Kiss me Hardy? or was it Kismet. Anyway old Nelson made sure his men were well looked after when they were injured in Battle. He had an Hospital built in Portsmouth, spookily called the Nelson Hospital.
Unfortunately due to infection and cannon ball injury, followed by dodgy amputation, not many made it through.
In the grounds of the Hospital, are buried over 8000 sailors? None of the graves have headstones or markers and all were buried in shrouds and not their own clothes (you know my feelings on that) It would seem though that some of the amputations (without anaesthetic) did work, as when the bodies were exhumed, new bone had started to form. The reason I am writing this is, that we moan about having it rough (ok, I moan) but think of them poor guys and some as young as 12!!! If they were injured, it was not an ambulance job back to base? But a long slow voyage, in agony and a touch of scurvy thrown in for good luck. I am so glad I joined the Army!!!
A couple of weeks ago we had a Bagpiper play at a Funeral. I wondered why they always walk when playing?Then I realised. It was to get away from the noise!
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