On december 6, 1917, the french munitions ship mont blanc and the norwegian warrelief vessel imo collided in the harbour at halifax, nova scotia. Corpses, many dismembered or burned beyond recognition, were scattered everywhere. Bacon is the author of five new york times bestsellers, including three and out. 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 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 montblanc. Dec 02, 2017 this is a terrific onestop overview of the devastating human cost that was the halifax explosion. The halifax explosion and the road to recovery by janet f. The online version features a searchable database with detailed information for 1952 casualties more than 300 of whom are newlyconfirmed and identified victims. He appears often on npr and national television, and teaches at northwestern universitys medill school of journalism and the university of michigan.
Africville, campbell road, halifax, nova scotia 45 19171206. On that bright morning of december 6, one of the ships heading out from halifax was the montblanc. The explosion would revolutionize pediatric medicine. This 3minute npr clip tells the story behind a heartwarming tradition that came about in the wake of the. Halifax explosion books tagged halifax explosion librarything. 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. Bacon recreates the recklessness that caused the tragedy, the selfless rescue efforts that saved thousands, and the inspiring resilience that rebuilt the town. I had read another account of the halifax explosion years ago, but this book out a human. A world war i story of treachery, tragedy and heroism. The halifax explosion 1917 nova scotia, canada youtube. Dec 18, 20 sink argentinas carrier 1982 the secret british falklands war mission duration. In this definitive account, bestselling author john u.
Dec 06, 2017 maps mania points to a couple of interactive maps of the explosion produced by canadian news media. Experience the halifax explosion 100 years later is a bit overproduced, with 360degree video and a nonclickable map that immediately segues into a 3d environment with limited interactivity. The great halifax explosion sheds new light on this sad but fascinating event. Every december, the province of nova scotia sends boston a large christmas tree as a thankyou for the citys speedy and generous support after the explosion.
Today marks the 100th anniversary of the halifax explosion, which took place when a french cargo ship laden with explosives collided with another ship in halifax harbour. The halifax explosion remembrance book is the first really definitive listing for those killed in the disaster of 6 december 1917. Students will identify the key details in this narrative nonfiction feature about the 1917 explosion of a cargo ship in halifax harbor. In 1917, a french ship carrying volatile explosives was hit by another ship in the harbor in halifax, nova scotia, canada. His latest book tells the tale of a historical event that isnt as wellknown as it probably should be. Bostons official 2016 christmas tree, like others that have come before it, is a thank you gift for events a century ago in the nova scotias canadian provinces coastal capital of halifax. 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. 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. This nonfiction is an account of a tragedy which occurred in halifax, canada, at the end of the fourth year of the great war. Since then, hes had a few close calls, including as.
The author relates the circumstances of the accident that caused the explosion, as well as the recovery efforts and subsequent inquiry into the event. What followed was one of the largest humanmade explosions prior to the detonation of the first atomic bombs in 1945. A goodreads search for halifax explosion returns more than 40 titles. Nov 09, 2017 his latest book is the great halifax explosion. A fire on board the french ship ignited her cargo, causing a massive explosion that. I heard about this book last week on al krestas radio show, as al interviewed john u bacon, and the book sounded so fascinating, i just had to read it. The great halifax explosion al kresta interviews john u. The crash sparked the largest manmade explosion until the atomic.
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. Robert oppenheimer, who studied the halifax explosion closely when developing the atomic bomb, with historys only realworld case study demonstrating the lethal power of a weapon of mass destruction. The halifax explosion was a disaster that occurred in halifax, nova scotia, canada, on the morning of 6 december 1917. Bacon appears often on npr and national television, and teaches at northwestern universitys medill school of journalism and the university of michigan. On the 100th anniversary of the halifax explosion, two new. Ships from its harbor carried troops and supplies to the armies in europe. 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.
Nov 30, 2017 a centurys worth of historical accounts, novels and documentaries, plus a tv miniseries, have told and retold the story. The resulting blast killed around 2,000 people and devastated the city of halifax, nova scotia. Dan soucoups book, explosion in halifax harbour 1917 nimbus begins with a history of halifax. Dec 01, 2016 bostons official 2016 christmas tree, like others that have come before it, is a thank you gift for events a century ago in the nova scotias canadian provinces coastal capital of halifax. Identifying who survives disasters and why time magazine reporter amanda. Nov 07, 2017 an earlier book by janet kitz, shattered city. This is a riveting, wellwritten and researched world war i book. A world war i story of treachery, tragedy and extraordinary heroism, by john u. Mar 02, 2016 train dispatcher vince coleman sacrifices his own life to save a train from the halifax explosion. When i first encountered the halifax explosion, i knew immediately it was a ticktock of a story just waiting to become a book. This first novel by the former npr news broadcaster robert macneil is an ambitious. 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. Halifax explosion memorial halifax, nova scotia atlas obscura. 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.
For more information about the halifax explosion, visit. Bacon wrote a book about what happened when crews filled a ship called the montblanc with high explosives. Dec 06, 2017 remembering the halifax explosion on the hundredth anniversary of the disaster, we look back at how some of the citys children miraculously survived december 6, 2017 april 2, 2020 by katie ingram katie ingram updated 21. Learn more about the great halifax explosion storyworks. I had read another account of the halifax explosion years ago, but this book out a human outlook on this tragedy. Some days, the harbor was as busy as a highway at rush hour. Ive just been in the right place at the wrong time. Dec 06, 2017 a gripping narrative history of the largest manmade detonation prior to hiroshima.
Morning edition for december 6, 2017 hear the morning edition program for december 6, 2017. How the largest manmade blast before the atomic bomb led to. Bostons christmas tree tradition rooted in a canadian. 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. Hes also written the new york times bestsellers three and out and fourth and long. 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. On december 6, 1917 in halifax, nova scotia, two ships collided in the harbor. John u bacon is the author of the great halifax explosion.
The great halifax explosion large print paperback the. Bacon about a ship collision and explosion during world war i thats been called the worlds first weapon of. Remembering the halifax explosion through a childs eyes kaye chapman was five years old on the fateful day in 1917 when a munitions ships collision in halifaxs harbour. A world war i story of treachery, tragedy, and extraordinary heroism by john u. The great halifax explosion meet your next favorite book. This 3minute npr clip tells the story behind a heartwarming tradition that came about in the wake of the halifax tragedy.
Morning edition for may 20, 2019 hear the morning edition program for may 20, 2019. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the great halifax explosion. A gripping narrative history of the largest manmade detonation prior to hiroshima. New books remember the great halifax explosion the star. Bacon has tracked the disaster in halifax a century ago to the celebratory. The crash sparked the largest manmade explosion until the atomic bomb. I first heard of john u bacon through his commentaries on npr. A world war i story of treachery, tragedy, and extraordinary heroism. Bacon, michigan radio sports commentator and author, joined stateside in november to talk about his new book, the great halifax explosion. In his new book, the great halifax explosion, author john u. The halifax explosion was the greatest nonnuclear detonation in history, killing 2,000 people and obliterating homes and businesses over a large swath of the city.
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