Faces of The Halifax Explosion, December 6, 1917
The purpose of this page is to present the names of people of the RN, RCN, national & local government, harbour pilots and judiciary as well as several civilians that have been associated in some relevant manner with the Halifax Explosion. Many of these names have appeared in numerous books and accounts for almost a century but their appearance is unknown. I am looking to obtain photographs for as many of these as possible.
Visitors to this page are encouraged to submit photos via e-mail in jpeg format (no less than 1Mb @ 150 dpi).
To anyone from the families of Frederick Evan Wyatt, R.N.R. and Dorothy Manners Brookfield (Nova Scotia, Portsmouth, England or Boston - possibly Middlesex County): I would appreciate receiving a good photo of Commander Wyatt. Their wedding took place at the Grafton Street Methodist church in Halifax on February 1, 1917 and for a brief time before moving to Boston, they lived on Vernon Street.
Visitors to this page are encouraged to submit photos via e-mail in jpeg format (no less than 1Mb @ 150 dpi).
To anyone from the families of Frederick Evan Wyatt, R.N.R. and Dorothy Manners Brookfield (Nova Scotia, Portsmouth, England or Boston - possibly Middlesex County): I would appreciate receiving a good photo of Commander Wyatt. Their wedding took place at the Grafton Street Methodist church in Halifax on February 1, 1917 and for a brief time before moving to Boston, they lived on Vernon Street.
Sir Charles E. Kingsmill, Rear-Admiral, RCN - Director of the naval service.
Captain Edward H. Martin, RCN - Captain Superintendent.
Captain Fred C. C. Pasco, RCN - temporary replacement for E. H. Martin.
Walter Hose, Acting Captain, RCN - acting superintendent of naval dockyard, member of Wreck Commissioner's Inquiry.
Frederick Evan Wyatt, Acting Commander, Chief Examining Officer. Previously a lieutenant aboard Niobe.
Mate Terrence Freeman, RNCVR, Examining Officer that boarded Mont Blanc.
John L. Makiny, RNCVR, Captain of tug,ÊNereid.
Mate Herbert Whitehead, RNCVR, Captain of drifter,ÊCD-73.
George Abbott, Junior RCN Rating on dispatch boat that examinedÊMont BlancÊafter the collision.
R. G. Corbett, Captain, Niobe (1914) - recommended Wyatt for further RCN service in 1915.
Edward Beard, Stoker Petty Officer, RNCVR, VR Niobe. Service Number: 1731. Pinnace crewman (killed in the explosion)
Albert Mattison, Warrant Boatswain,ÊNiobe. Pinnace crewman (killed in the explosion)
AB C.C. Wilson, RNCVR,ÊNiobe. Pinnace crewman (killed in the explosion)
AB A. Saunders, RNCVR, ÊNiobe. Pinnace crewman (killed in the explosion)
Stoker 2nd Class G.H. Yates, RNCVR, ÊNiobe. Pinnace crewman (killed in the explosion)
LS C.C. McMillan, RNCVR, ÊNiobe. Pinnace crewman (killed in the explosion)
AB F.P. Nickerson, RNCVR, ÊNiobe. Pinnace crewman (killed in the explosion)
Gunner Walter O'Reilly, RCN, ÊNiobe. Pinnace crewman (killed in the explosion)
W. George Critch, Able Seaman, Niobe. (Service # 1242X).
Percy F. Newcombe, Acting Commander,ÊCaptain of NiobeÊ(former XO /ÊHMS ShearwaterÊon West Coast). Succeeded Corbett.
Rodney Orlando Burnett, Carpenter,ÊNiobe. Service Number:Ê17017. Drove car over to Pier 6. (killed in the explosion)
John Thomas Gammon, Master at Arms, Acting Gunner, Niobe. Was working with Able Seaman Critch and divers at the time of the explosion.
Bertram M. Chambers, Rear-Admiral, RN - Director RN functions in Halifax. Was aware of Mont Blanc's cargo.
James Turnbull, Captain, RNR - Deputy to Chambers.
E. A. E. Nixon, Commander, RN, Commanding Officer of Royal Naval College (RNC) from January 1918 to June 1922.
T. K. Triggs, RN, Acting Commander,ÊHMS Highflyer.
Lieutenant Commander James Anderson Murray, RNCVR - former Captain of the CPR liner, Empress of Britain (I) and assistant to Chambers. A report in the Nova Scotian, December 21, 1917 on pg. 85, had been killed at Pier 8. Captain Murray had made his way to his officeand was on the telephone with Captain Turnbull when he was killed in the explosion. He was found by Rear-Admiral Chambers, Captain Turnbull, Captain Gordon and the crew of the tug, Maggie.
H. N. Garnett, RN, Captain,ÊHMS Highflyer.
Richard Woolams RNR, Officer of the Watch, HMS Highflyer.
James Rayward Ruffles, Lieutenant, HMS Highflyer. (on whaler - killed in explosion)
Claude Rushen, Leading Seaman,ÊHMS Highflyer. (on whaler - killed in explosion)
James Dowling, Able Seaman,ÊHMS Highflyer. (on whaler - killed in explosion)
Samuel David Prewer, Able Seaman,ÊHMS Highflyer. (on whaler - killed in explosion)
Joseph Murphy, Able Seaman,ÊHMS Highflyer. (on whaler - killed in explosion)
William Becker, Able Seaman, HMS Highflyer. (only survivor on the whaler).
Thomas Davis, Able Seaman, RNR, HMS Highflyer.
Robert Stones, Able Seaman, HMS Highflyer.
Lieutenant-Commander W. McKay, USNR, Captain,ÊOld Colony.
AimŽ Joseph Marie Le MŽdec, Captain,ÊMont Blanc.
Jean Baptiste Glotin, Second Captain, Mont Blanc.
Marcel Aleton, Helmsman, Mont Blanc.
Antoine Le Gat, Chief Engineer, Mont Blanc.
Alphonse Serre, crewman, Mont Blanc.
Pierre Hus, Second Lieutenant, Mont Blanc.
Joseph Eugene Levesque, Second Lieutenant, Mont Blanc.
Yves Queguiner, crewman, Mont Blanc. The only crew member killed in the explosion.
Bakily Counida, Stoker, Algerian crewman, Mont Blanc.
Francis Mackey, Pilot,ÊMont Blanc.
Horatio H. Brannen, Captain of tug,ÊStella Maris. (killed in explosion)
Haakon From, Captain,ÊImo. (killed in explosion)
John Johansen, Helmsman,ÊImo.
Anton Andersen, second engineer, Imo.
Louis Skarre, crewman, Imo.
Sigurd Sorensen, crewman, Imo.
William Hayes, Pilot, Imo. (killed in explosion)
Edward V. Renner, Pilot,ÊS.S. Santa Clara.
Walter Brannen, son of Horatio. Crewman, Stella Maris.
Arthur Lovett, Customs Officer - Pilotage Commission.
Lieutenant-Colonel Ernest J. Chambers - Government's Chief Press censor.
Major-General Willoughby Gwatkin, CGS, Canadian Militia. Censorship and Security.
Frank McKelvey Bell - Lieutenant-Colonel, Militia.
Sir Percy Sherwood, Commissioner of the Dominion Police.
C. C. Ballantyne - Minister of Naval Service, Marine and Fisheries.
George Joseph Desbarats, Deputy Minister for Naval Service.
Alexander Johnston - Deputy Minister of Marine and Fisheries.
John A. Wilson, Civilian Director of Stores for the RCN.
Powers ÊSymington, Commander, USNÊTacoma.
James Hall, Sheriff of Halifax County and Chairman of the Pilotage Commission. Witness at the Inquiry.
Thomas Benson, Major-General, Militia, General Officer Commanding (GOC).
Lieutenant-Colonel B. R. Armstrong, CGA, senior administrative officer to T. Benson.
James W. Harrison, Captain (merchant), Marine Superintendent of Furness Withy & Company (The Furness Line).
John W. Brookfield, manager of the Dry Dock.
Captain Leander Arthur Demers, Dominion Wreck Commissioner, Department of Marine, member of Inquiry.
Humphrey Mellish, KC, Defence Counsel for Mont Blanc at inquiry.
Walter J. O'Hearn, KC, Defence Counsel for Le Medec and Mackey.
Charles J. Burchell, KC, Defence Counsel for Imo at inquiry.
William Alexander Henry, KC, Crown Counsel at inquiry.
Hon. Arthur Drysdale, Judge at the Wreck Commissioner's Inquiry.
Sir Robert Borden, Prime Minister.
Benjamin Russell, Judge, Nova Scotia Supreme Court.
William Dennis, Senator, owner of the Herald newspaper.
Joseph Nolan, Barrister.
Robert A. MacLeod, Magistrate.
Andrew Cluny, Prosecutor.
Thomas R. Robertson, KC.
F. C. Bell, KC.
Thomas R. Robertson, KC.
Daniel MacLaine, Captain of Douglas H. Thomas.
Ralph Smith, marine engineer with Burns and Kelleher.
Henry Dustan, clerk at Canadian Government Railways office.
Patrick Vincent Coleman, railway telegraph operator/dispatcher.
William Arthur Lovett, chief clerk at Richmond railway yards.
Edward Beazley, 15 year old Pilotage Commission office clerk.
W. M. A. Campbell, Captain of inbound Canadian merchant vessel, Acadian.
Dorothy Manners Brookfield.
Captain Edward H. Martin, RCN - Captain Superintendent.
Captain Fred C. C. Pasco, RCN - temporary replacement for E. H. Martin.
Walter Hose, Acting Captain, RCN - acting superintendent of naval dockyard, member of Wreck Commissioner's Inquiry.
Frederick Evan Wyatt, Acting Commander, Chief Examining Officer. Previously a lieutenant aboard Niobe.
Mate Terrence Freeman, RNCVR, Examining Officer that boarded Mont Blanc.
John L. Makiny, RNCVR, Captain of tug,ÊNereid.
Mate Herbert Whitehead, RNCVR, Captain of drifter,ÊCD-73.
George Abbott, Junior RCN Rating on dispatch boat that examinedÊMont BlancÊafter the collision.
R. G. Corbett, Captain, Niobe (1914) - recommended Wyatt for further RCN service in 1915.
Edward Beard, Stoker Petty Officer, RNCVR, VR Niobe. Service Number: 1731. Pinnace crewman (killed in the explosion)
Albert Mattison, Warrant Boatswain,ÊNiobe. Pinnace crewman (killed in the explosion)
AB C.C. Wilson, RNCVR,ÊNiobe. Pinnace crewman (killed in the explosion)
AB A. Saunders, RNCVR, ÊNiobe. Pinnace crewman (killed in the explosion)
Stoker 2nd Class G.H. Yates, RNCVR, ÊNiobe. Pinnace crewman (killed in the explosion)
LS C.C. McMillan, RNCVR, ÊNiobe. Pinnace crewman (killed in the explosion)
AB F.P. Nickerson, RNCVR, ÊNiobe. Pinnace crewman (killed in the explosion)
Gunner Walter O'Reilly, RCN, ÊNiobe. Pinnace crewman (killed in the explosion)
W. George Critch, Able Seaman, Niobe. (Service # 1242X).
Percy F. Newcombe, Acting Commander,ÊCaptain of NiobeÊ(former XO /ÊHMS ShearwaterÊon West Coast). Succeeded Corbett.
Rodney Orlando Burnett, Carpenter,ÊNiobe. Service Number:Ê17017. Drove car over to Pier 6. (killed in the explosion)
John Thomas Gammon, Master at Arms, Acting Gunner, Niobe. Was working with Able Seaman Critch and divers at the time of the explosion.
Bertram M. Chambers, Rear-Admiral, RN - Director RN functions in Halifax. Was aware of Mont Blanc's cargo.
James Turnbull, Captain, RNR - Deputy to Chambers.
E. A. E. Nixon, Commander, RN, Commanding Officer of Royal Naval College (RNC) from January 1918 to June 1922.
T. K. Triggs, RN, Acting Commander,ÊHMS Highflyer.
Lieutenant Commander James Anderson Murray, RNCVR - former Captain of the CPR liner, Empress of Britain (I) and assistant to Chambers. A report in the Nova Scotian, December 21, 1917 on pg. 85, had been killed at Pier 8. Captain Murray had made his way to his officeand was on the telephone with Captain Turnbull when he was killed in the explosion. He was found by Rear-Admiral Chambers, Captain Turnbull, Captain Gordon and the crew of the tug, Maggie.
H. N. Garnett, RN, Captain,ÊHMS Highflyer.
Richard Woolams RNR, Officer of the Watch, HMS Highflyer.
James Rayward Ruffles, Lieutenant, HMS Highflyer. (on whaler - killed in explosion)
Claude Rushen, Leading Seaman,ÊHMS Highflyer. (on whaler - killed in explosion)
James Dowling, Able Seaman,ÊHMS Highflyer. (on whaler - killed in explosion)
Samuel David Prewer, Able Seaman,ÊHMS Highflyer. (on whaler - killed in explosion)
Joseph Murphy, Able Seaman,ÊHMS Highflyer. (on whaler - killed in explosion)
William Becker, Able Seaman, HMS Highflyer. (only survivor on the whaler).
Thomas Davis, Able Seaman, RNR, HMS Highflyer.
Robert Stones, Able Seaman, HMS Highflyer.
Lieutenant-Commander W. McKay, USNR, Captain,ÊOld Colony.
AimŽ Joseph Marie Le MŽdec, Captain,ÊMont Blanc.
Jean Baptiste Glotin, Second Captain, Mont Blanc.
Marcel Aleton, Helmsman, Mont Blanc.
Antoine Le Gat, Chief Engineer, Mont Blanc.
Alphonse Serre, crewman, Mont Blanc.
Pierre Hus, Second Lieutenant, Mont Blanc.
Joseph Eugene Levesque, Second Lieutenant, Mont Blanc.
Yves Queguiner, crewman, Mont Blanc. The only crew member killed in the explosion.
Bakily Counida, Stoker, Algerian crewman, Mont Blanc.
Francis Mackey, Pilot,ÊMont Blanc.
Horatio H. Brannen, Captain of tug,ÊStella Maris. (killed in explosion)
Haakon From, Captain,ÊImo. (killed in explosion)
John Johansen, Helmsman,ÊImo.
Anton Andersen, second engineer, Imo.
Louis Skarre, crewman, Imo.
Sigurd Sorensen, crewman, Imo.
William Hayes, Pilot, Imo. (killed in explosion)
Edward V. Renner, Pilot,ÊS.S. Santa Clara.
Walter Brannen, son of Horatio. Crewman, Stella Maris.
Arthur Lovett, Customs Officer - Pilotage Commission.
Lieutenant-Colonel Ernest J. Chambers - Government's Chief Press censor.
Major-General Willoughby Gwatkin, CGS, Canadian Militia. Censorship and Security.
Frank McKelvey Bell - Lieutenant-Colonel, Militia.
Sir Percy Sherwood, Commissioner of the Dominion Police.
C. C. Ballantyne - Minister of Naval Service, Marine and Fisheries.
George Joseph Desbarats, Deputy Minister for Naval Service.
Alexander Johnston - Deputy Minister of Marine and Fisheries.
John A. Wilson, Civilian Director of Stores for the RCN.
Powers ÊSymington, Commander, USNÊTacoma.
James Hall, Sheriff of Halifax County and Chairman of the Pilotage Commission. Witness at the Inquiry.
Thomas Benson, Major-General, Militia, General Officer Commanding (GOC).
Lieutenant-Colonel B. R. Armstrong, CGA, senior administrative officer to T. Benson.
James W. Harrison, Captain (merchant), Marine Superintendent of Furness Withy & Company (The Furness Line).
John W. Brookfield, manager of the Dry Dock.
Captain Leander Arthur Demers, Dominion Wreck Commissioner, Department of Marine, member of Inquiry.
Humphrey Mellish, KC, Defence Counsel for Mont Blanc at inquiry.
Walter J. O'Hearn, KC, Defence Counsel for Le Medec and Mackey.
Charles J. Burchell, KC, Defence Counsel for Imo at inquiry.
William Alexander Henry, KC, Crown Counsel at inquiry.
Hon. Arthur Drysdale, Judge at the Wreck Commissioner's Inquiry.
Sir Robert Borden, Prime Minister.
Benjamin Russell, Judge, Nova Scotia Supreme Court.
William Dennis, Senator, owner of the Herald newspaper.
Joseph Nolan, Barrister.
Robert A. MacLeod, Magistrate.
Andrew Cluny, Prosecutor.
Thomas R. Robertson, KC.
F. C. Bell, KC.
Thomas R. Robertson, KC.
Daniel MacLaine, Captain of Douglas H. Thomas.
Ralph Smith, marine engineer with Burns and Kelleher.
Henry Dustan, clerk at Canadian Government Railways office.
Patrick Vincent Coleman, railway telegraph operator/dispatcher.
William Arthur Lovett, chief clerk at Richmond railway yards.
Edward Beazley, 15 year old Pilotage Commission office clerk.
W. M. A. Campbell, Captain of inbound Canadian merchant vessel, Acadian.
Dorothy Manners Brookfield.
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