SELLS Charles Bernard

Charles Sells was born on the 12th August 1846 at Guildford, Surrey, son of Dr. Thomas Jenner Sells MRCS (1811-1879) and Charlotte Sells (nee Stedman) MRCS 1829-? Siblings: Rev William Sells, 1843; Euphemia Sells, 1844; Edith Charlotte Sells, 1849-1849; Edward Jenner Sells 1852; Francis Duncomb Sells, 1854; Herber Thomas Sells, 1859.

Husband of Emily Sells (nee Schofield). Children: Violet Emily Sells, 1874; Charles B Sells, 1874; Lionel Sells, 1877; Harold Sells, 1877; John Sells, 1879; Bertram Sells, 1880; Sybil Sells, 1881.

“Died of Disease.” Probably Typhoid Fever which was very prevalent at this time in the war. Military medical care had gotten worse in recent years after the clean-up from the medical debacle of the Crimean War.

John McCrae a graduate Canadian doctor who was fighting as an officer in the Boer War made the following comments. (The British Army) “For absolute neglect and rotten Administration, it is a model. I am ashamed of some members of my profession…Everyday there are from 15-30 Tommies dying from fever and dysentery. Everyone that dies is sewn up in a blanket, and 4 shillings are taken out of the pay for the blanket. The soldier’s game is not what it is cracked up to be.”

Sources: AngloBoerWar.com, My Heritage, Boer War Casualties Catalog, My Heritage, Horsley Web site