Port Pirie (Voy.6: 1949)

[Hugh Ferguson]

During this voyage Andy McClounan was the Chief officer and the following entry was made in his personal log:-

"Napier-Balboa, 21st June 1949 at 5.28 PM vessel turned off course in response to urgent W.T. call from Pitcairn Is. requiring doctor. Arrived off Island 22nd June at 9.24 AM. Landed at Bounty Bay with Dr Goding and cadet Burdett at 10AM (1st operation ever performed in Island history) an operation for appendicitis-male aged 20, named Young. Inhabitants very grateful, landing in heavy surf, very dangerous. Returned to ship at 4.20 PM.
And the next day Dr Goding operated on 3/o, H.Holdrup for the same at 4 AM., this time with the ship underway at sea.

(The thumbnail is of a group of Pitcairners, looking a bit grim and barefooted, about to launch a similar boat (if not the same one) on another occasion in rough weather).

[Ian6]

That must be a rare double for a ship's surgeon, the same operation two days running ?

How do the Pitcairn Islanders fare now with almost no ships calling there ?

Ian

[Hugh Ferguson]

That must be a rare double for a ship's surgeon, the same operation two days running ?

How do the Pitcairn Islanders fare now with almost no ships calling there ?

Ian

If you can find the book, Ian, the author visited Pitcairn with his family, lived with islanders for just under a month, and then wrote the book in 1973. The details are:- PITCAIRN-Children of the Bounty, by Ian M. Ball:
Victor Gollancz Ltd. 1973: ISBN 0 575 01717 1.

You won't be disappointed, it's a fascinating read.