A Civil War Memorial In Ringmer Church

[poliphilo]

I saw this out of the corner of my eye and thought,"monument to a Victorian lady." Then I looked more closely and saw that the girlish phizog actually belongs to Colonel William Springett who died, aged 23, fighting for Parliament at the siege of Arundel in 1643. He wasn't gunned down while storming the breach- but- like the majority of soldiers in most wars before the 20th century- died of a horrid disease- in his case a calenture- whatever that is- which brought him out in purple spots.

Good looking dude.

Comments

[cmcmck.livejournal.com]

I've come across Springett.

Calenture is heat stroke, would you believe, which only shows the value of staying hydrated in weather like wot we're having at present as it can lead to fever, delerium and death as it may have done in this case although given medical diagnoses at that date, it could actually have been any of the usual nasties camp life was heir to. I'd guess at camp fever- amoebic dysentery to take off a fit young man.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

The person who supplied the notes (you can see them in a frame to the right of the monument) guesses at typhoid.

[cmcmck.livejournal.com]

I'd say typhoid would be more likely in a town than a military camp. Dysentery, aka camp fever, was far and away the biggest killer.

[artkouros.livejournal.com]

Good times.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

A brief life but a merry one.

Or maybe not so merry- because Springett (in spite of his hairstyle) seems to have been a very committed Puritan.