Medical and surgical journal of HMS Tiger for 1 July 1853 to 1 June 1854 by H J Domville,...

ADM 101/123/5

1853-1854

Medical and surgical journal of HMS Tiger for 1 July 1853 to 1 June 1854 by H J Domville, Surgeon. Includes details of running aground in fog at Odessa, bombardment by and surrender to Russians during the Crimean War. Also details of life of the crew as prisoners of war Folios 1-6: Henry Wells Giffard, aged 44, Captain; case number 1; disease or hurt, wound. While employed in directing the defence of the ship against the Russian batteries, beneath which the Tiger was stranded was struck down by the explosion of a shell and received the following severe wounds, the left leg was nearly severed at the knee, which joint was laid completely open, there was a deep lacerated wound on the front of the right tibia a fragment of the shell having laid bare the surface of the bone and penetrated deeply into the inner side of the calf, the little finger of the left hand was lacerated and he had received numerous contusions in various parts of the body from fragments of the missile. Put on sick list, 12 May 1854. Died 1 June 1854.

Folios 6-7: John Giffard, aged 19, Midshipman; case number 2; disease or hurt, wounded at the same time as the Captain. The left leg was shot away at the knee and the right leg torn across about midway between the knee and ankle, a large portion of both bones being carried away by the projectile, tourniquets were at once applied and as soon as possible he was put under the influence of chloroform and amputation of the left thigh proceeded with, the right leg was then removed about three inches below the head of the tibia a good flap being saved from the calf. Put on sick list, 12 May 1854. Died 12 May 1854.

Folios 7-8: John Trainer, aged 39, Captain of the Maintop; case number 3; disease or hurt, wounded, this man was captain of a forecastle gun, the only one that could be brought to respond to the heavy fire of the Russian field batteries and while thus occupied had the left thigh extensively lacerated and the knee joint laid open by the explosion of a shell. Put on sick list, 12 May 1854. Died 12 May 1854.

Folios 8-9: Thomas Hood, aged 17, Boy 2nd Class; case number 4; disease or hurt, this poor lad was serving as powder boy on the forecastle and was wounded in various parts of the body by small fragments of an exploded shell, one of these laid open the right elbow joint, another caused a severe compound fracture of the left leg with extensive laceration of the soft parts, a third portion penetrated the right side of the abdomen and there were about five other wounds of different degrees of severity. Put on sick list, 12 May 1854. Died 13 May 1854. Includes details of a post mortem.

Folios 9-10: William Turner, aged 20, Boy 1st Class; case number 5; disease or hurt, received numerous small wounds in various parts of the body by the explosion of a shell close to him, there was an extensive laceration on the upper part of the front of the right thigh nearly exposing the femoral artery, there was a wound of a similar description on the inside of the same thigh, two small pieces of shell had penetrated the front of the left thigh to the bone, the right testicle was bruised and the scrotum lacerated, the integument of the left hand was torn and burnt, the little finger fractured and one piece of the shell had passed through the palm. Put on sick list, 12 May 1854. By June 1854 cured.

Folios 10-19: Surgeon's general remarks about the loss of all his memoranda 'both public and private' owing to the loss of HMS Tiger which ran aground off Odessa on 12 May 1854 and was subsequently destroyed by Russian fire. He comments on a fever epidemic which the crew suffered off Besika Bay in November 1853. Also mentions that on 9 November 1853 while proceeding up the Dardanelles with HMS Trafalgar in tow of Tiger and Retribution, the hawser connecting the two steamers broke just inside the hawse hole of Tiger and the inner end flying back struck John Williams, ropemaker, across the left knee laying bare the joint and inflicting a severe compound fracture of the tibia and fibula. There follows a description of William's treatment, (folio 12). The Surgeon then describes Sinope where Tiger and her accompanying squadron anchored in January 1854. In April 1854, HMS Tiger was anchored at Baltchick where the declaration of war was announced. Details of HMS Tiger's preparations for war are given (folios 13-14). An account of HMS Tiger's running aground on 12 May 1854 and details of the ensuing action and surrender of HMS Tiger by Captain Giffard by the Surgeon is also included, (folios 14-17). A description of the Quarantine establishment at Odessa is given (folio 17) and the Surgeon's comments about the immediate vicinity of Odessa, its hospital, prevalent diseases, and salt lakes called 'Lirnans', (folio 19).

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