After the Boer War, the wounded
were shipped back to Bristol.
There were three levels on which
the soldiers were quartered
according to injury: literal triage.
The lower bunks, available to
immediate medical aid, contained
men with minor wounds. The
second, higher set of bunks,
held men more seriously hurt.
At times the doctors treated them.
The highest level of bunks was
filled with hopeless cases, men
fated to be buried at sea.
Septimus lay on this third level
suffering from a broken back.
One hundred miles from port
a severe storm rocked the ship.
Soldiers were pitched from their beds.
Septimus also fell to the deck
snapping his spine back into line.