As the RCSI Heritage Collections is full of interesting and intriguing stand alone pieces we have decided to start a series dedicated to these. First up is this.....
This is a field surgical kit that was used by surgeons during the Battle of Vitoria, in the Basque region of Spain. This battle took place on 21 June 1813 and it was between an army of British, Portuguese and Spanish soldiers under the command of General Arthur Wellesley, the 1st Duke of Wellington and a French army under the leadership of Joseph-Napoleon Bonaparte, eldest brother of the Napoleon Bonaparte. This battle was one of a series in what became known as the Peninsular War, which eventually lead to the defeat of the French and Napoleon.
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| Field surgical kit RCSI/MI/252 |
This is a field surgical kit that was used by surgeons during the Battle of Vitoria, in the Basque region of Spain. This battle took place on 21 June 1813 and it was between an army of British, Portuguese and Spanish soldiers under the command of General Arthur Wellesley, the 1st Duke of Wellington and a French army under the leadership of Joseph-Napoleon Bonaparte, eldest brother of the Napoleon Bonaparte. This battle was one of a series in what became known as the Peninsular War, which eventually lead to the defeat of the French and Napoleon.
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| 'Victoria of Vittoria' by John Masey Wright 1814 Courtesy of the British Museum |
How can we tell this kit was used on the battlefield, you ask. Well we have a receipt! Accompanying this item is the receipt below.
If only everything in archives and special collections came with a receipt!
- Researched and written by Meadhbh Murphy