Royal Commission on the Halifax Disorders, May 7th-8th, 1945 (Canada) : The Royal Commission to Inquire into the Disorders at Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Vicinity Thereof, During a Celebration of the Declaration of Victory Over Germany on the 7th and 8th May, 1945 was established under Order in Council P.C. 3422 1/2, 10 May 1945, under the Inquiries Act (R.S.C., 1927, c.99) and on the recommendation of the acting prime minister. The part of the act under which this commission was established is not indicated in the order in council. The commission was mandated to inquire into the disorders at Halifax and vicinity, during a celebration of the declaration of victory over Germany on 7 and 8 May 1945 and to report the findings to the governor in council. The Commissioner was Roy Lindsay Kellock.
Unofficially, Victory in Europe ("V-E Day") celebrations in Halifax began about 10:30 a.m., Monday, 7 May 1945, when whistles blew and shortly thereafter news of the declaration of victory over Germany was broadcast over the radio. Immediately, people left work and went into the street, and as far as the civilian population was concerned, the day became a holiday. The Armed Forces, however, remained at their normal working duties. Liquor stores, theatres, shops and all but a few of the smaller restaurants were suddenly closed for the remainder of Monday and all day Tuesday. Throughout the day on Monday, Halifax remained peaceful but on Monday evening, about 9:00 p.m., a group of about 100 naval ratings smashed windows in a streetcar on Barrington Street near the naval barracks. Further outbreaks of violence by servicemen and civilians continued, more or less, until just after midnight when the crowd dispersed. The city remained peaceful for the rest of the night.
On Monday, Mayor Allan M. Butler officially proclaimed Tuesday, 8 May, as "V-E Day" and invited all citizens to participate in Thanksgiving services. But, violence broke out about 1:00 p.m., Tuesday, 8 May, when a crowd of naval ratings once again attacked a streetcar on Barrington Street and rioting caused by servicemen and civilians continued throughout the afternoon. The disorders even spread across the harbour to the Town of Dartmouth where considerable damage occurred.
An emergency meeting was held with the heads of the armed services, the mayor and the police chief. Later the Mayor announced that "V-E Day" would be officially over at 6:00 p.m., Tuesday. It was also decided to declare a curfew at 8:00 p.m. in both Halifax and Dartmouth. After that time rioting in Halifax and vicinity had begun to abate and by 9:00 p.m. rioting ceased. Damage to business premises, financial houses and offices, particularly in the downtown area of Halifax, was extensive. A total of 564 firms suffered damage and 2624 pieces of plate and other glass were broken. Also, 207 firms suffered from looting, including several liquor stores. The total amount of the damage is unknown but the amount paid by the Government of Canada to claimants for the disorders of 7-8 May, and for damage caused by an explosion which occurred at the Naval Magazine in Dartmouth some two months later, totalled more than one million dollars.
The disorders in Halifax coincided with a federal general election. Political controversy arose because the Halifax newspapers were critical of servicemen and civic officials about the disturbances. In other parts of Canada the disorders were front-page news. These reports were fueled by demands of Halifax businessmen for compensation to those whose shops had been looted and property damaged.
J.L. Ilsley, the Acting Prime Minister of Canada, responded quickly to the situation and appointed a royal commission into the disorders on 10 May. In addition, on 12 May, Rear Admiral L.W. Murray (Royal Canadian Navy, Commander-in-Chief, Canadian North West Atlantic) was removed from his command; the next day a Naval Board of Inquiry was appointed to investigate naval participation in the disorders. See J.M. Cameron, Murray the Martyred Admiral, Hantsport: Lancelot Press, 1980, pp. 102-119 and Report on the Halifax Disorders, May 7th - 8th, 1945, Ottawa: King's Printer, 1945.
Hearings of the commission were held in Halifax from 17 May to 18 June 1945. There were 155 exhibits filed with the commission. RG33-57 General Inventory
