Visitors to Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre were given eye-opening insights into gruesome 19th century medical practices when they met a naval fleet surgeon at the centre recently.

Surgeon Commander Roger Morgan - in real life a member of Cadw’s events team based at Newport, Gwent - brought along a full array of medical tools and described grisly techniques in use on casualties from naval actions early in the 19th century.

Although claiming to be highly qualified the Fleet Surgeon was unable to find any volunteers on whom to actually demonstrate the medical arts familiar in Nelson’s Navy, but has promised to return in the future.

This is the second time in recent years that Roger, who is a re-enactor with several historical groups, has set up his ‘operating theatre’ in Pembroke Dock.