(Keeping the members apprised of Spruce Grove Legion Branch 281 events since May 2006)
Editor-In-Chief – Edward S. Siteman, PO2CR (Retd), CD1
“Your Current Executive”
President – Edward Siteman – president281@shawbiz.ca
1st Vice – Cheryl Menkema 2nd Vice & Discipline – Gary Welch Secretary – Vacant Treasurer – Eleanor Rietze – treasure281@shawbiz.ca Membership – Vacant Poppy Fund – Wade Welch – poppy281@shawbiz.ca Sports – Joost Menkema – sportsofficer281@shawbiz.ca Ways & Means – Sandy Hegi – ways_means281@shawbiz.ca House & Grounds – George Fisher By-Laws – bylaws281@shawbiz.ca Fund Raising – Shirley Wityshyn Honours and Awards – Pam Coates – honours281@shawbiz Service Officer – Mel Lee & Harry Haxby Public Relations – Marian Papals Sgt at Arms – Hervy Watson |
Date: November 30, 2007
1917 – The Halifax Explosion
90th Anniversary
The Halifax Explosion was a disaster that occurred in a thriving city at a time of war. The Explosion was the result of a collision between two ships in the Halifax Harbour.
At 09:04:35 on the morning of December 6, 1917, a munitions ship, the Mont-Blanc exploded, immediately killing more than 1600 men, women, and children. More than 9000 others were wounded, 12,000 buildings were damaged, either laid flat or made uninhabitable, barely a single pane of glass was left to keep out the weather. The destruction covered 325 acres of Halifax, and Dartmouth across the harbour.
The Mont-Blanc exploded in a fraction of a second.
The most immediate and devastating effect of the explosion was a shockwave
produced by the detonation that was the equivalent of 2989 tons of TNT. The
shockwave travelled at a speed of more than 1500 meters per second.
At the center of the blast the heat produced by the chemical reaction was in
excess of 5000C. The heat and pressure pushed a fireball of hot gases, and
debris consisting of soot, unburned coal, carbon from explosives, and shrapnel
high into the sky above the harbour. As the gases cooled a giant cloud formed,
the soot, carbon, and shrapnel fell as a deadly shower.
Around the Mont-Blanc the water was vaporized by the heat, the pressure of the
explosion sent a 16 meter tidal wave out into the harbour and up into the
Richmond neighbourhood for three city blocks
As news of the disaster spread, offers of help poured in. On the afternoon December 6, a trainload of injured and homeless victims left for Truro. Other cities provided Halifax with as much relief and accommodations as they could muster. Doctors, nurses and workers, all bringing supplies with them, arrived in the city.
Sir John Eaton came in a train, which, was filled with building supplies and
donated furniture from his stores. Due to all of the carnage and destruction
from the Explosion, Halifax was given the nickname the "Shattered City".
Hours following the explosion, to some people, their reactions were "What can we
do to help?" These are the ordinary people who soon turned into hero’s for the
city who risked their lives to save and try to save the lives of others.
Massachusetts quickly sent a train equipped with doctors nurses with various
medical supplies, money, cookware and other important items. Train and shiploads
of aid continued to follow after December 6th. This state also contributed a
complete warehouse of household goods. Every year, the Province of Nova Scotia
presents a Christmas tree to the City of Boston, in gratitude for the help
received after the explosion.
Instantaneously after explosion, those who were not badly injured from the
devastating blast helped others. The residents of Halifax made efforts to rescue
family members from burning houses. Complete strangers did not hesitate to help
those in need.
Soldiers formed barracks for people to stay, and commandeered every available
vehicle to remove the injured.
The large numbers of disciplined men were priceless. With astonishing speed,
relief efforts were set in motion. Money poured in from as far away as China and
New Zealand. The Canadian government gave $18 million to help cover the cost of
the damage. The British government gave almost $5 million, also to ease the cost
of the disaster.
Haligonians remember the generosity of the state of Massachusetts, which donated $750,000 in money and goods and gave vigorously many volunteers. This is officially the biggest pre-nuclear explosion before the two Nuclear Bombs that hit Japan in the Second World War.
Soon after the Explosion, the Dominion Government appointed the Halifax Relief
Commission on January 22, 1918. It headed pensions, claims for loss and damage,
along with re-housing and the rehabilitation of victims. In June 1976 the
pensions were then paid for as Department of Veteran Affairs.
Three thousand houses were repaired in the first seven weeks after the
Explosion, as well as temporary apartments were being constructed at the rate of
one every hour. Reconstruction continued briskly, and a few months later,
construction started on 328 houses in the area bordered by Young, Agricola,
Duffus and Gottingen Streets.
These houses were constructed from cement blocks known as hydro stones, had
gardens with trees in front, and modern plumbing and electricity. This area, is
known as the Hydro stone, and is still considered one of the more good-looking
and desirable parts of Halifax in which to live. This was a huge factor in the
recovery of the North-End of Halifax, some of which are still standing today.
The Halifax Explosion Memorial Bell Tower on Fort Needham overlooking the
explosion site and the area that was Richmond. The bells were dedicated in June
1985 from Barbara (Orr) Thompson to the United Memorial Church in 1920 in memory
of her entire family, killed in the explosion. A memorial service is held here
every December 6th.
Personal Note: I remember my father telling me, that a couple of minutes after the explosion, him and a buddy of his, while making their way through the ravaged city, ran into a woman who was totally nude; the explosion had ripped every shred of clothing from her.
.
Building Community Spirit
Our Motto is - Service
The Royal Canadian Legion Ladies' Auxiliary is comprised of mothers, wives, daughters, stepdaughters, nieces, sisters, granddaughters, great granddaughters and widows of Legion members. In some Commands, membership is also open to women in the community.
Most, but not all, branches have Auxiliaries that come under the jurisdiction of the Branch. Major contributors to the day-to-day life of the branch, auxiliaries provide financial and volunteer support to Legion programs.
Any woman who is eligible for membership in the Legion may choose to become a member of the ladies Auxiliary only, or a member of both.
Members of the Ladies' Auxiliary support the aims and objects of The Royal Canadian Legion and their dedicated service enrich the programs and activities of the branch.
President - Faye Welch
1st Vice - Corrine Lindgren
Treasurer - Christina Welch
The Ladies Auxiliary Is involved in fundraising for The Legion, and any other area where assistance may be needed.
The Ladies Auxiliary also holds a meat draw every Saturday, the proceeds of which go to the Legion, and local charities.
Ladies Auxiliary members may participate in all Legion Sports at all levels, within the stated eligibility requirements reference Ladies Auxiliary Membership being the same as for members of The Royal Canadian Legion, with permission of the Legion Provincial Commands.
For membership, contact Faye Welch, at 962-6035.
ATTENTION RCN VETERANS
Did you serve on-board Royal Canadian Navy ships between World War II and 1970?
If so, you are among an estimated 18,000 at risk servicemen who may have been
exposed to unusually high doses of asbestos on-board naval ships. Any amount of
asbestos can cause or contribute to the development of lung cancer many decades
later.
Did you know Veterans Affairs Canada can provide benefits to ex-servicemen or women who are presenting fighting lung cancer as a result of exposure to asbestos if a link can be established to military service?
You may be eligible for up to $250,000 in disability compensation. You also may be eligible for extended health coverage and other benefits.
As a precaution you should:
· Contact your doctor immediately and explain to him or her that you may have a
history of asbestos exposure.
· Give your doctor a careful history, including any shortness of breath.
· Ask for a thorough physical examination--make sure your doctor assesses your
lungs and looks for signs of clubbing.
· Arrange for an assessment of your lung function.
· Demand a chest X-ray to determine if there is any evidence of asbestos-related
disease.
If the chest X-ray shows abnormalities, various diagnostic procedures may follow to establish a diagnosis. If the chest X-ray is clear, it should be repeated annually, to screen for any changes that may develop.
Contact a Royal Canadian Legion Command service officer (see listing under Service Bureau / Service Officers), or call toll-free at 1-877-534-4666 or call Veterans Affairs Canada, toll-free, at 1-866-522-2122.
Historical
Moments
|
01 Dec 1996 |
Recovery team finds remains of crew members from RCAF aircraft KN-563. The Dakota had been declared missing June 21st, 1945 while flying supplies to British troops in Burma. |
|
06 Dec 1939 |
First Canadian troop convoy sails from Halifax |
|
06 Dec 1917 |
Halifax explosion |
|
07 Dec 1941 |
The Japanese attack the American port of Pearl Harbour |
|
08 Dec 1915 |
The poem “In Flanders Field” is published |
|
09 Dec 1941 |
Battle of Hong Kong begins |
|
10 Dec 1988 |
Nobel Prize for Peace awarded to Peacekeepers |
|
20 Dec 1915 |
Royal Newfoundland Regiment: The Evacuation of Gallipoli |
|
23 Dec 1915 |
Soldiers of the Canadian Corps suffer a cold & wet winter in Flanders |
|
24 Dec 1944 |
HMCS Clayoquot is torpedoed and sunk by U-806 off Halifax |
|
25 Dec 1941 |
After a weeks battle, British, Indian and Canadian forces surrender the island of Hong Kong to Japanese forces |
|
26 Dec 1943 |
Convoy JW-558 sailing towards Murmansk; HMCS Haida, Huron and Iroquois part of the 14-destroyer screening force. Targeted by the German battlecruiser Schanhorst |
|
27 Dec 1942 |
Convoy ONS-154 from UK toward Africa. 45 merchant vessels are under protection by escort group C-1. HMCS St. Laurent and five corvettes sink U-356 |
|
29 Dec 1944 |
Flight Lieutenant Richard J. Audet of No. 411 Squadron, RCAF, shoots down five German fighters during a patrol in the Rhine area |
|
30 Dec 1991 |
Battle of Babiyan; a pair of CF-18 Hornets attack Iraqi TCN-45 patrol boat and cause damage to the Iraqi warship. Only official victory credited to a CF-18 during the Gulf War |
CONGRATULATIONS: To the members of the 2008 Executive
Next General Meeting: There is no General Meeting in the month of
December. There is, however, an Executive Meeting.
This meeting has been moved up to December 10th @ 19:00. This will be your change over meeting, following
the elections in November.
Upcoming Events: December 1st, Bake Sale
Branch opens @ 14:00
December 2nd, Installation of New Executive
14:00
December 8th, Santa visits the branch. This will be a
Non-smoking Saturday.
New Year’s Eve Dinner and Dance.
Tickets at the bar or see Sandy Hegi for further details.
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We invite you to write letters to the editor. A maximum of 275 words is preferred. Letters must carry a first name or two initials with a surname, and include an address and daytime telephone number. All letters are subject to editing. We don’t publish letters addressed to other or sent to other publications. Send letters to: 215 McLeod Avenue or email to branch281@hotmail.com Copy right in letters and other materials submitted to the editor and accepted for publication remains with the author, but the editor may freely reproduce them in print, electronic or other forms. |
Proud to be a Canadian
Good enough to defend your country, but as of 01 January 2008, not
good enough to smoke in your own Legion
Canadians are not a warlike people. Yet when the trumpets sound and the cannons roar, we have, throughout our history, answered the call. The men and women memorialized here stand as symbols for a nation shaped by conflict and strengthened through sacrifice. It is war, as much as peace, that unites us; for valour knows no bounds. They belong to us all, these remarkable figures from our past; the Mohawk war chief who fought to secure a tract of land for his dispossessed people; the voltigeur who drove back the invaders and saved a city; the Loyalist housewife who braved the swamps to sound an alarm; the failed real estate salesman who became our greatest general. In this scattered land, they provide the glue that holds us together. From the dark scarps that overlook the Atlantic to the tattered islands in the Pacific mists, these are the heroes who have helped give us shape and purpose throughout four centuries. We have been called a cool people, the product of a frosty environment, and it is true that we do not indulge in the hot-blooded emotion that distinguishes those from warmer climes. Overblown celebration is not our style, but we know, deep in our hearts that without the hard example provided by the kind of Canadian remembered here, this country would not dare call itself a nation. Pierre Berton
18 April 2002 Pte Nathan Smith
18 April 2002 Pte Richard A. Green
02 October 2003 Sgt Robert Alan Short
02 October 2003 Cpl Robbie Christopher Beerenfenger
27 January 2004 Cpl Jamie Brendan Murphy
24 November 2005 Pte Braun Scott Woodfield
02 March 2006 Cpl Paul Davis
02 March 2006 Mcpl Timothy Wilson
28 March 2006 Pte Robert Costall
18 April 2006 Cpl Ainsworth Dyer
22 April 2006 Cpl Matthew Dinning
22 April 2006 Pte Myles Mansell
22 April 2006 Cpl Randy Payne
22 April 2006 Lt William Turner
17 May 2006 Capt Nichola Kathleen Sarah Goodard
09 July 2006 Cpl Anthony Joseph Boneca
23 July 2006 Cpl Francisco Gomez
23 July 2006 Cpl Jason Patrick Warren
03 August 2006 Pte Ken Dallaire
03 August 2006 Sgt Vaughn Ingram
03 August 2006 Cpl Bryce Jeffrey Keller
03 August 2006 Cpl Christopher Jonathan Reid
05 August 2006 Mcpl Raymond Arndt
09 August 2006 Mcpl Jeffrey Scott Walsh
11 August 2006 Cpl Andrew James Eykelenboom
22 August 2006 Cpl David Braun
03 September 06 WO Frank Robert Mellish
03 September 06 WO Richard Francis Nolan
03 September 06 Sgt Shane Stachnik
03 September 06 Pte William Jonathan James Cushley
04 September 06 Pte Mark Graham
18 September 06 Cpl Glenn Arnold
18 September 06 Cpl Shane Keating
18 September 06 Cpl Keith Morley
18 September 06 Pte David Byers
29 September 06 Pte Josh Klukie
02 October 06 Sgt Craig Gillam
02 October 06 Cpl Robert Mitchell
07 October 06 Trooper Mark Wilson
14 October 06 Sgt Darcy Tedford
14 October 06 Pte Blake Williamson
27 November 06 Sgt Maj Bobby Girouard
27 November 06 CWO Albert Storm
06 March 07 Cpl Kevin Megeney
08 April 07 Sgt Donald Lucas
08 April 07 Pte Kevin Kennedy
08 April 07 Cpl Aaron E. Williams
08 April 07 Pte David E. Greenslade
08 April 07 Cpl Christopher P. Stannix
08 April 07 Cpl Brent Poland
11 April 07 Mcpl Allan Stewart
11 April 07 Trooper Patrick James Pentland
18 April 07 Mcpl Anthony Klumpenhouwer
25 May 07 Mcpl Matthew J. McCully
30 May 07 Mcpl Darrell Jason Priede
11 Jun 07 Trooper Darryl Caswell
20 Jun 07 Pte Joel Wiebe
20 Jun 07 Cpl Stephen Bouzane
20 Jun 07 Sgt Christos Karigiannis
04 Jul 07 Cpl Jordan Anderson
04 Jul 07 Mcpl Colin Bason
04 Jul 07 Capt Matthew Dawe
04 Jul 07 Cpl Cole Bartsch
04 Jul 07 Pte Lane Watkins
04 Jul 07 Capt Jefferson Francis
19 Aug 07 Pte Simon Longtin
22 Aug 07 MWO Mario Mercier
22 Aug 07 Mcpl Christian Mercier
24 Sep 07 Cpl Nathan Hornburg
06 Oct 07 Const. Christopher John Worden
17 Nov 07 Cpl Nicolas Raymond Beauchamp
17 Nov 07 Pte Michel Levesque
