December the Sixth is a sombre anniversary. On December 6, 1917, almost 1,800 people were killed and another 9,000 were injured in the Halifax Explosion. The catastrophic accident occured when two ships – the Mont-Blanc and the Imo – collided in the Halifax Harbour. The Mont-Blanc, carrying TNT on board, caught fire and ultimately exploded. The devastating blast was felt as far away as Cape Breton and Prince Edward Island.
Among the dead were four members of the Mitchell family of Oyster Pond Jeddore. Lost were Mary “Minnie” (Dooks) Mitchell, wife of Colin Peter Mitchell, and three of their children: Reginald, Aletha, and Mary. They were living in Halifax at the time. In the days following the disaster Halifax newspapers ran lists of the victims as they were identified and buried. The Mitchell family appears on the list below (towards the bottom). They were buried at the St John’s Anglican Cemetery in Oyster Pond.
My Mom would always remind me of the Halifax Explosion on the anniversary of the disaster. She knew the story well. Let us remember all those who lost their lives on that fateful day many years ago.
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