Sailors, Slackers and Blind Pigs: Halifax at War

Tom Marshall is academic professor at Maritime Christian College, Prince
Edward Island.

Stephen Kimber’s account of the Halifax riots following the end of
World War II unmasks the attitude of Haligonians toward the sailors and
workers who descended on the city in large numbers. In one example he
cites, the community pulled together to close the Ajax Club (which
served alcohol and offered sailors clean entertainment) while ignoring
the countless bootleggers and brothels spread throughout the port city.

Drawing on eyewitness accounts, the author paints a full picture of
events leading up to the Halifax riots and their tragic aftermath. In
examining Rear Admiral Leonard Murray’s responsibility for the riots,
he considers the human element behind the command decisions.

Sailors, Slackers and Blind Pigs is a well-written, lively book. It
distinguishes itself from other war accounts by detailing the struggles
within a port city instead of the customary campaigns and battles.