Woeful Wounds Aboard The Ship

Woeful wounds and illness were a harsh reality for those who sailed aboard the SS Great Britain during its 47 voyages. Life at sea was full of hazards, and both passengers and crew often faced accidents, from minor cuts to more unusual and severe wounds. This October Half-Term, we’re exploring some of the most striking incidents recorded in ship diaries, revealing what danger and recovery looked like on the world’s first great ocean liner.

1.Domestic Dangers

2.Amputation & Ailments

3.The Unlucky Ones

4.Woeful Wounds

Domestic Dangers

Over 30,000 passengers and crew journeyed aboard the SS Great Britain, and with so many lives spent at sea, danger was never far away. While many injuries were simple cuts and scrapes, others were far more gruesome and often came from the most unexpected places.

In 1862, crew member Mr Dearlove recorded a particularly grisly moment where one crew member lost a finger to a tin of herrings:

“Another accident — one of the store men chopped off his middle finger from the first joint while opening a tin of herrings.”

Even the ship’s captain wasn’t safe from the perils of life on board. John Gray, who commanded the SS Great Britain from 1854 to 1872, reportedly injured his nose after a nasty fall. These haunting tales from the ship’s past serve as a chilling reminder that for those at sea, danger lurked around every corner.

Discover more of these gory tales for yourself this Halloween at the SS Great Britain. 

Amputation & Ailments

For many injuries aboard the SS Great Britain, amputation was the only cure. The ship’s surgeon often had to act fast, performing operations in cramped, swaying conditions at sea. This October Half-Term, our make-up artists bring these gruesome realities to life through the Woeful Wounds experience.

During its lifetime, the ship had twelve surgeons who will have seen their fair share of amputations on board. This included Peter Thompson in 1858 who crushed his left forefinger whilst lowering the fore yard (a spar attached to the mast of a ship where the sails are hung). The injury led to an amputation, but remarkably, Thompson was said to have recovered well.

Not all aboard were so unlucky. In 1875, one sailor fell a terrifying 12 metres from the rigging. A fellow passenger recorded that he “walked away as if but little or nothing had happened to be alarmed about.”

The Unlucky Ones

Not everyone aboard the SS Great Britain was as fortunate. Several deaths were recorded during the ship’s long career, caused by everything from horrific injuries to infectious diseases such as measles, smallpox, and pulmonary tuberculosis. Step aboard the Haunted Ship this Halloween to uncover the ghostly stories of those who never made it home.

One of the most tragic incidents occurred in 1858 when crew member George Green was killed while working high in the rigging. A diary entry from 30 November recounts:

“While taking in the upper main topsail during a hurricane, [Green] was thrown from the yard by the sail. Hanging by the jacket for a moment, he then fell… into the bows of lifeboat no.6, receiving fractures to his pelvis, thigh, and leg — resulting in instantaneous death.”

Many lives ended abruptly aboard the ship, but some deaths were quieter, though no less haunting. In 1869, passenger James Maughan recorded a disturbing account of a man seemingly sent to sea by his family to die and spare them medical and funeral expenses:

“We have had three more deaths since my previous entries… A man also in the steerage, who came on board in an advanced state of consumption and who seems to have been sent to sea purposely to get rid of medical and funeral expenses, died a few days afterwards.”

Woeful Wounds

From minor cuts and grazes to sudden, tragic deaths, the SS Great Britain witnessed its fair share of gore. This Halloween season, those tales of injury and survival inspire the return of Woeful Wounds for 2025.

Back by popular demand, the special effects make-up artists from SGS College will transform visitors with eerie grazes, creepy cuts, and bloodcurdling blisters, using professional film and TV-grade techniques.

For the first time, Woeful Wounds is available for the whole family from ages 4+. Get ready to frighten your crew, whether you’re a wee nipper or seasoned sailor!

📅 25 October – 2 November 2025
🕓 11am–3pm
📍 First Class Dining Saloon

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