Domestic Stories

DEADMAN’S ISLAND COMMEMORATIVE CEREMONY

LCdr Denise LaViolette, MARLANT PA

HALIFAX - Deadman’s island is rumoured by many to be haunted by the ghosts of those who died there as prisoners of war.

Melville Island and Deadman’s Island in the Halifax’s North West Arm together form the single North American site built specifically to house prisoners of war during the war with Napoleonic France and the War of 1812.  Nearly 10,000 French and American prisoners, at one time or another, were interred on Melville Island from 1803 to 1815.  Of these, 8,148 were captured crews from American warships, American soldiers taken by British forces in battles in the Canadas, and privateersmen, who were officially treated as prisoners of war. 

Records indicate that over 400 died in captivity and are buried in a mass grave on Deadman’s Island.  Of these were 188 American prisoners whose names have been dutifully recorded. 

On May 30, the American Memorial Day, a monument was erected and dedicated honouring the fallen prisoners of war of Deadman’s Island. The commemoration and blessing were performed by U.S. representative Padre Lieutenant-Commander David Schilling and Canadian Padre Lieutenant (Navy) Jack Barret

The monument comes after years of lobbying Washington for permanent commemoration of the prisoners of war who died almost 200 years ago.

Back to Listing