@KissAnne Happy Independence day, 106th? I've been looking at my Grandfather's war record, WW1 & WW2, and today, we mark the #HalifaxExplosion anniversary, a more somber event
Your annual reminder that the #HalifaxExplosion flattened more than 2.5 square kilometres of the city on 6 December 1917 and by March 1918 the city built 832 emergency homes for the #Unhoused
Nearly time again. #Halifax had the world's worst accidental explosion in the world, at that time. #HalifaxExplosion 6 December 1917
Some 2,000 people died and thousands more were wounded. Before Christmas, in frigid winter conditions. The explosion generated a 60 foot Tsunami wave, combined with the explosion, it leveled the city, destroying 1600 homes.
Parts of ships, were found many miles away. #History#Remembered.
You'll hear more about it in the week to come. https://waterfrontmediahfx.the902hxir.ca/61331-2
Many did not. Flying glass blinded those not killed. People died of starvation or exposure, as it was winter; there were so many affected.
Help came from all over, from the USA and all over Canada. There are homes in #Halifax Hydrostone area with crooked foundations still. https://parks.canada.ca/culture/designation/evenement-event/halifax-explosion
I'm not close enough now to attend, but the Fort Needham Memorial Park holds a memorial every 6 Dec, if you are able to attend.
I went to school near memorial graves sites of victims of the explosion.
We didn't then, understand the significance of what we were seeing, but certainly did, in years to come.
From personally told stories in our family history, my Grandfather was in Halifax City area during the explosion. Things were chaos, his family in Chester, he was uninjured and he walked 50kms home.
Shock waves were felt further.
On the morning of December 6, 1917, two ships collided in Halifax Harbor, Nova Scotia, resulting in a massive blast that ultimately killed 2,000 people in the largest man-made explosion prior to the atomic age.
That day the city was leveled, 1000s of homes damaged or disappeared, 2000 people killed, many more injured.
There was no transportation.
My grandfather was going to the city to find work when it happened, he had to return home, walking from #Halifax area to Chester, then rowed a boat to the Island where he lived. It was winter, in snow, he got home in the dark. Uninjured!
This reflection was part of a series I produced a few years ago. This is HMCS Acadia, which was docked by the Maritime Museum in Halifax harbour. Built in 1913, she survived the Halifax explosion of 1917. https://hmhps.ca/sites/hmcs-acadia
Happy Tuesday, Fedi Friends