Staff Surgeon H. F. Norbury and Surgeon W. D. Longfield

Record Summary.

Medical and surgical Journal of Her Majesty's flag ship Active for 1 January to 25 October 1879 by Mr Henry Frederick Norbury, Staff Surgeon, during which time the said ship was employed on the Cape of Good Hope and West Coast of Africa Station and in the Zulu War.

Folios 11-12: W Neale, aged 29, Marine; disease or hurt, remittent fever. Put on sick list, 9 February 1879, at Fort Ekowe [Fort Eshowe]. Discharged, 16 March 1879.

Folio 12: H Cooper, aged 23, Engine Room Artificer; disease or hurt, sloughing chancre and gonorrhoea epididymitis. Put on sick list, 7 September 1879. Sent to the Royal Naval Hospital Haslar, 6 October 1879, for the gonorrhoea.

Folio 13: Table I, showing the places visited by the ship.

Folio 13: Table II, A list of men who have received wounds or hurts which may disqualify them for the Public Service or interfere with their earning a livelihood. James Porteous, aged 28, Captain of the Fore Top, certificate dated 30 July 1879, amputated middle finger right hand. George Doran, aged 18, Ordinary Seaman, certificate granted 30 July 1879, bullet wound left thigh at the battle of Inyezane. Henry Gosling, aged 22, Able Seaman, certificate granted 30 July 1879, wound of right hand from rifle bullet or musket at the battle of Inyezane. George Bearryman [Berryman], aged 20, Ordinary Seaman, certificate granted 30 July 1879, wound from rifle or musket ball through the right thigh at the battle of Inyezane. Henry Gosling, aged 22, Able Seaman, certificate granted 10 September 1879, oblique inguinal hernia. Mr J Cotter, aged 49, Boatswain, certificate granted 28 March 1878, injury of right knee joint. With a note confirming that J Cotter should have appeared in the previous journal and that the same Henry Gosling does appear twice in the list and was invalided 11 October 1879.

Folio 14: Table III, not completed.

Folio 15: Table IV, all cases between 1 January 1879 and 25 October 1879. Average numerical strength of the Ship's Company 323 [with 325 written alongside more faintly].

Folio 16: Table V, Showing the number of diseases by age group, not completed.

Folio 16: Table VI, Showing the number of cases of disease by age group for 1 January 1879 and 25 October 1879.

Folios 17-30: Surgeon's general remarks. Remarks with reference to the campaign of the Naval Brigade against the Zulus from 19 November 1878 to 21 July 1879.

Folios 17-18, Describes the makeup of the Naval Brigade, totalling 858 men and officers but the 10 officers and 163 men of HMS Active being the only ones who served the entire war. On 11 January 1879, Surgeon Norbury was appointed Principal Medical Officer of the 1st or General Pearson's Column, consisting of the Naval Brigade, Royal Artillery, Royal Engineers, Cavalry, 3rd Regiment or 'the Buffs', 99th Regiment,2nd Regiment Natal Native Contingent, in total 4397 officers and men. Describes the Zulu country, its climate, geology, flora and fauna, including quaggas, and common diseases.

Folios 18-20, describe the attack by between 5000 and 8000 Zulus at the battle of Inyezane, at which losses were 8 killed and 16 wounded; their arrival at the Norwegian Mission at Ekowe, its fortification and the receipt of the news from Isandlwana and an order saying if they could not hold the position they should retreat immediately; the force left to defend Ekowe is enumerated and the dimensions of the mission buildings and facilities for the sick and wounded are described. The scale of rations for the men while they were fortifying the position is described. The full dimensions of the fortified position are given and on folio 20 there is a 'Plan of Fort Ekowe'. The sanitary arrangements introduced by the surgeon are described.

Folios 20-21, discuss the principle diseases at Fort Ekowe; Continued fever, remittent fever, enteric fever, dysentery and diarrhoea. After the first fortnight the hospital was always full, the average number of men applying per day was 87. The soil at Ekowe is described and said to be unhealthy. The sun contributed to fever and also the large fluctuations in temperature.

Folios 21-26, contain remarks on diseases applicable to the campaign in general and refer to Fort Chelmsford and Lower Tugela as well as Fort Ekowe, covering continued fever, remittent fever, enteric and typho-malarial fever, dysentery, taenia mediocanellata, diarrhoea and jaundice. On folio 23 Surgeon Norbury quotes from his own notebook describing a journey into Zulu country where the roadsides were littered with decomposing bullocks, the permanent laagers in which they camped were filled with excrement and decomposing cattle and the water at Fort Chelmsford was drawn from the Inyezane river which originated in a marsh and in which the decomposing bodies of cattle and Zulus had been found. Folio 24 mentions the lack of 'cholera belts' contributing to the number of abdominal disorders.

Folios 26-27, discuss wounds received in action by men of the Naval Brigade. With on folio 26 a 'Table of killed and wounded of Naval Brigade', listing one man, W Aynsley, killed at Isandlwana, and 15 officers and men of HMS Active, Boadicea, Shah or Tenedos, wounded at Ulundi, Inyezane or Mginginlhovo [Gingindlovu]. Folio 27 discusses the fire arms used by the Zulus and the wounds produced.

Folios 27-28, discusses ulcers, also known as 'Natal sore' or 'Veldt sore', ascarides and 'Deaths from disease', of which there were 17 in the Naval Brigade.

Folios 28-30, discuss 'Hospital arrangements of Campaign' and 'Practical remarks as to campaigning in South Africa'. Folio 30 summarises the health of the Naval Brigade and says it contrasts favourably with that of the army, the men of the Naval Brigade being generally older, of superior physique and acclimatized to tropical service.

Folios 2-3: J Porteous, aged 28, Captain of the Fore Top; disease or hurt, wound of phalange and amputation of finger, subsequent bullet wound of shoulder. Put on sick list, 15 December 1878, at the Lower Tugela. Discharged, 10 June 1879. While working as cook for his tent, a cooking knife slipped and wounded the joint of his finger. The finger was amputated on 21 January 1878 and he was discharged to duty. He was subsequently wounded at the battle of 'Mginginlhovo' [Gingindlovu] on 2 April 1878.

Folio 3: W Seddon, aged 41, Royal Marine Artillery; disease or hurt, pneumonia. Put on sick list, 28 December 1878, in the Naval Brigade Field Hospital at the Lower Tugela. Died, 2 January 1879. 'He was a prematurely an old man and had been drinking hard for several days'.

Folio 3: D Martin, aged 22, Able Seaman; disease or hurt, death by drowning, 9 January 1879. While working on a pont on the right bank of the river Tugela a railing gave way and he and some other officers and men were plunged into the river. He was seen to swim for a while in the strong current but suddenly disappeared and may have been taken by a crocodile.

Folio 3: W Aynsley, aged 22, Signalman; disease or hurt, assegai wound. Died, 22 January 1879, Isandlwana. He had been seen to fight for some time with his cutlass, his back to a wagon, before being wounded in the legs and overcome.

Folio 4: G Doran, aged 18, Ordinary Seaman; disease or hurt, penetrating bullet wound of thigh. Put on sick list, 22 January 1879, at the battle of Inyezane. Discharged, [26 April 1879]. The bullet remained in his body, the surgeon was unable to extract it.
Folio 4:G Benjamin, aged 20, Ordinary Seaman; disease or hurt, perforating bullet wound of the thigh. Put on sick list, 22 January 1879, at the battle of Inyezane. Discharged, [24 March 1879].

Folio 4: H Gosling, aged 22, Able Seaman; disease or hurt, bullet wound of hand. Put on sick list, 22 January 1879, at the battle of Inyezane. Discharged after 33 days.

Folio 4: J Bullen, aged 19, Signalman; disease or hurt, bullet wound of leg. Put on sick list, 22 January 1879, at the battle of Inyezane. Discharged after a week. The wound was form a nearly spent bullet which carried part of his canvas gaiter into the wound without having the strength to penetrate it. Folio 4: E White, aged 29, Captain of the Forecastle; disease or hurt, bullet wound of thigh. Put on sick list, 22 January 1879, at the battle of Inyezane. Discharged after about a week.

Folios 4-5: J Ropeyan, aged 30, Krooman; disease or hurt, bullet wound of thorax. Put on sick list, 22 January 1879, at the battle of Inyezane. Discharged after a few days. He belonged to the rocket party which attacked a kraal forming the centre of the position at Inyezane and was struck in the chest by a bullet which hit one of his ribs without fracturing it and afterwards dropped out of the wound.

Folio 5: J Lewis, aged 38, Krooman; disease or hurt, bullet wound of upper arm. Put on sick list, 22 January 1879, at the battle of Inyezane. The wound rapidly healed. He belonged to the same rocket party as J Ropeyan.

Folio 5: J Moore, aged 38, Shoemaker; disease or hurt, dysentery. Put on sick list, 31 January 1879, at Fort Ekowe [Fort Eshowe]. Died, 10 February 1879. He had got wet digging the ditch round the fort and afterwards had to sleep at his post in the rain.

Folios 5-6: A Pearce, aged 38, Coxswain of the Cutter; disease or hurt, dysentery. Put on sick list, 9 February 1879, at Fort Ekowe [Fort Eshowe]. Died, 22 April 1879. He had to wait some time for a space in the hospital to become available and had become very emaciated. At times he lay in a hammock slung under a wagon.

Folio 6: J Radford, aged 25, Leading Seaman; disease or hurt, remittent fever. Put on sick list, 22 February 1879, at Fort Ekowe [Fort Eshowe]. Died, 8 March 1879.

Folios 6-7: Mr Lewis C Coker, aged 19, Midshipman; disease or hurt, dysentery and death from internal haemorrhage. Put on sick list, 2 March 1879, at Fort Ekowe [Fort Eshowe]. Died, 16 March 1879. He had been under observation for some three weeks previously after getting very wet sleeping at his post before the fortifications were
completed.

Folio 7: W Stagg, aged 24, Marine; disease or hurt, double pneumonia. Put on sick list, 8 March 1879, at Fort Ekowe [Fort Eshowe]. Died, 16 March 1879. His complaint is attributed to a period of cold, raw, wet, foggy weather immediately following a few hot days.

Folios 7-8: A Smith, aged 22, Able Seaman; disease or hurt, continued fever. Put on sick list, 21 March 1879, at Fort Ekowe [Fort Eshowe]. Died, 2 April 1879.

Folios 8-9: G Walsh, aged 19, Ordinary Seaman; disease or hurt, enteric fever. Put on sick list, 11 April 1879, at the Lower Tugela. Died, 19 April 1879.

Folio 9: A Essay, aged 30, Armourer; disease or hurt, dysentery, aortic valvular disease, embolism of a cerebral vessel, hemiplegia. Put on sick list, 21 January 1879, during the advance on the Inyezane, and again on 20 July 1879 on the march from Tugela to Durban.

Folio 9: C Hillier, aged 30, Leading Seaman; disease or hurt, jaundice, congestion of the liver. Put on sick list, 24 May 1879, at the Lower Tugela. No date of discharge recorded. The case is included as an example of a very common complaint during the Zulu War. It was generally due to the heat of the day followed by the intense cold by night and was especially prevalent at the Lower Tugela where malt liquor could be obtained.

Folios 9-10: T Hill, aged 18, Signalman; disease or hurt, remittent fever. Put on sick list, 18 May 1879, at the Lower Tugela. Sent to the Base Hospital at Durban, 13 June 1879, rejoined his ship, 30 July 1879, still very debilitated.

Folios 10-11: C Fleming, aged 31, Marine; disease or hurt, insanity following intemperance. Put on sick list, 5 August 1879, at sea between Simon's Bay and Ascension Island. Sent to hospital at Ascension Island, 24 August 1879. He had been in the service for five years and was previously a navvy, he had served on shore for eight months with the Naval Brigade in the Zulu War. On 31 July he had four days leave on shore and drank heavily, returning with cuts and bruises about his face from having fallen. The ship left Simon's Bay on 5 August and in the night he was put on the sick list with symptoms of delirium tremens. In a few days this was succeeded by 'mental derangement'. He complained of hearing voices and became convinced he was going to be put to death, thinking that men doing drill on deck were preparing to execute him and when a collision mat or Harvey's torpedo was lowered, that he was to be tied up in it and drowned. Fearing he might attempt suicide, the surgeon sent him to the hospital at Ascension Island.

Folio 11: G Smithers, aged 33, Captain of the Main Top; disease or hurt, sciatica. Put on sick list, 22 May 1879, at the Lower Tugela. Discharged, 6 June 1879.

Folio 11: Mr G Dowding, aged 31, Lieutenant Royal Marines; disease or hurt, acute tonsillitis, fungus. Put on sick list, 17 May 1879, at the Lower Tugela. Discharged, 21
May 1879. Yellowish white pustules were seen which when examined under the microscope were found to contain spores and broken filaments of a fungus.

Folios 31-36: Alphabetical sick list.

Covering dates 1879
Held by The National Archives, Kew

Legal status Public Record(s)

Record Summary.

Medical and surgical journal of Her Majesty’s Naval Brigade of HMS Tenedos for 1 January to 2 April 1879 by William Digby Longfield during which time the said Brigade was employed on service in the Zulu war.

Folio 33: Copy of the alphabetical sick list (names and details follow).

Folio 33: George Blake, aged 26, Able Seaman; disease or hurt, Diarrhoea. Put on sick list, 16 February 1879. Discharged 19 February 1879 to duty.

Folio 33: Charles Brookes, aged 23, Private Marines; disease or hurt, Diarrhoea. Put on sick list, 2 January 1879. Discharged 12 January 1879 to duty.

Folio 33: Charles Brookes, aged 23, Private Marines; disease or hurt, Bubo symptoms. Put on sick list, 19 February 1879. Discharged 3 March 1879 to duty.

Folio 33: Harold Bush, aged 22, Able Seaman; disease or hurt, Fever Enteric. Put on sick list, 27 February 1879. Discharged 29 March 1879 to hospital.

Folio 33: John Chard, aged 35, Private Marine; disease or hurt, Fever S Cornts. Put on sick list, 14 March 1879. Discharged 29 March 1879 to hospital.

Folio 33: John David, aged 34, Private Marine; disease or hurt, Diarrhoea. Put on sick list, 26 January 1879. Discharged 29 January 1879 to duty.

Folio 33: John David, aged 34, Private Marine; disease or hurt, Diarrhoea. Put on sick list, 17 February 1879. Discharged 25 February 1879 to duty.

Folio 33: Andrew Evans, aged 20, Able Seaman; disease or hurt, Fever Enteric. Put on sick list, 3 March 1879. Discharged 29 March 1879 to hospital.

Folio 33: Edward Fitzgerald, aged 23, Ordinary Seaman; disease or hurt, Diarrhoea. Put on sick list, 1 February 1879. Discharged 14 February 1879 to duty.

Folio 33: John Fitzgerald, aged 24, Leading Seaman; disease or hurt, Diarrhoea. Put on sick list, 1 February 1879. Discharged 7 February 1879 to duty.

Folio 33: John Fitzgerald, aged 24, Leading Seaman; disease or hurt, Fever S Cont. Put on sick list, 8 March 1879. Discharged 29 March 1879 to hospital.

Folio 33: Samuel Grunh, aged 18, Ordinary Seaman; disease or hurt, Sunstroke. Put on sick list, 10 February 1879. Discharged 13 February 1879 to duty.

Folio 33: Samuel Grunh, aged 18, Ordinary Seaman; disease or hurt, Dysentery. Put on sick list, 24 March 1879. Discharged 29 March 1879 to hospital.

Folio 33: Richard Hodge, aged 21, Stoker; disease or hurt, Dyspepsia. Put on sick list, 18 February 1879. Discharged 22 February 1879 to duty.

Folio 33: James Howse, aged 38, Second Master; disease or hurt, Contusions. Put on sick list, 24 March 1879. Discharged 26 March 1879 to duty.

Folio 33: John Jones, aged 29, Stoker; disease or hurt, Rheumatism Acute. Put on sick list, 7 January 1879. Discharged 31 January 1879 to duty.

Folio 33: John Jones, aged 29, Stoker; disease or hurt, Debility. Put on sick list, 4 March1879. Discharged 14 March1879 to hospital.

Folio 33: John Jones, aged 21, Able Seaman; disease or hurt, Orchitis. Put on sick list, 9 February1879. Discharged 1 March1879 to duty.

Folio 33: Daniel Keefe, aged 28, Boatswain’s Mate; disease or hurt, Diarrhoea. Put on sick list, 14 January 1879. Discharged 16 January 1879 to duty.

Folio 33: Roger Lloyd, aged 19, Ordinary Seaman; disease or hurt, Haemorrhoids. Put on sick list, 1 March 1879. Discharged 20 March 1879 to duty.

Folio 33: William Lurner, aged 20, Private Marines; disease or hurt, Sunstroke. Put on sick list, 26 January 1879. Died 30 January 1879.

Folio 33: John McNamara, aged 24, Captain of the Foretop; disease or hurt, Diarrhoea. Put on sick list, 12 January 1879. Discharged 14 January 1879 to duty.

Folio 33: William McConaghie, aged 19,Ordinary Seaman; disease or hurt, Sunstroke. Put on sick list, 21 February 1879. Discharged 26 February 1879 to duty.

Folio 33: William B. Mann, aged 23, Captain of the Foretop; disease or hurt, Haemorrhoids. Put on sick list, 7 February 1879. Discharged 15 February 1879 to duty.

Folio 33: Frederick May, aged 30, Able Seaman; disease or hurt, Diarrhoea. Put on sick list, 3 March 1879. Discharged 6 March 1879 to duty.

Folio 33: Frederick May, aged 30, Able Seaman; disease or hurt, Debility. Put on sick list, 17 March 1879. Discharged 29 March 1879 to hospital.

Folio 33: John Mitchell, aged 23, Signaller; disease or hurt, Fever Enteric. Put on sick list, 12 March 1879. Discharged 29 March 1879 to hospital.

Folio 33: Peter Mooney, aged 23, Private Marines; disease or hurt, Fever S Contd. Put on sick list, 24 February 1879. Discharged 13 March 1879 to duty.

Folio 33: Charles Philips, aged 25, Able Seaman; disease or hurt, Ulcers Legs. Put on sick list, 11 January 1879. Discharged 16 January 1879 to duty.

Folio 33: James Porteus, aged 28, Captain of the Foretop; disease or hurt, Wound Finger Amputated. Put on sick list, 11 January 1879. Discharged 19 February 1879 to duty.

Folio 33: Daniel Reynolds, aged 35, Boatswain’’s Mate; disease or hurt, Erysipelas. Put on sick list, 14 January 1879. Discharged 23 January 1879 to duty.

Folio 33: William Readlands, aged 24, Leading Stoker; disease or hurt, Fever Enteric. Put on sick list, 17 March 1879. Discharged 29 March1879 to hospital.

Folio 33: A Sandercock, aged 28, Corporal Marines; disease or hurt, Rheumatism. Put on sick list, 29 January 1879. Discharged 7 February 1879 to duty.

Folio 33: Mr James Startin, aged 23, Sub Lieutenant; disease or hurt, Wound Knee. Put on sick list, 27 February 1879. Discharged 13 March 1879 to duty.

Folio 33: Samuel Trish, aged 23, Able Seaman; disease or hurt, Ulcer Hip. Put on sick list, 6 February 1879. Discharged 12 March 1879 to duty.

Folio 33: George Viney, aged 24, Corporal Marines; disease or hurt, Sprain Ankle. Put on sick list, 11 January 1879. Discharged 25 January 1879 to duty.

Folio 33: James White, aged 20, Private Marines; disease or hurt, Diarrhoea. Put on sick list, 9 February 1879. Discharged 13 February 1879 to duty.

Folio 33: James White, aged 20, Private Marines; disease or hurt, Febricula. Put on sick list, 2 March 1879. Discharged 10 March 1879 to duty.

Folio 33: James White, aged 20, Private Marines; disease or hurt, Debility. Put on sick list, 15 March 1879. Discharged 18 March 1879 to duty.

Folios 34-38: Blank.
Covering dates 1879
Held by The National Archives, Kew

Legal status Public Record(s)

SIR HENRY F. NORBURY, K.C.B., Formerly Medical Director-General R.N.

"SIR HENRY FREDERICK NORBURY, K.C.B.,R.N.(ret.), died at Eltham on December 10th. He was born on September 12th, 1839, and educated at Oundle School and at St. Bartholomew's Hospital. After taking the M.R.C.S. in 1860, he enitered the niavy as surgeon in the same year. In 1868 he took the L.S.A., and in 1870 graduated M.D.Malta. He became staff surgeon in 1872, fleet surgeon in 1879, D.I.G. in 1887, I.G in 1894, and in 1898 succeeded Sir James Dick as Director-General of the Medical Department of the Navy; he retired in September, 1904. He served in the Kafir war of 1878, in medical charge of the Naval Brigade, was present in the actions at Quorra River and Quintana, was mentioned in dispatches and recommnlended for promotion. In the Zulu war of 1879 he was again in medical charge of the Naval Brigade, as principal medical officer, was present at the battle of Inyezane, was mentioned several times in dispatches, was promoted to fleet surgeon, and received the C.B. In August, 1879, he was appointed to the charge of the Naval Hospital at the Cape of Good Hope. After three years in that post hie was appointed to the charge of the Naval Hospital at Stonehouse. From 1890 to 1895 he was Assistant Director-General, and from 1895 to 1898 principal medical officer at Plymouth, ending his career with six years as Director-General of the Medical Department of tro Navy. In 1879 he won the Gilbert Blane gold medal; in 1882 he receive ( the honorary degree of M.D. from the University of the Cape of Good Hope; in 1895 he was made a Knight of Grace of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem; in 1897 he was promoted to K.C.B. at the Diamond Jubilee; in 1900 and on aneurysm of the thoracic aorta and mediastinal
tumours in Reynolds's System of Medicine (vol. v). In person Powell was slight, with clean-shaven, almost ascetic face; his mannier was gentle and deliberate, as was his speech, and his examiiination of a patient careful and thorough. He had, indeed, a personal charm which appealed to doctor and patient alike. His written opinions, too, were most thorough, and details of treatment were carefully
discussed. He married, in 1872, Juliet, daughter of Sir Jolm Bennett. She died in 1909, and in 1917 he married Edith Mary Burke, daughter of the late Mr. Henry Wood. He is succeeded by his son Douglas, brevet lieutenant-colonel, late Royal Welch Fusiliers.