Russo-Turkish War 1877-1878
Production date
1877-1878
Description
Papers and printed material relating to the National Society's involvement during the Russo-Turkish war. This includes financial accounts, correspondence relating to the activities of agents for the National Society and newspaper cuttings on the progression of the War.
Collection Type
Archives
Level of Current Record
sub-fonds
History
In April 1877, two months after the Turco-Serbian war, another war broke out between Russia and Turkey. This was the last in a series of wars between Russia and the Ottoman Empire fought in the Balkans, the Crimea, and the Caucasus for political domination of those territories. In 1876 the Turks crushed an uprising in Bulgaria, causing a European outcry against the “Bulgarian atrocities” and subsequently Russian forces invaded in 1877, allegedly to protect Bulgarian Christians.
The National Society approached the Governments of both sides but the Russian Government did not want any medical aid as they already had a well-developed Red Cross Society and they felt they would be able to cope. They would accept financial help but as this was against the National Society’s policy, they looked for other ways of helping.
The National Society decided the best course of action would be to charter a small steamer, the ‘Belle of Dunkerque’ to carry stores, equipment and a staff of surgeons to the Black Sea which would be distributed to the hospitals of both sides, especially as the Turkish medical system was non-existent. Mr J.S Young was appointed chief commissioner for the ‘Belle of Dunkerque’ and had the authority to help both armies should he deem it necessary, and set up depots at Constantinople and Varna.
The Council appointed Mr John Furley as chief commissioner in Montenegro and appointed Mr A Kirkman Loyd as chief commissioner for service with the Russian army to oversee the needs of both sides, and to distribute the necessary supplies and stores.
On 7 October Mr A Kirkman Loyd handed over affairs to Major George W. McNalty but in December 1877 McNalty was recalled to England leaving Surgeon Major Fraser to take over.
The ‘Belle of Dunkerque’ reached Constantinople on 15 July 1877 and the Society set up field ambulances as the war was being fought on three fronts. The first field ambulance was established under Dr. Armand Leslie was despatched to Sipka, the second field ambulance was established under Dr. H. Crookshank and went to Varna and the third field ambulance was established under Drs. Hope and Rolph Lesslie at Batoum.
The first field ambulance, which consisted of Dr. Leslie and Mr. Meyrick, a surgeon came under heavy attack as a result of a skirmish at Yeni-Saghra and soon became overwhelmed by the numbers of wounded. Between 30 July and August 8 1877 they dealt with 200 casualties a day, working night and day with the numbers of refugees increasing until they were later joined by reinforcements. On August 23 Mr. Meyrick died due to an illness bought on by over-exertion and was buried in the British Cemetery at Scutari. Dr. Leslie was also later captured at Kamarli on 1 January and suffered ill treatment by the Russians, which he later reported to the Foreign Office and the Council of the National Society.
The Treaty of San Stefano (March 1878) which ended the war, provoked criticism from Britain and Germany and was modified by the Congress of Berlin (June 1878), as it was alleged to have given too much influence to Russia in the Balkans, as it assigned Russia the eastern part of Armenia and created a large state of Bulgaria.
The National Society approached the Governments of both sides but the Russian Government did not want any medical aid as they already had a well-developed Red Cross Society and they felt they would be able to cope. They would accept financial help but as this was against the National Society’s policy, they looked for other ways of helping.
The National Society decided the best course of action would be to charter a small steamer, the ‘Belle of Dunkerque’ to carry stores, equipment and a staff of surgeons to the Black Sea which would be distributed to the hospitals of both sides, especially as the Turkish medical system was non-existent. Mr J.S Young was appointed chief commissioner for the ‘Belle of Dunkerque’ and had the authority to help both armies should he deem it necessary, and set up depots at Constantinople and Varna.
The Council appointed Mr John Furley as chief commissioner in Montenegro and appointed Mr A Kirkman Loyd as chief commissioner for service with the Russian army to oversee the needs of both sides, and to distribute the necessary supplies and stores.
On 7 October Mr A Kirkman Loyd handed over affairs to Major George W. McNalty but in December 1877 McNalty was recalled to England leaving Surgeon Major Fraser to take over.
The ‘Belle of Dunkerque’ reached Constantinople on 15 July 1877 and the Society set up field ambulances as the war was being fought on three fronts. The first field ambulance was established under Dr. Armand Leslie was despatched to Sipka, the second field ambulance was established under Dr. H. Crookshank and went to Varna and the third field ambulance was established under Drs. Hope and Rolph Lesslie at Batoum.
The first field ambulance, which consisted of Dr. Leslie and Mr. Meyrick, a surgeon came under heavy attack as a result of a skirmish at Yeni-Saghra and soon became overwhelmed by the numbers of wounded. Between 30 July and August 8 1877 they dealt with 200 casualties a day, working night and day with the numbers of refugees increasing until they were later joined by reinforcements. On August 23 Mr. Meyrick died due to an illness bought on by over-exertion and was buried in the British Cemetery at Scutari. Dr. Leslie was also later captured at Kamarli on 1 January and suffered ill treatment by the Russians, which he later reported to the Foreign Office and the Council of the National Society.
The Treaty of San Stefano (March 1878) which ended the war, provoked criticism from Britain and Germany and was modified by the Congress of Berlin (June 1878), as it was alleged to have given too much influence to Russia in the Balkans, as it assigned Russia the eastern part of Armenia and created a large state of Bulgaria.
Catalogue Number
WAN/3