Death & burial
Joseph Rhodes died 4th of January 1884.
Death registered
Joseph Rhodes, aged 70 years, March Quarter 1884, Coventry.
His death certificate shows that he died at 2, Chapel Yard, Chapel Street, in the parish of Holy Trinity, Coventry, a "Groom, Army Pensioner", on the 4th of January 1884, aged 70 years, from "Valvular disease of the heart". Jabez Frederick Clements, son-in-law, of 24, Lower Wellington Street, Coventry, was present at his death. (See copy of the death certificate in the 13th Light Dragoons "Certificates" file.)
From the Coventry Herald and Free Press, 11th of January 1884:
"On Friday last there died in this city at the age of seventy, Joseph Rhodes, one of the few survivors of the celebrated Charge of the Light Brigade at Balaclava.
The deceased, who was a native of Yorkshire, entered the 13th Light Dragoons — now the 13th Hussars — in 1836 and in 1854 on the outbreak of hostilities with the Russians, Rhodes, who was still a private, went with his regiment to the Crimea, where he took part in the famous charge.
He was also present at the battle of the Alma and other engagements in the Crimea, returning home in 1856 after 21 years service, with the Crimean medal, the badges for Balaclava and Inkerman and a pension of 1/- per day.
For many years the deceased had been employed as a horse-keeper by Mr. W. D. Claridge of the Craven Arms Hotel, and that gentleman frequently showed him great kindness.
The deceased had many times expressed a wish that at the time of his death his remains should be interred with military honours and Mr. Claridge attempted to comply with this but owing to the disbandment of the battery at the near-by barracks it was found impractical to obtain a military funeral."
[PB: His death was also noticed outside of Coventry.]
Dundee, Perth, Forfar, and Fife's People's Journal, 12 January 1884:
DEATHS
Recently, at Coventry, Joseph Rhodes, one the remaining survivors of the celebrated charge the Six Hundred Balaclava, aged 70. The deceased, who was native of Yorkshire, enlisted in the 13th Light Dragoons (now the 12th [13th] Hussars) in 1836, and in 1854, on the outbreak of hostilities with Russia, Rhodes, who was still private, went with his regiment to the Crimea, where he took part in the famous charge. He was also present at the battle of Inkerman and other engagements, returning home on his discharge in 1856, after twenty-one years' service, with the Crimean medal, the Balaclava and Inkerman badge, and pension of 1s a day.
[Source: Dundee, Perth, Forfar, and Fife's People's Journal, 12 January 1884.]
Ulverston Mirror, 12 January 1884:
(Click on image to enlarge)
Joseph Rhodes was buried in an un-marked grave-space in London Road Cemetery, Coventry, on the 8th of January 1884, aged 70 years. (See photograph in the 13th Hussar file.) His wife, Selina, was buried in the same grave on the 3rd of February 1897 and his daughter, son-in-law and grandson are also buried there.
His grave site is Reference No. 201 Square 75. The following is shown in the Cemetery records; "Plot purchased by Sarah Rhodes of Chapel Street for the sum of £1/2/7d. The following burials are recorded, the dates being those of interment:
8th January 1884: Joseph Rhodes. Age 70. Chapel Street.
11th January 1895: Alec Cole. Age 1 month. Hill Street. Hill Street.
26th September 1896: Sarah Ann Clements. Age 38. Hill Street.
3rd February 1897: Selina Rhodes. Age 70 years. Hill Street
5th July 1899: Jabez Frederick Clements. Age 43 years. Found drowned at Stoneleigh.
