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The Halifax Explosion: Canada's Worst Disaster
On December 6, 1917, the French munitions ship Mont Blanc and the Norwegian war-relief vessel Imo collided in the harbour at Halifax, Nova Scotia. That accident sparked a fire and an apocalyptic explosion that was the largest man-made blast prior to the 1945 dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. Together with the killer tsunami that followed, the explosion devastated the entire city in the wink of an eye and instantly killed more than two thousand people.
While much has been written about the disaster, there is still more to the story, including the investigation of the key figures involved, the histories of the ships that collided and the confluence of circumstances that brought these two vessels together to touch off one of the most tragic man-made disasters of the twentieth century.
The Halifax Explosion is a fresh, revealing account that finally answers questions that have lingered for a century: Was the explosion a disaster triggered by simple human error? Was it caused by the negligence of the ships' pilots or captains? Was it the result of shortcomings in harbour practices and protocols? Or was the blast—as many people at the time insisted—the result of sabotage carried out by wartime German agents?
December 6, 2017, marks the centennial of the great Halifax explosion. The Halifax Explosion tells the gripping, as-yet untold story of Canada's worst disaster—a haunting tale of survival, incredible courage and, ultimately, the triumph of the human spirit.
While much has been written about the disaster, there is still more to the story, including the investigation of the key figures involved, the histories of the ships that collided and the confluence of circumstances that brought these two vessels together to touch off one of the most tragic man-made disasters of the twentieth century.
The Halifax Explosion is a fresh, revealing account that finally answers questions that have lingered for a century: Was the explosion a disaster triggered by simple human error? Was it caused by the negligence of the ships' pilots or captains? Was it the result of shortcomings in harbour practices and protocols? Or was the blast—as many people at the time insisted—the result of sabotage carried out by wartime German agents?
December 6, 2017, marks the centennial of the great Halifax explosion. The Halifax Explosion tells the gripping, as-yet untold story of Canada's worst disaster—a haunting tale of survival, incredible courage and, ultimately, the triumph of the human spirit.
357 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 7, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
December 6, 2021
Journalist Ken Cuthbertson breaks down the events which had led to the famed Halifax Explosion of 1917 as well as the ugly aftermath that consumed the Nova Scotia capital.
Despite being a Nova Scotian, the extent of my knowledge surrounding the tragic events of December 6th, 1917 mostly comes from a Heritage Minutes commercial that had shone a spotlight on train dispatcher Vince Coleman. Thanks to Coleman’s heroic efforts, he was able to stop a train carrying nearly three hundred passengers from arriving just as the ship’s perilous cargo detonated and saved the lives of everyone onboard (spoiler alert: Coleman’s role in this book comes down to a handful of pages).
Coleman, like many others that day, lost his life in the blink of an eye. Before the atomic bombs had been dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, the Halifax Explosion had the distinction of being the biggest and deadliest explosion on record. Looking at the roles of all involved, to the ship captains, to the boat pilots, to the generals in charge of harbor traffic, Cuthbertson tries to make sense of the negligence that flattened a city quicker than a hiccup.
I really struggled with the first half of this book. Cuthbertson dug heavily into each of the ships’ crews as well as the events that occurred in the days leading up to the collision between the Mont Blanc and The Imo. Although I understand the need to lay the groundwork, a lot of this felt like filler with excessive detail. Where the book truly excelled was in the covering of the moments immediately following the explosion (I was truly not prepared for the number of decapitations) as well as the aftermath when the “blame-game” captured the desperation of a shattered city trying to uncover the person or persons responsible and the corruption in spreading relief funds for those most in need.
I can’t imagine another book having as much detail about that deadly day in the Halifax harbor. If you’re looking for a truly exhaustive look at the events that unfolded, then look no further than The Halifax Explosion: Canada’s Worst Disaster.
Despite being a Nova Scotian, the extent of my knowledge surrounding the tragic events of December 6th, 1917 mostly comes from a Heritage Minutes commercial that had shone a spotlight on train dispatcher Vince Coleman. Thanks to Coleman’s heroic efforts, he was able to stop a train carrying nearly three hundred passengers from arriving just as the ship’s perilous cargo detonated and saved the lives of everyone onboard (spoiler alert: Coleman’s role in this book comes down to a handful of pages).
Coleman, like many others that day, lost his life in the blink of an eye. Before the atomic bombs had been dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, the Halifax Explosion had the distinction of being the biggest and deadliest explosion on record. Looking at the roles of all involved, to the ship captains, to the boat pilots, to the generals in charge of harbor traffic, Cuthbertson tries to make sense of the negligence that flattened a city quicker than a hiccup.
I really struggled with the first half of this book. Cuthbertson dug heavily into each of the ships’ crews as well as the events that occurred in the days leading up to the collision between the Mont Blanc and The Imo. Although I understand the need to lay the groundwork, a lot of this felt like filler with excessive detail. Where the book truly excelled was in the covering of the moments immediately following the explosion (I was truly not prepared for the number of decapitations) as well as the aftermath when the “blame-game” captured the desperation of a shattered city trying to uncover the person or persons responsible and the corruption in spreading relief funds for those most in need.
I can’t imagine another book having as much detail about that deadly day in the Halifax harbor. If you’re looking for a truly exhaustive look at the events that unfolded, then look no further than The Halifax Explosion: Canada’s Worst Disaster.
July 9, 2019
FASCINATING.
“The blast that obliterated the Mont-Blanc, claimed more than 2,000 lives, and devastated the city of Halifax was the most powerful “man-made” explosion in history, a distinction it held until the dropping of atomic bombs on Japan in 1945.” (p. 168).
Deep in detail and rich in anecdote, Ken Cuthbertson’s volume, The Halifax Explosion: Canada’s Worst Disaster, shines a bright spotlight on a forgotten episode of truly historic devastation.
Recommendation: Although the density of the details sometimes gets in the way of the narrative, this is a very compelling story. Highly recommended.
“Halifax simply did not have the resources to cope with a disaster that was—and thankfully remains—unprecedented in Canadian history in terms of the number of lives lost, the staggering injury toll, and the amount of property damage incurred.” (p. 279).
HarperCollins Publishers. Kindle Edition. 384 pages
“The blast that obliterated the Mont-Blanc, claimed more than 2,000 lives, and devastated the city of Halifax was the most powerful “man-made” explosion in history, a distinction it held until the dropping of atomic bombs on Japan in 1945.” (p. 168).
Deep in detail and rich in anecdote, Ken Cuthbertson’s volume, The Halifax Explosion: Canada’s Worst Disaster, shines a bright spotlight on a forgotten episode of truly historic devastation.
Recommendation: Although the density of the details sometimes gets in the way of the narrative, this is a very compelling story. Highly recommended.
“Halifax simply did not have the resources to cope with a disaster that was—and thankfully remains—unprecedented in Canadian history in terms of the number of lives lost, the staggering injury toll, and the amount of property damage incurred.” (p. 279).
HarperCollins Publishers. Kindle Edition. 384 pages
October 24, 2022
I have read a few other books on the subject of the Halifax Explosion and would recommend them over this one.
The first third of the book is about Captain Le Medec of the Mont Blanc and Captain From of the Imo. I personally think these two men are bit players in this tragedy. Who they were and what their background was did not play a role in their actions and reactions on December 6, 1917. So I don't feel this information was useful and, to be honest, was actually kind of boring.
The pilots' background would have been more interesting, as they were the ones that were in command of the ships and it sounds like, as a group, they tended to take a lot of decisions on themselves, instead of working with the military in charge of the port at the time. It was an interesting attitude, not only in a time of war, but also given that the traffic in Halifax increased dramatically.
The last two thirds of the book follow the same pattern as others, talk about the general situation by focusing on a few characters. The author did a good job here and I really like this approach, so wasn't bothered by the fact it was the same as the other books. However, given what I had read before, I felt the level of research wasn't quite as high as other books. For example, the author writes that the commander of the City's militia was working quite successfully with the civilian committees set up to deal with various aspect of the disaster. Yet another book said the militia commander had acted unilaterally without permission from military authorities or interaction with the civilian governments. I found the Sesame Street depiction of everyone working together and supporting each other to be nice, but probably far from the truth.
The first third of the book is about Captain Le Medec of the Mont Blanc and Captain From of the Imo. I personally think these two men are bit players in this tragedy. Who they were and what their background was did not play a role in their actions and reactions on December 6, 1917. So I don't feel this information was useful and, to be honest, was actually kind of boring.
The pilots' background would have been more interesting, as they were the ones that were in command of the ships and it sounds like, as a group, they tended to take a lot of decisions on themselves, instead of working with the military in charge of the port at the time. It was an interesting attitude, not only in a time of war, but also given that the traffic in Halifax increased dramatically.
The last two thirds of the book follow the same pattern as others, talk about the general situation by focusing on a few characters. The author did a good job here and I really like this approach, so wasn't bothered by the fact it was the same as the other books. However, given what I had read before, I felt the level of research wasn't quite as high as other books. For example, the author writes that the commander of the City's militia was working quite successfully with the civilian committees set up to deal with various aspect of the disaster. Yet another book said the militia commander had acted unilaterally without permission from military authorities or interaction with the civilian governments. I found the Sesame Street depiction of everyone working together and supporting each other to be nice, but probably far from the truth.
February 24, 2022
You ever hear the saying, “like ships passing in the night”? Well, the Halifax Explosion is what happened when two ships decided to collide in the morning. One of them was filled with both high explosives and extremely volatile accelerants. What followed is an explosion so big it is difficult to describe except to say only a nuclear bomb is bigger. Or a volcano.
What happens when an explosion that big goes off in a populated area? Eyeballs explode. Wood, glass, and metal become projectiles which will cut through anything. This all assumes you haven’t already been completely incinerated by being too close to the blast.
Ken Cuthbertson focuses on the politics and the system which allowed this disaster to happen including unclear military communications and everyone’s habit of passing the buck and going their own way. No matter what you focus on, this story is truly amazing.
What happens when an explosion that big goes off in a populated area? Eyeballs explode. Wood, glass, and metal become projectiles which will cut through anything. This all assumes you haven’t already been completely incinerated by being too close to the blast.
Ken Cuthbertson focuses on the politics and the system which allowed this disaster to happen including unclear military communications and everyone’s habit of passing the buck and going their own way. No matter what you focus on, this story is truly amazing.
Shelved as 'dnf'
March 6, 2024don’t get it twisted,I am still a Halifax explosion superfan. I just don’t care about the events preceding the explosion and care more about the aftermath
November 6, 2018
Some time in the early 1990’s I visited Halifax, Nova Scotia for the first time. What a beautiful city it is. During that week-long visit, I learned of the explosion that destroyed much of Halifax, the most powerful man made explosion with the exception of nuclear blasts. Signs and plaques identify sections of the city and individual buildings, telling of the human and property damage incurred on that fateful December 6, 1917. When this book was offered as a Kindle book, I had to buy and read it.
The tragic tale is told with passion for the truth and compassion for the people, those who died, those who survived. The carnage in Europe during this period overshadows this event in history books, except in Canada, but it is certainly not to be forgotten. Indeed, looking at Halifax today, one sees a city where tragedy has turned into triumph.
Four stars waxing
The tragic tale is told with passion for the truth and compassion for the people, those who died, those who survived. The carnage in Europe during this period overshadows this event in history books, except in Canada, but it is certainly not to be forgotten. Indeed, looking at Halifax today, one sees a city where tragedy has turned into triumph.
Four stars waxing
November 13, 2021
A good readable history of the Halifax explosion. The events leading to the ship collision and subsequent devastation of life and property and the need to lay blame at any expense. Worthwhile read.
July 26, 2023
I thought this book was riveting. I never learned about the Halifax explosion growing up (spent most of my childhood in the states. Even after moving to Ontario in grade 11, I don't recall this as being a part of the curriculum in Canadian History?) I asked my Canadian friends if they recall learning about this in school and they all said no. I can't believe more people don't know about this event in history- the largest scale explosion in the world before the atomic bomb. This book was a great account of the events that transpired before, during, and after. Somehow, it was not boring, but reads more like "a story" instead of a textbook. We follow the lives of each "character" as they go about their daily activities. I gained insight on the poor relationships and miscommunication between the fledgling Canadian Navy and the British Royal Navy (and also by extension how the government would want to assign blame elsewhere or cover up their mis-handling of harbour affairs under their jurisdiction). I learned about the harbor pilots (who they were, what they did, that they sometimes bent rules). I learned about the Mont Blanc's french ship captain Medic, who, though villainized for this explosion was forced to pilot this ship way over his head, with no say in his cargo, how they loaded it (insanely full, with no care for any protests), or experience in piloting munitions. And I learned about the events after the explosion- the pop up hospitals, administrations, trains loaded with volunteer doctors and nurses from Boston, the 'witch hunt' for someone to blame after the fact, the social organizations that grew out of this event. Basically I learned a lot and it was riveting and fun! I was really impressed for a non-fiction book. Now looking forward to visiting Halifax and hopefully seeing some remnants or exhibits of this event irl.
August 27, 2019
The Halifax Explosion of 6 December 1917, the biggest human-made blast before the atomic bomb, holds a poignant place in my family history. While my maternal grandfather and two of his brothers were fighting in the trenches of Europe, their father, my great grandfather, and a brother-in-law, were working as stevedores on the Halifax waterfront. So they had a front-row seat when the French munitions shop Mont-Blanc caught fire after colliding with the Norwegian war-relief vessel Imo. The ensuing explosion killed them and 2,000 other people, while levelling much of the twin cities of Halifax and Dartmouth, the latter my hometown.
Cuthbertson does a great job of building up the atmosphere before the collision, and the frantic actions that followed. The French sailors knew their ship was a floating bomb, and they abandoned it as quickly as possible, coming ashore in Dartmouth by a Mi'kmaq settlement and dashing for cover in the woods behind it. For some reason, I was never aware until now of the existence of that settlement, which was obliterated in the blast. One of the Frenchmen snatched a baby from the arms of a Mi'kmaq woman who was staring wide-eyed at this group of men hightailing it for cover. She followed and her and her infant were saved.
The book also does a great job of examining the aftermath of the explosion, the heroism which was displayed by many of the city's residents, the utter destruction which was wrought, and the fallout as the search for a scapegoat was launched. Over a century later, Halifax remains to some extent defined by this disaster, the worst in Canada's history.
Cuthbertson does a great job of building up the atmosphere before the collision, and the frantic actions that followed. The French sailors knew their ship was a floating bomb, and they abandoned it as quickly as possible, coming ashore in Dartmouth by a Mi'kmaq settlement and dashing for cover in the woods behind it. For some reason, I was never aware until now of the existence of that settlement, which was obliterated in the blast. One of the Frenchmen snatched a baby from the arms of a Mi'kmaq woman who was staring wide-eyed at this group of men hightailing it for cover. She followed and her and her infant were saved.
The book also does a great job of examining the aftermath of the explosion, the heroism which was displayed by many of the city's residents, the utter destruction which was wrought, and the fallout as the search for a scapegoat was launched. Over a century later, Halifax remains to some extent defined by this disaster, the worst in Canada's history.
June 22, 2024
What a disturbing book to read. Such tremendous destruction, much of it in seconds, but so much of it in the days and decades that followed. I often had to step away for a moment.
Cuthbertson does a good job of providing context for the lead up to the commission and explosion. The descriptions of the explosive cargo, the start of the for, and the power of the explosion give a clear understanding of how and why there was such devastation.
More importantly, we are given narratives of people on shore who are witnesses, the dead and survivors. This gives human faces to the suffering that occurred. I'm glad the author provided closure with how long they lived and what happened to them after. It's hard to think of how people could ever "get on with their lives" after such PTSD-inducing experiences and loss of loved ones and all that was familiar.
Cuthbertson does a good job of providing context for the lead up to the commission and explosion. The descriptions of the explosive cargo, the start of the for, and the power of the explosion give a clear understanding of how and why there was such devastation.
More importantly, we are given narratives of people on shore who are witnesses, the dead and survivors. This gives human faces to the suffering that occurred. I'm glad the author provided closure with how long they lived and what happened to them after. It's hard to think of how people could ever "get on with their lives" after such PTSD-inducing experiences and loss of loved ones and all that was familiar.
April 19, 2019
Really interesting book, much more so than I was expecting as I didn't really know much about the Halifax explosion in 1917. It was inspiring to read how the city recovered after the explosion - can't imagine how difficult that must have been after losing all they had. Keep in mind many families had fathers/sons/brothers away at war and the influenza epedimic followed not long after. I found the latter part of the story less interesting which dealt with the trials and inquiries that followed...having said that I understand it's an important part of the story. Definitely a great read and one that I would recommend.
August 11, 2019
Canadian Naval Disaster
Very good insight into a disaster most Americans know nothing about,. The Halifax explosion was the greatest non-nuclear detonation in history, killing 2,000 people and obliterating homes and businesses over a large swath of the city. The author relates the circumstances of the accident that caused the explosion, as well as the recovery efforts and subsequent inquiry into the event. Well worth reading. I look forward to visiting Halifax and seeing the memorials to the victims, as well as how much the city has recovered and expanded in the last century.
Very good insight into a disaster most Americans know nothing about,. The Halifax explosion was the greatest non-nuclear detonation in history, killing 2,000 people and obliterating homes and businesses over a large swath of the city. The author relates the circumstances of the accident that caused the explosion, as well as the recovery efforts and subsequent inquiry into the event. Well worth reading. I look forward to visiting Halifax and seeing the memorials to the victims, as well as how much the city has recovered and expanded in the last century.
October 9, 2022
4.5 stars. A very detailed, but easy read about the history of the Halifax explosion. Having once visited Halifax (and being familiar with the oft-repeated Heritage Moment about the train dispatcher who stayed at his post, sacrificing his life to save the passengers of an arriving train), I was curious to learn more than a commercial break could communicate about the tragedy. I was surprised at how interesting it was to follow the steps leading up to the explosion. I also like that the author spent time on how Halifax recovered from that day, especially in the immediate aftermath, but also in providing for those impacted especially by the effects of the explosion.
May 20, 2024
The Halifax explosion was the worst man-made explosion until the atomic bomb. Two ships, one Norwegian with the captain anxious to leave the harbour, the second a slow French cargo ship laden with gun cotton and other high explosives in its hold, and barrels of benzine on its deck. When the first struck the second, initially sparks set fire to the benzine, then spread to the hold causing a massive explosion that killed over 2000 people and levelled the nearer parts of the city to the two ships.
Cuthbertson describes in detail the events, personalities, media and ordinary Haligonians who were subject to the blast. It is an incredible read, as described on the cover, a 'page-turner'.
Cuthbertson describes in detail the events, personalities, media and ordinary Haligonians who were subject to the blast. It is an incredible read, as described on the cover, a 'page-turner'.
November 5, 2018
This was a very detailed and fascinating account of a tragic event in Canada’s history. It was written to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Halifax explosion, a disaster that was so horrible and traumatic that it is still part of the collective psyche of Halifax.
Cuthbertson has done a tremendous amount of research to write this book. For me, the best chapters were the ones that told the stories of ordinary people who got caught up in the tragedy. Only five years after the Titanic disaster and every much as horrific.
Cuthbertson has done a tremendous amount of research to write this book. For me, the best chapters were the ones that told the stories of ordinary people who got caught up in the tragedy. Only five years after the Titanic disaster and every much as horrific.
December 9, 2017
I seem to be discovering history books that are doing their damned best to be the definitive takes on any number of subjects, and this new book is certainly one with a valid claim. It was released to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the Halifax explosion, and its re-telling of the event is first class work. There may be other accounts of this WWI Canadian disaster in the future, but they will be hard pressed to top this excellent work.
March 19, 2019
The blurb by Ken McGoogan on the cover says this is the “definitive work”, but I disagree. I’ve recently read Laura M MacDonald’s Curse of the Narrows. Cuthbertson’s starts off differently by giving background on the two ships’ captains (very interesting), but once the explosion happens, the stories told are very similar, often using the same anecdotes. Cuthbertson’s telling seems disjointed, while MacDonald’s writing is smoother.
April 29, 2021
Halifax Nova Scotia in 1917 presented itself as a major port in the British Empire. The truth is Britain had deserted the port prior to World War One and the institution of a fledgling Canadian Navy didn't capture the same luster. The war prompted both a resurgence of the port and of patriotism and it ended with thousands of Haligonians dead! This book is a must to remember the Canadian sacrifice in a time of war.
June 14, 2019
I had never heard about this event -- and I bet you haven't either....astounding!
This history, like many, is dense and fact-filled....with many footnotes and citations and a rich bibliography. But the story captured me....the hours leading up to the explosion were riveting. The days, weeks and months after are testimony to heroic efforts by many.
Now I am ready to visit Halifax!
This history, like many, is dense and fact-filled....with many footnotes and citations and a rich bibliography. But the story captured me....the hours leading up to the explosion were riveting. The days, weeks and months after are testimony to heroic efforts by many.
Now I am ready to visit Halifax!
March 9, 2018
WOW! Such a new in depth glimpse on what really happened on the Halifax Explosion and the effect it had on Halifax; bringing the Maritime province closer to Canada and the US as they seek help and explanation of what happened on the fateful day of December 6 1917.
April 4, 2018
Before reading I had never heard of this event. The connection between Boston and Halifax is inspiring and the story is “edge of your seat” gripping. I really would like to rate 5 stars, but a bit repetitive, but still I liked it a lot.
April 6, 2019
Okay telling of one of our worst disasters in Canada. Too often the author hints about things to come as if the reader doesn't already know the basics of the story. I assume there are better books on this out there.
April 26, 2020
Really enjoyed this look into one of Canada's worst disasters. My family is rooted on Nova Scotia and this was a just a little piece of history that was enjoyable to read, as well as heartbreaking with so many lives lost over carelessness. A really good read!!!
November 10, 2022
November 2022
Very interesting but way too much detail; too many stories to paint a picture when one or two stories would suffice. Amazing story that would’ve been much more powerful if it had been half as long.
Very interesting but way too much detail; too many stories to paint a picture when one or two stories would suffice. Amazing story that would’ve been much more powerful if it had been half as long.
Read
November 24, 2023Great historical account
Although born and raised in Canada, i somehow missed this event in Canadian history. The tragedy is well documented and it is ready to feel the pain and devastation out this tragedy. It's a great read.
Although born and raised in Canada, i somehow missed this event in Canadian history. The tragedy is well documented and it is ready to feel the pain and devastation out this tragedy. It's a great read.
February 10, 2024
This book goes into great detail and it's clear the author has done a lot of research. I would definitely recommend it for history buffs and those interested in Halifax. It might be a bit too much for casual readers.
January 2, 2018
I know this city , and enjoyed reading this accounting of the disaster.
February 8, 2018
Well written, authoritative and fascinating in detail.
April 1, 2018
An interesting book outlining what happened on the day two ships collided in Halifax harbour.
May 26, 2018
A real page turner
Hard to put down as you follow the threads of the story of what happened leading up to that fateful day and what ensued. Highly recommend!
Hard to put down as you follow the threads of the story of what happened leading up to that fateful day and what ensued. Highly recommend!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews