Date: 23 Jan 2022
Location: Zoom

The Great Halifax Explosion
by John U. Bacon

The club met via Zoom.

The book reviews the horrific explosion of 6 million pounds of high explosives in Halifax, Canada’s harbor. It’s also reviews the shaky American-Canadian relationships from the time of the French and Indian war to the end of WWI. It explains Canada’s important role in supplying the Allies in WWI and the importance of their very deep marina. It reminds us of Halifax’s role in recovering and burying bodies from the sinking of the Titanic.

The sheer magnitude of the devastation from the explosion is beyond comprehension. So many dead, so many children lost or orphaned, so many people maimed or homeless and so many drowned from the resulting tidal wave.

A lot is made of Boston’s assistance, and to their credit, the city of Boston contributed millions of dollars in aid and sent a force of medical personnel within three days of the explosion.

Even today the people of Nova Scotia send a large Christmas tree in giving thanks to the city of Boston for their charity.

— Pat