Queen Victoria at Chatham again
She prided herself on her stoicism and was determined not to comment on the horrors she was shown, no matter how bad
As her visit proceeded she suspected she was being sheltered from some of the worst, so she demanded to see them all
Reluctantly her hosts conducted her to a locked room at the back of the hospital where they treated some of the very worst cases - missing limbs, some limbless, blindness, maiming beyond belief.... everything imaginable
She never commented
She noticed a curtained-off section at the very back and demanded to be shown what it contained - they attempted to argue, but she demanded her royal right
In the room was a single bed that, at first appeared to be empty - when they drew back the covers there was a single ear on the pillow
She gasped and drew back in horror- "that's awful", she said
"I know Your Majesty", said the doctor, "and it's deaf"
Jim