b. 07/10/1874 Wincobank, Yorkshire. d. 03/1940 Sheffield, Yorkshire.
DATE OF EM ACTION: 26/06/1911 Sheffield, Yorkshire.
Herbert was the youngest of five children born to Sarah Ann Wood. His father was unknown. He grew up in the Ecclesall Bierclow area of Sheffield, Yorkshire. Herbert became a iron moulder by trade. Herbert married Kate in 1904, and they had a daughter Ida in 1905. Following the award of the Edward Medal, Herbert became a boiler fireman. His wife predeceased him, and he spent his later years being looked after by his daughter and her husband. He died in 1940 in Sheffield, aged 65.
EM CITATION:
On the 26th June, 1911, Rhodes was working in an underground washer-tank belonging to the Sheffield Gas Company, at Effingham Street, Sheffield, with two men named Jenkinson and Foster when a serious explosion of gas took place. As a result, Foster was severely burned and imprisoned at the far end of the tank, access to which was blocked by the explosion. Having given the alarm, Rhodes returned through the underground passage to the tank, in the presence of great danger of a further explosion from escaping gas, and managed to reach Foster, whose cries he heard. He could not, however, release him until Dickson and Wood came to his assistance. These two men were not working in the tank, but heard Foster’s cries, and immediately went to his assistance without knowing that Rhodes had preceded them. They got into the underground passage by another entrance, and their help enabled Rhodes to release Foster.
BURIAL LOCATION: SHIREGREEN CEMETERY, SHEFFIELD, YORKSHIRE.
SECTION H, GRAVE 8601.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: UNKNOWN.
