Shattered City - the Halifax Explosion

[Guest American Woman]

This is a movie, based on the explosion that occurred in Halifax on Dec. 6, 1917, but I've decided to post the thread in Canada/U.S. relations because to me it seems to be sort of a reverse 9-11 - Canada suffering the disaster and the U.S. sending aid. It reminded me of Canada taking in our planes and giving food and shelter to those who were stranded.

Another reason I'm putting it here is because of the stereotypes that were obvious in the movie. It is, I believe, an American made movie but I'm not sure if it was written by an American or Canadian. At any rate, I thought some of the stereotypes were not appropriate for the time period. The Americans in the movie are portrayed arrogantly as "the war won't last long now that the U.S. has entered the war" while the Canadian response is a sarcastic "U.S. cavalry to the rescue, eh?" Was this truly the way it was as early as the first World War? I thought the U.S. was just pretty much a young naton at that time, not really given much due on the world scene, and that these feelings developed along with the strength that the U.S. built worldwide. In other words, I thought it was post-WWII. Also, 'battle fatigue' is seen as 'cowardice' by many in the movie and I thought that, too, might be inappropriate for the time period. Also, the citizens of Halifax are portrayed as 'having an inferiority complex because they aren't British,' which I questioned.

Another reason I'm posting it here is because I'd like to learn more about it - any information anyone can post will be greatly appreciated. I was vaguely aware of the explosion, but not the extent of the loss of life, injuries, and damage. The film, I think, does a really good job of showing the strength of the explosion - an explosion that was the strongest in the world until the atomic bomb was dropped - and of that, I had no idea. 2000 killed, many thousands more injured, and hundreds blinded by the glass that flew into their faces as they watched the fire in the harbor at their windows. Again, I had no idea.

Also, it would seem as if the two survivors most responsible for the ships colliding were set free before the conclusion of their trials by the powers that be - (the British Prime Minister? I didn't think that was made clear). In any event, the captain of the French ship was supposed to be tried in France but never was - that was the ship carrying the munitions. (Reminded me of how that still too often seems to be the case almost 100 years later.)

From how it was portrayed in the movie, the disaster was made worse by the loss of local hospitals in the explosion and snow hampering the efforts to get medical aid from Toronto and Montreal to the scene. It looked to me as if a medical train/team from Boston was the first to arrive. I didn't know about that, nor did I know that every year since the disaster, Halifax has sent a Christmas tree to Boston (which becomes a focal point in that city) in thanks for that help.

I was heartened to know, in spite of all the ill feelings that too often surface, that even as early as WWI we were working together as the great neighbors that we are, and continue to be in light of 9-11, to each other. And almost one hundred years later, my heart goes out to the city of Halifax. What a tremendous effort and spirit it must have taken to rebuild the city.

[Topaz]

I went to Wikipedia to see what they had on it and that is very interesting also. There are some correction to the movie that really didn't/did happen. I think you would enjoyed reading. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shattered_City:_The_Halifax_Explosion

[Guest American Woman]

I went to Wikipedia to see what they had on it and that is very interesting also. There are some correction to the movie that really didn't/did happen. I think you would enjoyed reading. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shattered_City:_The_Halifax_Explosion

That was interesting. Evidently the Boston train wasn't the first medical team to arrive, but it must have been significant because I looked up information regarding the Christmas tree given to Boston by Halifax every year and that is true.

For more than 30 years, Nova Scotia has donated a giant evergreen each year to the people of Boston as a thank you for their assistance following the 1917 Halifax Explosion.

[Topaz]

That was interesting. Evidently the Boston train wasn't the first medical team to arrive, but it must have been significant because I looked up information regarding the Christmas tree given to Boston by Halifax every year and that is true.

For more than 30 years, Nova Scotia has donated a giant evergreen each year to the people of Boston as a thank you for their assistance following the 1917 Halifax Explosion.

I understand that is true about the Christmas tree.

[August1991]

AW, you may want to read the novel "Barometer Rising" by Hugh MacLennan.

[Guest American Woman]

AW, you may want to read the novel "Barometer Rising" by Hugh MacLennan.

Thank you - I always appreciate suggestions for a good book! It sounds like just the type of story line/historical context I'd enjoy reading right now considering my interest in Halifax/the explosion. I just placed my order.

[Shwa]

Another reason I'm putting it here is because of the stereotypes that were obvious in the movie. It is, I believe, an American made movie but I'm not sure if it was written by an American or Canadian. At any rate, I thought some of the stereotypes were not appropriate for the time period. The Americans in the movie are portrayed arrogantly as "the war won't last long now that the U.S. has entered the war" while the Canadian response is a sarcastic "U.S. cavalry to the rescue, eh?" Was this truly the way it was as early as the first World War?

I think so. And the "arrogant" Americans were correct about WWI too, it didn't last long once they got on the scene.

The Canadian response could have been a reference to the Roosevelt's famous Rough Riders charge of San Juan Hill in the Spanish-American War in Cuba in 1898. This would still have been a remarkable and mythological event that were in people's minds enough to reference it. Calvary was still being used early in WWI, but not much by the time the Americans entered the war.

I thought the U.S. was just pretty much a young naton at that time, not really given much due on the world scene, and that these feelings developed along with the strength that the U.S. built worldwide. In other words, I thought it was post-WWII.

I suppose that is all relative. But my understanding was that the US was quite a powerful nation at the time of WWI and had been steadily building their economic and military base post Civil War.

Also, 'battle fatigue' is seen as 'cowardice' by many in the movie and I thought that, too, might be inappropriate for the time period.

No, it was considered cowardice or some other lacking. I have read quite a few Canadian Expeditionary Forces medical files back in the day and they didn't tolerate battle fatigue much.

Combat stress reaction

In 1915 The British Army in France was instructed that:

Shell-shock and shell concussion cases should have the letter 'W' prefixed to the report of the casualty, if it were due to the enemy; in that case the patient would be entitled to rank as 'wounded' and to wear on his arm a 'wound stripe'. If, however, the man’s breakdown did not follow a shell explosion, it was not thought to be ‘due to the enemy’, and he was to [be] labelled 'Shell-shock' or 'S' (for sickness) and was not entitled to a wound stripe or a pension.

Also, the citizens of Halifax are portrayed as 'having an inferiority complex because they aren't British,' which I questioned.

That would be about right. Heck, many of them still have that complex.

[Wilber]

Curse of the Narrows is another excellent book on the explosion.

[Guest American Woman]

Curse of the Narrows is another excellent book on the explosion.

Thank you for the suggestion, Wilber. I will pick that book up as well.

Edited to add: I knew that title sounded familiar and it's because I had already ordered that book from Amazon.

Edited June 22, 2011 by American Woman