Syphilis fears over Nelson sailors’ graves

A GRAVEYARD for sailors from Nelson’s navy will be disinfected amid fears that they might pass on their syphilis.

Archaeologists have informed descendants of Royal Navy sailors buried in Derry’s Cross, Plymouth, that the remains will be excavated in August.

Between 1762 and 1822 the site was used as a graveyard by the Navy for bodies of sailors who had not died at sea. Those who survived battle would have returned wounded to Plymouth for treatment in Stonehouse Naval Hospital and other locations before some succumbed to their injuries, while others would have been infected by diseases such as syphilis, scurvy and T B, which were rife at the time.

Charlotte Coles, the finds and archives officer at A C Archaeology, the Exeterbased firm in charge of the work, said: “There were years when scurvy killed more people than died in action, and a lot of infectious diseases spread in the cramped conditions.”

Ms Coles said that because such diseases were caused by bacterial infections, the bacteria could survive on the decomposing corpses as well as through nutrients in the soil. Although the risk of any colonies surviving almost 200 years is very low, the firm still intends to disinfect the cemetery.

Local residents have been invited to visit and claim any of the skeletons as relatives in order for reburial closer to home. Ms Coles added: “It’s our responsibility to inform the public six weeks prior to excavation starting, to allow anyone to contact us if they believe they have relatives buried in the cemetery”.