I heard this as done by Chuck Hall.
The main character is the child of
a doctor who goes with their -- no i
think it is grand child....who accompanies
their grandpa to Halifax to go care for the wounded,
and orphans of this collision of 2 ships.
It seems as if the Dr. is from Boston,
as in the end, there is an annual Christmas
tree given to Boston by Halifax in memory
of the help that came from there...

any references to the historic event,
or the song?