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 100th Anniversary of the Halifax Explosion & the Men from Barra - Halifax, Nova Scota, Canada Posted by:  neoc1
N 44° 39.509 W 063° 37.366
20T E 450625 N 4945201
A monument commemorating 100th anniversary of the Halifax Explosion of December 6, 1917 and especially the memory of five men from Barra, Scotland who died in the explosion is located in Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Waymark Code: WM10MXC
Location: Nova Scotia, Canada
Date Posted: 05/30/2019
Views: 1
In Halifax Harbor on the morning of December 6, 1917 the Norwegian ship S.S. Imo collided with the French ship S.S. Mont-Blanc, which was carrying a cargo of high explosives. The resulting explosion devastated Halifax, Dartmouth, and surrounding communities. Every structure in a 1.6 mile radius of the explosion was demolished and many more were damaged. About 1900 people were killed and 9000 were injured.
A polished, black granite monument with a gray granite base in Fairview Lawn Cemetery was erected by the Friends of Barra Society in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Halifax Explosion and the five men from Barra, Scotland, who while working on the S.S. Curaca, died in the explosion.
The monument has the image of the flag of Nova Scotia on the left and the flag of Scotland on the right and the following inscription:
THIS MEMORIAL IS DEDICATED TO THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE
1917 HALIFAX EXPLOSION, SPECIFICALLY TO THE TRAGIC LOSS OF
FIVE MEN FROM THE THEN SPARSELY POPULATED ISLAND OF BARRA,
SCOTLAND. THE FIVE MEN, ALL MEMBES OF THE MERCHANT MARINE,
WERE WORKING ON THE SS CURCA WHICH WAS TIED UP AT PIER 8
IN HALIFAX HARBOUR. THEY WERE LOADING HORSES DESTINED FOR
THE CANADIAN AND BRITISH FORCES OVERSEAS DURING WORLD WAR I
WHEN THE EXPLOSION OCCURRED, MICHAEL MACNEIL, DONALD H. MACKINNON,
DONALD S. MACKINNON, MALCOLM MACLEAN AND DONALD CAMPBELL
WERE KILLED INSTANTLY AND THE BODIES OF THESE MEN, AGED 19 - 25,
WERE NEVER RECOVERED. STRONG, AGE OLD TIES EXIST BETWEEN
BARRA, SCOTLAND AND NOVA SCOTIA. TO THIS DAY, THIS TRAGIC EVENT
IS PAINFULLY REMEMBERED IN BOTH NOVA SCOTIA AND BARRA.
{FOLLOWED BY SAME INSCRIPTION IN GAELIC.}
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The base of the monument is inscribed:
HALIFAX EXPLOSION DEC. 6, 1917
PLACED BY FRIENDS OF BARRA SOCIETY
Disaster Date: 12/06/1917
Date of dedication: 12/06/2017
Memorial Sponsors: Friends of Barra Society
Disaster Type: Technological
Relevant Website: [Web Link]
Parking Coordinates: Not Listed
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