Library Assistant Jon Earle delves into the tragedy of the sinking of the HMS Eurydice, through Sir Edmund Verney's work.The specific focus is on those 281 men who lost their lives.
The item of the month for May is The Last four days of the “Eurydice” by Captain E. H. Verney (Caird Library ID: PBB4812). This short book, a copy of which was presented to Queen Victoria by the author, gives an account of the events leading up to and during the sinking of HMS Eurydice. One of the Britain’s worst peace-time naval disasters, much has been written about the events of 24 March 1878. However, what makes this work particularly notable is its focus. Whilst the disaster is described, it serves as a backdrop to the true motivation for the book; the great human loss. It is clear that for Verney, who was himself a decorated naval officer, this was a very personal tragedy, and in his writing he pays tribute to the memory of those who lost their lives.
