Under the Red Crescent Adventures of an English Surgeon with the Turkish Army at Plevna and Erzeroum 1877-1878

A young Australian‑trained surgeon sets out from Melbourne on a restless wanderjahr, drifting through Rome, Vienna and the bustling bazaars of Constantinople before finding himself contracted to the Ottoman army on the eve of the 1877‑78 Russo‑Turkish War. Through a series of chance meetings—including a close friendship with Prince Czetwertinski and the confidence of Osman Pasha—he is granted an unusual freedom to move across the battle‑fields of Plevna and Erzurum, treating the wounded amid the clatter of artillery and the chaos of retreating columns.

The memoir reads like a vivid diary, blending surgical details with lively sketches of Turkish life, from the scent‑filled market stalls to the camaraderie of soldiers in feverish tents. As the surgeon navigates language barriers, improvises life‑saving operations, and witnesses the gritty reality of a war that could reshape Europe, his observations offer a rare, ground‑level glimpse of a conflict often told from distant command halls. The tone remains candid and reflective, inviting listeners to share in both the hardships and the unexpected moments of humanity that emerge on the front line.