I found this soldier's grave in a part of Southern Cemetery
(Manchester) which receives few visitors. The stones are so old it's rare to
find any flowers or objects on them. Sometimes you see a name which has been
cleaned up with bleach and a scrubbing brush, sometimes a flowers, sometimes a
rosary. Considering they've been stood outside for over 120 winters the headstones
are in a good condition and most carvings are legible.
Have you heard
of the disastrous Charge of the Light Brigade - the British charged at a well-defended
Russian position suffering heavy casualties with no gains. Before it was the
Charge of the Heavy Brigade. Sergeant Joseph
was present. He was part of the Anglo-French army sent to support the Ottoman
empire in its war against the Russians. On 25th October 1854 about 670 British
heavy cavalry charged at 3000 Russian soldiers. It was more of a charge than a
fight and was over in ten minutes. About ten British men were killed and 98 were
wounded. Anyway Joseph was there that Wednesday but whether he fought is
unknown. Perhaps he was at the back of the pack. He died aged 69 years old, a
good run for that era.
I went for
quick look at his grave though I'm surprised the Charge of the Heavy Brigade
even made the history books. All those men, horses and guns prepared for a
battle that was just a ten minute scrap. What happened? Why did it stop so
quickly? Was it tea-time? Had someone left a tap running? Did someone decide it
was such a sunny day they'd better not spoil it with a scrap? I did a salute
and left.