Remembering the Halifax Explosion
Kimberley Dares
Source: Wikipedia
The Halifax Explosion is a familiar story for many Nova Scotians but not as well known to those not from the region. The tragic events of 92 years ago shaped Halifax into the city it is today.
The First World War (1914-1918) became a reality for those living in Halifax and surrounding areas on December 6th, 1917. The Port of Halifax was extremely busy during WWI and the Harbour was often filled with ships carrying various supplies, including troops, munitions, clothes, and food, bound for Allied Forces in Europe.
The morning of December 6th, started out just like any other morning in the busy port city. The streets were bustling with people heading off to school and work when the unthinkable happened.
The Imo, a Belgian relief ship, was proceeding out of the Bedford Basin headed for New York the same time as the French munitions ship the Mont Blanc was heading into the Basin to meet up with a convoy. When the ships passed each other in the Narrows the Imo struck the bow of the Mont Blanc.
The Mont Blanc was carrying a very dangerous cargo load of 200 tonnes of TNT, 2,300 tonnes of wet and dry picric acid, 35 tonnes of benzyl, and 10 tonnes of gun cotton.
After the collision a fire quickly broke out on the deck of the Mont Blanc forcing the crew, who were aware of its dangerous content, to abandon ship and seek safety on the Dartmouth shores. The fire aboard the Mont Blanc burned slowly for almost two hours after coming to rest on the shore near Pier 6. The sight of the burning ship attracted many people who had no idea of the ship’s explosive cargo.
Then moments before 9:05 a.m. the Mont Blanc exploded in a ball of fire that rose 1.9km in the air and destroyed much of the city in its wake. The ship blew up into a million pieces that rained down over the city. Nothing remained near Pier 6 where the ship has sat and burned. The explosion triggered a tsunami, which reached a height of 18m above the high water level in the harbour.
Halifax, particularly the North End, was virtually destroyed. Homes, churches, factories and schools burned, and windows were shattered throughout what is now the Halifax Regional Municipality. The blast covered an enormous distance shattering windows on homes over 80 kilometres away. The explosion was heard in Cape Breton, and Charlottetown, P.E.I.
Hundreds of people were killed instantly when the Mont Blanc exploded. Many of those who had stopped outside on their way to work or school to watch the ship burn were killed or seriously injured following the blast. Those watching the ship burn from the safety of their homes were not exempt from the destruction, and many were left blind after windows shattered, blowing glass shards into their eyes.
Rescue efforts were quickly co-ordinated as there were many trained troops and naval brigades available to aid in the relief effort early on. By early afternoon on December 6th City Officials had organized official relief committees. Any buildings left usable following the blast were quickly turned into makeshift hospitals and shelters.
Help and volunteers arrived as quickly as possible to Nova Scotia. The most notable and substantial help came from Boston, Massachusetts. A train loaded with supplies and all available doctors, nurses and relief staff was sent to Halifax from Boston by early evening. As a token of gratitude for the great assistance the city of Boston offered every year a Christmas tree is sent from Nova Scotia in time for Boston’s tree lighting ceremony.
Recovery efforts were dampened when a large snowstorm hit the province, dropping over 40cm of snow on the city. For people left with damaged or destroyed homes this made finding a place to sleep even more of a struggle. It also led to a higher death toll as a result of the bitter cold.
Over 1,900 people lost their lives in the explosion and its aftermath. The blast led to the death of more Nova Scotians than World War 1. Approximately 250 bodies were never identified, and even more were never found. Over 4,000 people received treatment for various injuries following the blast. 37 people were left completely visionless, another 250 eyes were removed and 25 limbs were amputated.
Prior to the atomic bomb the Halifax Explosion was the largest manmade explosion.
A Bell Tower memorial was erected in 1920 on Fort Needham in the city’s North End which overlooks the harbour. There is a short ceremony held every year at the Fort Needham Hill memorial.
The explosion that rocked the city of Halifax on December 6th, 1917 left it forever changed. It brought the tragedy of war closer to home, and created a sense that Halifax was not as distant from the war effort as previously thought. Still, in the face of inexplicable tragedy the city banded together and prevailed to rebuild and start fresh.
The hydrostone district in the North End of the city was built following the explosion to provide homes for those in need. Homes and stores were built out of the fireproof material and helped restore the sense of community in the area hardest hit by the explosion.
Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati
Kimberley Dares
Source: Wikipedia
The Halifax Explosion is a familiar story for many Nova Scotians but not as well known to those not from the region. The tragic events of 92 years ago shaped Halifax into the city it is today.
The First World War (1914-1918) became a reality for those living in Halifax and surrounding areas on December 6th, 1917. The Port of Halifax was extremely busy during WWI and the Harbour was often filled with ships carrying various supplies, including troops, munitions, clothes, and food, bound for Allied Forces in Europe.
The morning of December 6th, started out just like any other morning in the busy port city. The streets were bustling with people heading off to school and work when the unthinkable happened.
The Imo, a Belgian relief ship, was proceeding out of the Bedford Basin headed for New York the same time as the French munitions ship the Mont Blanc was heading into the Basin to meet up with a convoy. When the ships passed each other in the Narrows the Imo struck the bow of the Mont Blanc.
The Mont Blanc was carrying a very dangerous cargo load of 200 tonnes of TNT, 2,300 tonnes of wet and dry picric acid, 35 tonnes of benzyl, and 10 tonnes of gun cotton.
After the collision a fire quickly broke out on the deck of the Mont Blanc forcing the crew, who were aware of its dangerous content, to abandon ship and seek safety on the Dartmouth shores. The fire aboard the Mont Blanc burned slowly for almost two hours after coming to rest on the shore near Pier 6. The sight of the burning ship attracted many people who had no idea of the ship’s explosive cargo.
Then moments before 9:05 a.m. the Mont Blanc exploded in a ball of fire that rose 1.9km in the air and destroyed much of the city in its wake. The ship blew up into a million pieces that rained down over the city. Nothing remained near Pier 6 where the ship has sat and burned. The explosion triggered a tsunami, which reached a height of 18m above the high water level in the harbour.
Halifax, particularly the North End, was virtually destroyed. Homes, churches, factories and schools burned, and windows were shattered throughout what is now the Halifax Regional Municipality. The blast covered an enormous distance shattering windows on homes over 80 kilometres away. The explosion was heard in Cape Breton, and Charlottetown, P.E.I.
Hundreds of people were killed instantly when the Mont Blanc exploded. Many of those who had stopped outside on their way to work or school to watch the ship burn were killed or seriously injured following the blast. Those watching the ship burn from the safety of their homes were not exempt from the destruction, and many were left blind after windows shattered, blowing glass shards into their eyes.
Rescue efforts were quickly co-ordinated as there were many trained troops and naval brigades available to aid in the relief effort early on. By early afternoon on December 6th City Officials had organized official relief committees. Any buildings left usable following the blast were quickly turned into makeshift hospitals and shelters.
Help and volunteers arrived as quickly as possible to Nova Scotia. The most notable and substantial help came from Boston, Massachusetts. A train loaded with supplies and all available doctors, nurses and relief staff was sent to Halifax from Boston by early evening. As a token of gratitude for the great assistance the city of Boston offered every year a Christmas tree is sent from Nova Scotia in time for Boston’s tree lighting ceremony.
Recovery efforts were dampened when a large snowstorm hit the province, dropping over 40cm of snow on the city. For people left with damaged or destroyed homes this made finding a place to sleep even more of a struggle. It also led to a higher death toll as a result of the bitter cold.
Over 1,900 people lost their lives in the explosion and its aftermath. The blast led to the death of more Nova Scotians than World War 1. Approximately 250 bodies were never identified, and even more were never found. Over 4,000 people received treatment for various injuries following the blast. 37 people were left completely visionless, another 250 eyes were removed and 25 limbs were amputated.
Prior to the atomic bomb the Halifax Explosion was the largest manmade explosion.
A Bell Tower memorial was erected in 1920 on Fort Needham in the city’s North End which overlooks the harbour. There is a short ceremony held every year at the Fort Needham Hill memorial.
The explosion that rocked the city of Halifax on December 6th, 1917 left it forever changed. It brought the tragedy of war closer to home, and created a sense that Halifax was not as distant from the war effort as previously thought. Still, in the face of inexplicable tragedy the city banded together and prevailed to rebuild and start fresh.
The hydrostone district in the North End of the city was built following the explosion to provide homes for those in need. Homes and stores were built out of the fireproof material and helped restore the sense of community in the area hardest hit by the explosion.
Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati