahalfold on dec. Jul 14, 2017 a newly discovered diary tells the harrowing story of the deadly halifax explosion on the eve of the disasters centennial, a sailors 1917 journal details a rare eyewitness account of the. On tuesday evening, one day before the halifax explosions centenary, the halifax central library showcased six local films about the 1917 disaster. The film shows what one family the collins family went thru during this time.
Dec 06, 2017 on tuesday evening, one day before the halifax explosions centenary, the halifax central library showcased six local films about the 1917 disaster. Actual footage following the 1917 explosion in halifax, showing devastation and the relief effort, beginning with activities the day after the explosion and following the reconstruction in the. 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. Army and navy personnel worked shouldertoshoulder with civilians on rescue, recovery and reconstruction. It was awarded best canadian film at the toronto international deaf film and arts festival. Hmcs niobes stacks are visible behind the damaged rncc building and annex after the 6 december 1917 explosion. On the morning of december 6, 1917, two ships, one of which was loaded with munitions, collided in halifax harbour. The first was a liveaction documentary about the halifax school for the deaf made by two deaf filmmakers. There were many other vessels in harbour which are not listed as they were not heavily damaged or directly involved with the explosion. The halifax explosion explores the incredible true story of halifax, nova scotia, a city devastated by a massive explosion and its aftermath a historic tragedy that became a living metaphor for a worldwide conflict.
On december 6, 1917, the collision of two ships in the halifax harbour ended up creating one the biggest explosions in human history. 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 is a twopart miniseries produced in 2003 by cbc television. Sailor victor magnus captured the scene when a ship carrying explosives caught fire in halifax, canada, resulting in the deaths of 2,000 people. Collison of 2 ships ignited 3,000 tons of explosives that left 2,000 dead and 25,000 citizens homeless. The maritime museum of the atlantic will host the philatelic exhibit the great halifax explosion of 1917 early next year.
The port was a major hub of wartime activity and halifax harbour was crowded with warships, troop transports and. Here is where the buildings history becomes truly fascinating. Dec 02, 2019 the halifax explosion seen from a distance. The halifax explosion of 1917 happened when a french cargo ship collided with another ship on dec. The countdown to the explosion is rather nervewracking and the description of halifax after the explosion is sobering. The great halifax, nova scotia explosion of 1917 old. 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. Its a very good read as are maclennans other works. While i was in halifax this week to write about the massive explosion there 100 years ago that killed 2,000 people and injured 10,000, i went to a screening of a documentary film without a soundtrack. Ships of the halifax explosion maritime museum of the.
Because halifax was the nearest port, rescue operations were launched from its harbour, and the snow funeral home became the place for final arrangements of many titanic victims. 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. Shattered city is a dramatized made for tv drama about the halifax explosion that occurred in 1917. I had never even heard of the explosion at halifax harbor in 1917 until i watched this most engrossing film.
Vessels were loading cargo, awaiting convoys, or under repair. It was directed by bruce pittman and written by keith ross leckie. 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. In 1917, halifax, nova scotia was the main base of the new canadian navy and housed the most important army garrison in canada. The great halifax, nova scotia explosion of 1917 old colony.
The photos taken by royal navy lt victor magnus have emerged nearly 100 years after they were taken and show the moment a french and norwegian ship collided during the halifax explosion. An entire neighbourhood was destroyed, thousands killed and injured, thousands more left homeless. Halifax explosion simple english wikipedia, the free. A true story about the tragic explosion at halifax harbour, canada, in the early hours of december 6, 1917. Since then, hes had a few close calls, including as a. It was the result of an unlikely collision in the narrows of halifax harbour, involving the french ship, mont blanc loaded with tons of wet and dry picric acid, tnt, gun cotton and benzol and the belgian relief vessel, imo, under norwegian registry. New book details 1917 halifax, nova scotia, explosion. Halifax movies and listings movie times and showtimes. Halifax explosion of 1917 a thick cloud of smoke billowing over halifax and nearby towns, such as africville, in nova scotia, canada, after a munitions ship exploded in the halifax harbour on december 6, 1917.
Halifax harbour was crowded with wartime shipping on december 6, 1917. Farther from the harbor, the homes of halifax lay in ruins. A massive smoke cloud ripples upward above the halifax explosion. On december 6, 1917, 2 ships colliding in halifax harbour led to one of largest explosions ever. Amazing stories of community and survival are shared in asl and msl. The halifax explosion of 1917 canada history and mysteries. Nearly 2,000 people died and some 9,000 were injured in the disaster.
This list includes the major vessels involved or affected in the explosion. Fiction about the halifax explosion disaster that occurred in 1917 and killed 2,000 people. On december 6, 1917, the munitions ship montblanc exploded in halifax harbor, nova scotia, in the biggest manmade explosion prior to the dropping of the atomic bombs on japan during world war ii while sailing into the harbor on the morning of december 6, the french munitions ship montblancwith its cargo of 2,925 tons of explosives for the allied war. At the time it was considered so important bc nothing very exciting ever happened in canada especially during the years 1911 thru 1931. This resource tells the story of that horrific event linked to wwi. In the early hours of december 6, 1917, the mont blanc, a frenchowned freighter loaded to the gunnels with. Nearly 2,000 people died when a ship loaded with explosives bumped into another vessel and. The film uses a fictionalized aspect to tell this famous canadian tragedy, and in doing so, its. Everything within a halfmile of the explosion was completely obliterated. Halifax explosion nova scotia canada december 6, 1917. The halifax explosion took place on december 6, 1917 when a french munitions ship and a belgian relief vessel collided in the harbour and exploded, killing more than 1600 people instantly, wounding more than 9000 others, and damaging or destroying approximately 12,000 buildings. The death toll was 1,600, while 9,000 others were injured, and 6,000 homes were destroyed. The explosion was so vast that it killed more than 2,000 people, injured 9,000 more and completely flattened two square kilometers of northern halifax.
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