Watson's Tin Box meeting summary - October 20, 2025

Each third Monday of the month, the Watson's Tin Box of Ellicott City scion meets -at Union Jack's in Columbia MD and we gathered on Monday October 20 for another great gathering of members - 25 in total. This included THREE first-time attendees!!

In fact, I took a census of where people attended the meeting from (MD locations unless otherwise stated): Baltimore; Bowie; Carol County; Columbia; DC; Darnestown; Ellicott City; Fairfax VA; Frederick; Gaithersburg; Gambrils; Harford County; Sandy Spring; Silver Spring; Westminster. Quite a mix!

Along with our three first-timers, we have two NEW MEMBERS, who were attending their second meeting: Michelle March and Michael Ravnitzky. 

The story of the meeting was The Adventure of the Three Students.

After introductions, we moved to the toasts. Both toasts this evening were sourced form the same place: Ross Davies' wonderful Sherlockian toasts archive. If you ever write and deliver a Sherlockian toast, you can submit it for posterity, and for others to use!

Michelle March delivered the toast to 'The Woman' (Irene Adler), using a toast written by Karen Ellery for the Norwegian Explorers at the height of COVID:

Here's my contribution to keep the show hummin':
I've been asked by our host now to toast to The Woman.

No Victorian Violet did Sir Arthur create:
I would say that this lady is quite up to date.
And just how is this gal's Scandal modern, you ask
(Aside from the man who was wearing a mask)?
Well, this Diva who bravely rebuffed threats and slurs, she
Was, of course, born in the state of NEW Jersey.
She knew her own worth and accepted no dis,
And I'll mention she ventured at times from straight Cis.
Her wedding was tight, and although there was no vid
Its limited guest list would work now with COVID.
She outwitted the Master and there on the shelf, she
Left him with-- what else? Of course, 'twas a selfie.
So let's toast her with pride and without censure, yes,
That With-It and Well-Known Adventuress!
Irene Adler!

Liane Luini then presented a toast written by Tin Box member Nea Dodson, originally delivered at a Watson’s Tin Box meeting in October 2015 (exactly 10 years earlier). A really delightful and creative toast on the Tin Box itself:

A doctor, a soldier, and a trusted right-hand man
He thought it was all over when shot in Afghanistan

How little did he know that his life would just now start
When Stamford introduced him to that weird guy at St. Bart

Sherlock liked to think he was the greatest problem solver
But Watson could cure anything with brandy or revolver

From vampires to napoleons, missing bride to glowing hound
He followed Sherlock faithfully — and then he wrote it down

But — 60 stories only! How paltry! What a loss!
Except…there are more waiting in a bank at Charing Cross
Just as Watson never lived and thus can never die
He has left behind adventures that never can run dry

Like the pledge before school classes, anthem before a game
Almost every pastiche has disclaimer just the same:
“I didn’t make this up, I found these notes” they claim
“In a battered old dispatch box painted with his name!”

So let us lift our glasses, let us shout “Hear, hear!”
To noble Doctor Watson, Sherlock’s and our dear
But also to the dusty vault beneath the bank of Cox
Protecting for eternity our Watson’s Tin Box

In the spirit of Halloween, Carle Coupe then called for toasts to 'creepy things' in the Canon - among those shouted out were the Hound; the Creeping Man ; the cut-off tress of hair found in a locked drawer by Violet Hunter, and many others! 'Augustus Miltervon - creepy or just a creep?' pondered Karen Wilson.

This toast followed by the traditional Haiku for the story was delivered by Tom Fahres:

Write of three students.
Mystery trope’s a red herring
The BUTLER! did it?

We then moved on to Announcements - including some show-and-tell! By the way, if you're looking for things to do - you can keep track of all Sherlockian events at.... http://www.sherlockiancalendar.com 

• Tom Fahres has organized a local SPODE gathering 5-6:30 p.m. Thursday October 23 at the King Street Oyster Bar (Potomac). 
• November 1st is the 46th Annual 'Sherlock Holmes at the Pratt Free Library' - lots of details in the link, and it will include presentations from several members of WTB.
• We were reminded that the Irene's Cabinet publication from WTB will return in 2026. The deadline for submissions to Jacquelynn Bost-Morris is December 15.
• The Red Circle of Washtington DC has announced its 75th Anniversary celebrations on November 15, featuring the U.S. Premiere of three restored Eille Norwood "Silent Sherlock" films and a Celebration Dinner. Keep track on the Red Circle web site for more details.
• Megan Homme is organizing the next meeting of The Naval Treaty of Annapolis, at St. Paul Church in Crownsville, MD on November 16th at 2pm. They will be discussing and watching the Granada version of the Empty House. If you'd like to know more about this group, here's a recent newspaper article.
• The Adventuresses of Sherlock Holmes (ASH) will hold their fall (autumn) luncheon in New York City on Saturday, November 8.
• The DC Whiskey and Sodality meeting will again take place on Sunday, November 23, 2 pm at Shelly's Back Room, 1331 F Street NW. Contact Terry McCammon for details. "Excellent ventilation, excellent pub type food. Good whisky and draft beer list. I have cigars to share." Smoking optional ; ventilation excellent.
• Olivia Millunzi pointed the group to Otto Penzler's book 'Christmas Crimes at the Mysterious Bookshop', where each of the twelve stories are at Christmas, involve a crime, and are set in the famous Mysterious Bookstore - just in time for the holidays!
• John Hebeler capped it off, bringing his 1970s high school essay on Sherlock Holmes (recently rediscovered!) for which he got an A+ !  There was much cheering. If anyone wants to listen any or all of the 50 Sherlock Holmes radio shows staring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce, please get in touch with John and he will give you access.
• Greg Ruby announced that there will be a Sherlockian tour of Maryland in Spring 2026, and he's looking for expressions of interest. A range of sites with strong and not-so-strong ties to the canon will be visited. I assume/hope Poe's grave is on the list! Christopher Morley's childhood home is one site that will be visited. I hope they consider Eldersburg MD.

To the story of the evening - 'The Three Students'. Debbie Clark gave an overview of the items in the evidence box. A reminder that you can browse the Evidence Box items at our website, but here are some photos of the laid-out evidence. What do you recognize from the story?

Above: I have to say that my favorite thing in the Evidence Box are the running spikes (at top right of this general view of the table) because they are clearly authentic to the period (1895!).

 

 

Left: The proofs for the examination (to translate a tract of Thucydides) ; Right: A photograph of Gilchrist in academic garb, a postcard of the college, and the very key that Bannister left in the door.

Left: a collection of Johann Faber pencils, and a badge of the Rhodesian Police; Right: A postcard for the shipping line that sailed for South Africa, and Gilchrist's letter to Soames.

The discussion of the story was fun. The story of an obvious attempt to access the examination papers prior to a scholarship examination. Did the butler do it? No, but he did aid and abet. Could the police have been called in? Lorraine and Dana shared their perspectives working at academic institutions and how 'cheating' is dealt with. Perhaps the police could have dealt with the matter of entry into the office - Sheridan (a first-timer!) addressed some of the potential legal avenues. Grant (another first-timer!!) discussed the electric lamp referenced in the story, and the implications for where (Oxford, Cambridge, Durham?) this could have taken place. The volume of Klinger was waved around the room in support of an argument. It was suggested that Doyle may have written this story having visited his sons at colleges. Gilchrist heading for South Africa may not have been an ideal scenario him, particularly given that the Boer war was only a few years away (1899). Olivia used her reference librarian skills to point out that Rhodesia existed as a place, but was not an independent country till 1965. How do you even pronounce Thucydides, asked Michael.

All in all it was a real shame that a rugby player came to no good. The question I didn't get to ask - should Bannister have been fired? Were there any ramifications for him??

I gave the presentation for the evening, a tale for which the world is not prepared. So I'll write about it some other time.

And so to the quiz. Sometimes I say 'there was a quiz'. Tonight there was a quiz thanks to our Tantalus Olivia Millunzi. 

But before the quiz got underway there was a twist. Michelle had created an amazing prize. Last month, we discussed the 'Golden Pince Nez', and the gulag. Michele went away and created an amazing 'Gulag Goodie Bag' - truly amazing - containing an 'unfinished business loan', a 'map of estranged spouse's home', 'Sun-Pince-Nez' (AMAZING), and six poison phials - from Gulag Value Store (GVS), each poison is created to work i a specific way. 

Thankfully Melissa created a guide and I took some photos so that the goody bag will be recorded for future generations to marvel at.

 

Left: the tote bag. Gulag never looked so good! Right: The contents.

Above: A guide to the contents - hilarious and amazing.

Above: Each vial (phial !!) of poison was labeled with precision.

Above: The GVS poison labels - absolutely hilarious - make sure you zoom in and read the important information for how each poison works.

Above: My favorite important instructions.

AND THIS WAS THE PRIZE FOR THE QUIZ. Olivia managed an aggressively enthusiastic group of quiz-takers who smelt a genuine Sherlockian rarity, and congratulations to Lorraine for taking home the goody bag (literally). Thank you Michelle for making the quiz even more fun!!

See you in November! Please get in touch through the Watson's Tin Box website if you'd like to know more. (And if you have corrections for this blog post - please let me know - all suggested edits welcome). 

A walking tour of Martin Beck's Stockholm

I just visiting Stockholm a few weeks ago, and while I was there had another chance to meet with the great Swedish Sherlockian: Mattias Bostrom. Mattias is a true scholar of Doyle, a BSI, the author of 'From Holmes to Sherlock', and co-creator of a series of books tracking newspaper articles on Doyle and Sherlock (published by Wessex Press).

It was another great chance to catch up. The first time we caught up - two years ago - Mattias took me on a walking tour to explore another world. Not a world of gaslight in London, but instead the world of Martin Beck of Stockholm, written by Maj Sjowall and Per Wahloo. 

Mattias spent an entire Saturday with me two years ago, and with a sheaf of notes, a Swedish article, and some printed photos Mattias took me on a tour of locations mentioned in the Martin Beck books. We walked all over Stockholm, and as we went I also took notes and took photos of locations. Mattias actually knew Maj Sjowall from his professional world in book publishing, and so he even had some personal insight from his time speaking to her.

Above: The wonderful Mattias Bostrom in 'tour guide' mode navigating the dangerous streets of Martin Beck's Stockholm.

I've been meaning to turn the walking tour into a blog post so that others can walk in the footsteps of Martin Beck and his colleagues.

There is one piece missing: a map. I'm working on it, and will create a map and add it to this post. The map will show the numbered locations. So the walking tour text below has a brief explanation of what happened at each numbered location (with a few other places along the way!), and photographs to help the reader identify them. 

The original tour Mattias took me on used a Swedish-language article titled (translated from Swedish) 'Sjöwall-Wahlöö's bloody Stockholm', published in the newspaper 'Dagens Nyheter' on 23rd January 1993. We've followed that path, have translated the descriptions (thanks Google) but also added to these and added new locations. Any site can be visited in any order - the numbering is not chronologically aligned with the storyline of the book series - but it does create a path starting at (1) that can be followed.

Without further ado, get to Stockholm and enjoy the Martin Beck walking tour!

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A tour of Sjöwall-Wahlöö's Stockholm

Here in the city, especially in Vasastan, most of the books' gruesome murders and dramatic arrests took place (although Södermalm, Solna, Motala and Skåne also had their fair share of horrors).

We start at Norrtull (1), where terrorists tried to blow up a US Senator (in 'The Terrorists') but were fooled by Martin Beck. The only victims of the attack were 2,091 sandbags, a mountain of insulation material and the cap of Detective Inspector Einar Rönn

Above: The small St Eriksparken (2) is the site of one of the murders in 'The Man on the Balcony'. The third victim in the book, an 11-year-old girl, is found at the edge of the cliff in the north-west of the park. 750 metres further down Norra Stationsgatan, where Norrbackagatan (3) ends, is the site of the mass murder in 'The Laughing Police'. It takes place on a double-decker bus 47, killing nine people, including Martin Beck's young colleague Åke Stenström.

Above: Norra Stationsgatan in 1970, showing a Number 47 double-decker bus.

Above: If you continue across St Eriksplan, you come to Sabbatsberg Hospital (4) - the site of one of the bloodiest murders in the books, where "the dreadful man from Säffle", former police officer Åke Eriksson, in the authors' own words, cuts Inspector Stig Nyman in half.

Above: At left, the Eastman institute, with fountain at front; Right, Dalagatan 34 directly across from the Eastman Institute.

At the Eastman Institute (5), a little further north on Dalagatan, Constable Kristiansson is shot in the knee by Eriksson, who is now sitting in his gallery at the top of Dalagatan 34 (6), determined to shoot every policeman he sees. His colleague Kvant is shot in the neck and dies, on top of Kristiansson, in the fountain outside the Eastman Institute. Gunvald Larsson, who witnesses the incident, manages to escape by kicking in the door of the institute. Later, Eriksson moves to the roof of Dalagatan 34, from where he kills another policeman and wounds seven more - including Martin Beck.

Above: Immediately adjacent to the Eastman Institute is the large Vasaparken (Vasa Park) where the helicopter crashed in "The Abominable Man". (Note that in Bo Widerberg's film adaptation the helicopter crashed in in the nearby Odenplan, a public square).

After this, the tour goes via Odengatan to Sveavägen, to the left at the Hard Rock Cafe - and we are in the middle of the 'Man on the Balcony' drama. Top photos: The balcony itself (7) can be found on the other side of the street, at Number 126. It was from the third balcony down that the Småland man Ingemund Fransson "stood and watched the children". He managed to murder three girls before he was arrested. The first of them, an eight-year-old girl, lived on the other side of the street, at No 83 (8) (Bottom photo, left) - and was found strangled to death a few stone's throw away, in the park called Vanadislunden (9), between St Stephen's Church and the water tower (bottom photo, right). 

Of note, Sjöwall and Wahlöö actually lived at Sveavägen 83, and the plot for the story was partly inspired by an experience when one of their children was approached by a strange man who tried to decoy them away.

Above: At Eriksbergsplan, in the red corner house at Runebergsgatan 2 (10), the police succeed in making an arrest: after a serious police provocation, the Roseanna murderer Folke Bengtsson is lured into trying to murder police officer Sonja Hansson in her home here.

Above: As you walk towards Bergsgatan 57,  you first pass  the Rådhuset (Stockholm Court House) where Martin Beck and his wife were married. Rebecka Lind in The Terrorists was in the District Court there for armed bank robbery.

Above: At Luntmakargatan 57 (11) is the Leopard pharmacy, at no. 57. Upstairs in the courtyard house is probably a new front door. The previous one was one of many that Gunvald Larsson kicked in, in search of the child murderer in "The Man on the Balcony”.

Above: As we walk on, pause to look across at the Kungliga biblioteket (The Royal Library), the Swedish national library. This library houses the original manuscripts (most of them handwritten) of all the Martin Beck stories written by Sjowall and Wahoo.

So we continue.

Above: On Kungsgatan, just before the junction with Norrlandsgatan (12), Martin Beck and Fredrik Melander arrested the mass murderer from the bus in "The Laughing Police" - a property manager from Stocksund. This took place on the 6th floor, probably of the building at left.

Above: At the next junction on Norrlandsgatan, where it intersects with Smålandsgatan (13), the first step in solving the Roseanna murder was taken, when Folke Bengtsson was discovered over a cup of coffee by Officer Lundberg.

Above: We continue towards Old Town, to Köpmangatan (14). Martin Beck moved here to a two-room apartment at the top of No. 8 in 1969, after his divorce. And on the roof a little further up towards Stortorget, the terrorist Reinhard Heydt lay with a sniper rifle, intending to avenge his failed attack by shooting Martin Beck. However, this project did not materialise either.

Above: The Old Town is also home to Martin Beck's favourite restaurant, Den Gyldene Freden (15) at Österlånggatan 51. Den Gyldene Freden translates to ‘The Golden Peace'. The restaurant has been continuously operating at this address in Gamlastan (Old Town) since 1722. 

As we depart Gamlastan, we walk across the bridge to Riddarholmskyrkan (the Riddarholmen Church).

Riddarholmskyrkan is the oldest building in Stockholm, and where Sweden’s Kings were buried (left). There, the visiting US Senator points to the Birger Jarl statue (right). Through the church gate, Rebecka Lind came out and shot the Prime Minister (in ‘The Terrorists’).

Some addresses on Kungsholmen should also be visited. Karlsviksgatan 4 (16) is the site of a puzzling suicide. Fearing the revenge of the Mafia, Sigurd Karlsson, a small-time bus driver, takes his own life in "The fire engine that disappeared". But first he writes Martin Beck's name on a note. 

 

Above: On Bergsgatan 57 (17), a stone's throw from the "National Police Board's showy building", you can try to find the window that is the key to the murder mystery in "The Closed Room". The window in question sits on the top of a staircase, to the right of the gate - and it was through it that Karl Edvin Svärd was shot dead by a bullet from the hill in the park (Kronobergsparken) on the other side of Bergsgatan.

From St Eriksgatan it is then a short step to Norrtull - and we are back where it all began.

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The great thing about blog posts is that they can be edited and updated. If you talk this walking tour, please let me know about suggested updates or edits, additional photos, etc etc. 

Charles Blasson, Doyle's Boer war dresser and secretary

I was recently re-listening to 'Doings of Doyle' podcast on Sarah LeFanu's wonderful 2020 book 'Something of Themselves: Kipling, Kingsley, Conan Doyle and the Anglo-Boer War'. At one point, the hosts remarked on the remarkable existence of Charles Blasson's diary, and its publication. Who was Charles Blasson?

As the Boer war got underway, John Langman funded the creation and staffing of a 50-bed portable hospital that was to be staffed and transported to the war. Arthur Conan Doyle was one of four civilian medical professionals recruited to the hospital (which makes me realize ACD must have maintained his medical license). The hospital operated in Bloemfontein during Doyle's time at the hospital, on the grounds of a cricket club.

Charles Blasson was a student at University Hospital, London and was one of four medical students who set sail for the Boer War in South Africa in Feburary 1900 as dressers. Blasson kept a diary of his experiences on an almost daily basis. Along with being dresser, Blasson became a secretary for Doyle. The diary describes the events and challenges of life in the hospital where typhoid and erysipelas were a risk for soldiers and hospital staff. It also mentions Doyle many times, including Blasson's work on Doyle's chapters for his book on the Boer War. Following Doyle's departure, Blasson died suddenly at Pretoria aged 23 years, and he was buried there on 4 Aug 1900.

Blasson's diary made its way back to his family in the UK after his death, and remained with them. In 2013, family member Ken Cooper transcribed the diary, identified primary sources in other hands including a letter from Doyle, photographs of Blasson, and a photograph of the headstone in South Africa. This work was compiled to create a remarkable record of one young man's role in the Boer War, and also gives us intimate insight into Doyle's time at the Langman Hospital.

The book can be purchased easily at Amazon.com and is well worth reading for all Doyleans or those interested in the Boer War.

Ken Cooper kindly provided some photographs of the Blasson diary. The first shows the Harrods wrapper, and the second shows the inside cover of the open diary, revealing that the wrapper was literally sewn together! Written onto the inside cover is written 'Experiences with the Langman Hospital, South Africa', 1900, C.J. Blasson'.

Ken also shared an image of one page of the diary as an example of Blasson's diary. Transcription would not have been straightforward! I've placed the transcription underneath as an aid. There are several references to Conan Doyle on this page.

May Friday 18th. We hear Kruger has surrendered unconditionally. I had a telegram from Kroonstad from Lionel ; it has been waiting at the post office for a couple of days. We hear this evening that the Kruger report is false, worse luck! Hackney got up today for the first time. Bolton went for a ride today on Major Drury's horse. It galloped away with him, tried to jump a donga and fell and broke one of its knees. Busy Bolton got off with a slight shaking. The staff gave a dinner party this evening. The guests included Prince Francis of Teck, General Wilson the Permanent Medical Officer at Bloemfontein, and General Branant. I sent Uncle Willie a Mafeking post card.

Saturday 19th. I have had a good deal of Doyle's work to get off by this week's mail, also wrote to Mother and Dr. Hackney and Aunt Fannie. Mafeking is relieved at last. We heard so today. This evening Turle, Bolton, Harvey - one of the cooks who is excellent on the banjo - one of the officer's servants named Sergeant had a sing song on our on the strength of the news. We all sang several songs which included Turle 'John Peel', Harvey 'Leave us in your will before you die', myself 'Erin on the Rhine', Bolton 'Beauties Eyes'. We played a football match this afternoon against the Imperial Yeomanry Field Hospital. Conan Doyle was our Captain.

One of the only limitations to the book (and an understandable one) is that the documents and photographs are shown in black and white, not colour. I wanted to take the opportunity to post a few of the records I could track down for those who may go searching for more information on Charles Blasson. I also reached out to Ken Cooper, the compiler and author of the book who may be able to provide some original photographs (for example of the headstone) that I can add to this blog post. As I receive those I'll update the post.

The 1881 Census for England shows Charles aged 3 living with his parents, seven siblings, and three servants. Charles' father was a General Practitioner. As a side-note, I cannot find Blasson in the 1891 census (when he was around 13).

This is the first reference to Blasson in newspapers. Spaulding Grammar School is in Lincolnshire where Blasson grew up:

Peterborough Advertiser - Wednesday 21 February 1900

C. J, Blasson, an old Spalding Grammar School boy, third son of the late, Dr. George Blasson, of Bourne, is shortly proceeding to the front as surgical dresser in the Langman Field Hospital. He was chosen with four other dressers from University College Hospital. 

The Langman Hospital received significant media attention in advance of its departure. This article in 'The Graphic' shows key members of the Hospital. Archie Langman ('Treasurer') was son of the philanthropist who created the Hospital. Among the named personnel are both Blasson and Doyle.

The Graphic - Saturday 24 February 1900

Personnel of the Langman Hospital.  The equipment of this hospital, which consists of 100 beds, with marquees and thirty-five tents, is now complete, and it left England in the Oriental for South Africa last Tuesday. The Langman Hospital, unlike other civil hospitals, is not a base hospital, but is going to the front. Mr. Archie L. Langman (lieutenant Middlesex Yeomanry), son of the donor, accompanies it as treasurer. Mr. Robert O'Callaghan, F.R.C.S., of Harley Street, Surgeon to the French Hospital in London, who is Surgeon-in-Chief, is a Specialist of repute in Abdominal Surgery. As gunshot wounds of the abdomen have been very frequent and serious during the present war, his services will be of special value to our soldiers at the front. Mr. C. Gibbs, F. R.C.S., of Harley Street, Assistant-Surgeon Charing Cross Hospital, is Surgeon Mr. H. J. Scharlieb, F.R.C.S., Harley Street, Anaesthetist to University College Hospital, is Surgeon and Anaesthetist Dr. Conan Doyle is Physician. Messrs. Hackney, Turle, Blasson, Mayes, and Burton, Senior Students and Dressers at University College Hospital, are Dressers. Major M. O'C. Drury, R.A. M.C., who has been appointed by the War Office as the Army Medical Officer in Charge, served in the Soudan Campaign in 1885, and with the Burmese Expedition, 1886-7. Mr. Howell is Quartermaster. There are also twenty Orderlies from the St. John's Ambulance Brigade, the whole personnel numbering forty-five. 

The Hospital was reported in UK newspapers and magazines, and Doyle's service was highlighted. One photograph of Doyle that appeared in The Sketch magazine shows Doyle attending a sick patient, with his dresser at his side. While not named, it is Charles Blasson. Two digitized versions are shown - one from University of Minnesota Library, the other (zoomed in) from British Newspaper Archives (the New York Public Library also has a digitized copy but is slightly inferior).

The Sketch, May 16, 1900

Dr. Conan Doyle of the Langman Hospital, attending sick - but loyal - Canadians in the ward.

Blasson next appears six months after departure when his death is reported in papers. The fact that listed cause of death, unless otherwise defined, was enteric fever speaks volumes of the challenges faced in Bloemfontein from water quality. Blasson was listed as 'driver' but persumably was meant to be 'dresser'.

London Daily Chronicle - Wednesday 08 August 1900

DEATHS FROM DISEASE, &c.
In the following list of deaths the cause, unless otherwise defined, was enteric fever.

At Pretoria. Driver C.G. Blasson 

A week later, more details were forthcoming from South Africa. We also learn a little of Blasson, including that medicine clearly ran in the family, that Blasson's work with Doyle was recognized, and that the family had received a letter from Blasson:

Sheffield Daily Telegraph - Saturday 15 September 1900

DEATH OF A LINCOLNSHIRE SURGEON IN SOUTH AFRICA. The last mail from South Africa brought particulars of the death of Mr. Charles Blasson, son of the of the late Dr. George Blasson, of Bourne, and a nephew of Dr. T. Blasson of Billingborough. The decieased volunteered for the front last February and was selected as one of the surgical dressers for the Langman Field Hospital. He was at Bleomfontein until the end of July, and then went on to Pretoria, where despite the unremitting care and attention of Dr. Scharlieb, of Harley Street, he died of sunstroke on his 23rd birthday. The deceased was accorded a military funeral and was buried amongst British officers at Pretoria, where a marble cross is being erected by his comrades to his memory. Dr. Conan Doyle appointed the deceased gentleman his private secretary in South Africa, and has written a most sympathetic letter home to his friends. He concluded by saying, "He gave his life for his country just as truly as who fell upon the battlefield."

As the above article describes, Blasson had been buried in Pretoria. His comrades did indeed erect a beautiful marble cross in his memory. Ken Cooper kindly provided a photograph of the grave located in the Church Street Cemetery, Pretoria, taken by a visitor to South Africa in 2012.

In memory

C.J. Blasson

Dresser in the Langman Hospital 

Student at University Hospital 

Died suddenly Aug 2nd 1900

Aged 23

This Church Street Cemetery burial register page lists the numbered plots, and the name and abode of each person interred. C.J. Blasson is listed as Driver (Dresser - this is possibly the source of the typo in the newspaper notice above), buried August 4, 1900, two days after his death.

The letter itself is shown in the book. I sources this image from a talk about Doyle in the Boer War by Doug Wrigglesworth, who had purchaesd the letter and showed it during a recorded lecture. Wriggesworth allowed the letter and portraits of Blasson to be included in Cooper's book. The letter was presumably written in the first two weeks of August 1900 - Doyle had already returned to the UK while the Langman Hospital had continued on.

Morley's Hotel,

Trafalgar Square,

London. W.C.

Dear Mrs. Blasson

I want to express to you my heartfelt sympathy with you in your grief over the loss of your son. I could hardly believe the news for of all men in the hospital he is the one whom I should have selected as the strongest and toughest. He was a very fine fellow, always cheery & bright, with a remarkably good head also. I was very fond of him. He has died in the service of his country just as truly as any man who fell upon the field and that is the noblest and most unselfish end a man can meet.

With all sympathy

Yours very truly, A Conan Doyle.

This recognition from Doyle to the Blasson family was not limited to his private correspondence. When Doyle published the first version of his book on the Boer War in October 1900, the preface closed by acknowledging Charles Blasson, who had assisted Doyle in the preparation of chapters in the hospital:

There are many who have helped me in my task, but I especially acknowledge the co-operation of Mr. BLASSON, of the Langman Hospital, now dead in the service of his country, and Mr. CHARLES TERRY, of Haslemere, who collected and arranged my material.

A. CONAN DOYLE

UNDERSHAW, HINDHEAD

September 1900.

As a dresser Blasson would have supported Doyle in the hospital. I find myself wondering how exactly Blasson helped Doyle in his task of creating a history of the Boer war. Even in the diary extract above, Blasson states 'I have had a good deal of Doyle's work to get off by this week's mail'.

There is some insight from Doyle's writings.

In his Preface to his published book 'The Great Boer War', Doyle writes 'The greater part {of this book} was written in a hospital tent in the intervals of duty during the epidemic at Bloemfontein. Often the only documents which I had to consult were the convalescent officers and men who were under our care'.

Perhaps part of Blasson's role was to prepare notes for Doyle based on the interviews he conducted with patients, and conversations with VIPs who visited the hospital. While Doyle embarked on field trips, it appears Blasson was largely restricted geographically to the hospital where his primary responsibilities lay. 

Doyle's chapters of the book were likely written by him and mailed to the UK - not typed up in South Africa. Blasson's diary entry suggests he also managed this correspondence and arranged for the despatch of letters that Doyle wrote.