Sells, Charles Bernard
It is with great regret that we have to announce the death of C.B. Sells, of enteric at Deelfontein. Most of those now at the hospital will remember him well. He had finished his compulsory appointments at the hospital, and was reading for his finals, when he decided to volunteer for the war. He was exceedingly keen to go out to the front, and eventually enlisted in the 31st Company Imperial Yeomanry, and was appointed Lance-Corporal. Many will remember the enthusiasm with which he discussed his prospects of being accepted, either as a medical orderly, or as a “Tommy” in the Yeomanry. It appears that latterly he was employed in his medical capacity at Deelfontein, and there he contracted enteric and died on 22nd inst. He was in every way an excellent fellow and his loss is much to be lamented. He was the eldest son of Dr. Sells of Guildford, to whom we tender our most sincere sympathy. Guy’s Hospital Gazette 2 Feb 1901
Biographical
| Surname(s) | Sells |
|---|---|
| First name(s) | Charles Bernard |
| Date of birth | 16 Dec 1874 |
| Place of birth | Guildford, Surrey |
| Family details | Son of Dr. Charles John and Emily Sells of Guildford |
| College | Guy's Hospital |
| Military unit | 31st Company Imperial Yeomanry |
| War / conflict | Second Boer War (1899-1902) |
| Date of death | 22 January 1901 |
| Age at death | 26 |
| Rank at death | Surgical Assistant at the Imperial Yeomanry Hospital, Deelfontein |
| Place of death | Imperial Yeomanry Hospital, Deelfontein |
| Cause of death | Enteric fever |
| Commemoration(s) | Guy’ s Hospital Memorial |
| Notes | ‘……….Given that a man has had a bad time in a field hospital he damns the whole organisation, unfortunately in public. It is only rarely that the man who is satisfied troubles to contradict the wild statements of his less fortunate fellows. It is in this connection that a letter from Mr. C.B. Sells, of this hospital, published in the Standard of last Monday is of value. He speaks simply for himself and expresses his whole-hearted gratitude for the treatment that he received when warded with dysentery and again with typhoid. He finishes with, “do not pass judgement too quickly, you people a home, and do not swallow as gospel all that you hear of the terrible times spent by those who were sick. All acknowledge that there was suffering, but it was inevitable. When the truth is known, you will find the sufferings undergone by patients were due to the exigencies of the campaign, and not to any fault or neglect.” This seems by far the most reasonable view to take.” Guy’s Hospital Gazette 15 Sept. 1900
Member of the Goblin’s Club (Guy’s men of the 1891 and 1892 entries) |
| Sources | Guy’ s Hospital Medical School Records, King’ s College London Archives |