Sailors, Slackers, and Blind Pigs: Halifax at War

by Stephen Kimber

Book Overview

The untold story of how war transformed the city of Halifax.

Stephen Kimber recreates life in Halifax during the Second World War, a city transformed by the influx of military and civilian personnel serving the war effort. Poorly governed and corrupt, the city erupted at the end of the war in Europe in the infamous V-E Day riots of May 1945.

Halifax was the only Canadian city directly caught up in the drama, danger, death, and disaster...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0385259948
• ISBN13: 9780385259941
• Release Date: January 2003
• Publisher: Doubleday Canada
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 0.76 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.0" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

"A Blast from the Past."

There has been reams of articles and books written about the VE-Day Riots that took place in Halifax at the end of WWII.While WWII was really not over until the surrender of Japan;for all intents and purposes it was over,especially in Halifax;since what went on on Canada's East Coast,involved primarily Europe. This whole period of history is very real to me ,having been born in 1935 in the small town of Kentville,about 70 miles from Halifax.Hence,I was a young shaver of 8 to 10 at the time when most of this book talks about. It is, by the way,the most comprehensive account of the period,that I have come across. I am sure there are others,I just haen't chased them down;but from what I know,it is excellent. There is a lot of history involved with Halifax,which celebrated it's Bicentinnial in 1948 and which is covered in this book; and was influenced by all of her history,back to Colonial days. First of all, Nova Scotia was a colony of England,and had more in common with the New England States ,when it (joined,or as many would suggest was pressured)to join in Confederation with Upper (Ontario) and Lower(Quebec)Canadas;in 1867. This was only a little after the War of 1812,and the British had no intent in losing the Maritimes to The United States,regardless of what her Colonists wanted to do. Hence,Halifax was at that time ,and even up to and during WWI and WWII very much controlled and influenced by Britain and an establishment of British ancestry and,culture and loyalty. This is of utmost importance to understand when considering Halifax's history. Canada's navy was highly influenced by Britain and many of the higher ranks were British and the Navy was highly influenced by British culture and traditions.It could be said that the only major part Canadians played was to apply the manpower.As to Halifax,much the same could be said. It was administered to a large extent by British influence. A great slogan at the times of both WWI and WWI was "For King and Country". Remember that meant the King of England.The flag flown almost everywhere was the Union Jack--The British Flag. There was no widespread animonsity at the time ;since most people just accepted things that way at the time. The book touches on the Halifax explosion of 1917 whern 1400 were killed,the world's greatest man-made explosion and loss of life before Hiroshima. A book "The Town That Died" by Michael J.Bird gives an excellent account of it.Relief for that terrible event was greatly overshadowed by assistance from the New England States ,than any from the reast of Canada . So,when looking at Halifax during and VE-Day ;it must be viewed with it's history in mind. Rather that concentrating on what happened on VE-Day and where the blame should be placed ;what went on for several years before is the real issue. I grew up in an " Army Town" Camp Aldershot,about 25 miles from Greenwood Air Base,about 80 miles from Cornwallis Naval Base ,80 miles from Debert Army Camp ,and about 70 mil