The Armouries, a Great Uncle, and the Halifax Explosion

The Armouries, Halifax, Nova Scotia
Notman Studio Collection - 1899

Architecture has always intrigued me and a two-foot thick walled structure resembling a medieval castle, called the Armouries, is no exception. Its imposing presence towers above the North Commons in Halifax, Nova Scotia.  Magnificent turrets adorn its rough red exterior.  Inside is a large room in which troops assemble and spectators can watch from a walkway above.  Currently, the Armouries is undergoing repairs and renovations; some of which occurred during the Halifax Explosion.

On the morning of December 6, 1917, a collision between two ships in the harbor had leveled the sections of Halifax and Dartmouth closest to the blast. South of the main blast, the Armouries sustained minor damage to its roof and western wall, but its structure remained strong. This structure and the military men who slept in its barracks on its grounds were about to help in the relief effort.

As these military men and other rescue workers made their way through the city, extricating people from the ruins, smoke was rising from the munitions shed at Wellington Barracks, located on the edge of the devastated area. Shouts could be heard to head for higher ground.  Thousands fled to the North Commons: some on foot and others in various modes of transport from wheel barrows to horse drawn carts to automobiles.  The area on the North Commons between the Armouries and the long barracks, several feet away, were soon jammed with hundreds of bloodied people who were barely clothed. Among them was my great Uncle Abraham (Abe) Landry who was 18 years old.

Like many on the Commons that day, Uncle Abe had been injured by flying glass and debris when the ship exploded.  His left side caught the worst of it since it was facing the window when the blast occurred. After arriving at the Commons, a medical person removed the larger shards of glass but left the smaller ones. Then, without anesthetic, 15 stitches were used to close the big gouge in his arm.  Once this was completed, it was on to the next casualty.

Uncle Abe, along with others on the Commons, would be given shelter at the barracks of the Armouries where they received a blanket and some warm broth.  He and others could be found thanks to the record keeping of military personnel who placed the names of those being sheltered on the doors where they were located. Along with the barracks housing the homeless, the Armouries would become a food depot.

Note:  To see the Armouries' barracks click on the link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/rdb466/8272877877/in/photolist-dTXBjn-dU4f4G-dB3Ent-99oDRQ-ng9BnK/ Thank you, Ross Dunn for putting this photo on flickr!

I would love to be able to see the front of the barracks, also known as hutments. If you've seen them online or have a picture of it, could you share it with me?

Other sources:

The Halifax Explosion December 6, 1917, Graham Metson - includes The Halifax Disaster by Archibald MacMechan

Archibald MacMechan - Halifax Disaster Record Office Materials