My thanks go to Garry Cranford, whose initial research served as the foundation for this book. In addition, Garry’s fine compilation book, Tidal Wave: A List of Victims and Survivors, Newfoundland, 1929 provided a great deal of the information concerning material losses and loss of life that is contained in this book. In turn, researcher Vera McDonald did much of the work that made Garry’s original book possible.
As always, the staff of the Centre for Newfoundland Studies and Archives at Memorial University’s QEII Library made my own research much easier with their helpfulness and expertise. The City of Bolton, England kindly forwarded material. The City of St. John's awarded me a grant to partially fund this project, which I greatly appreciate. Thanks to Janice Cheeseman, Margie and Gladys Bonnell, and Harold and Grace Hollett for their assistance and generosity with photographs for Tsunami. Thanks also to Randy Harnett of Clarenville for the clarifications.
Any errors that occur are regrettable and are mine.
I would also like to thank the entire staff of Flanker Press: Margo, Jerry, Brian, Laura, and Bob, who are dedicated, knowledgeable, and great to work with.
Readers who bought The Doryman (Flanker, 2003) provided a big incentive to produce this book, especially those older readers on the Burin Peninsula, who remembered the August Gale of 1935 and those younger readers who want more of their own history. The preservation of the memories of those who died in the 1929 tidal wave, in this, the seventy-fifth anniversary year of the disaster, were another reason to write this book.
I am grateful to my husband, Paul Butler, for enthusiasm, support, and sharp editing. Finally, much thanks to Vanessa.