you are currently viewing: John Williiams (Fielding)
 
 

 
 

John Williams (Fielding) (1393 B Co. 24th. Regiment).

Directions to Memorial

Buried in St. Michael's Churchyard, Llantarnam, Gwent. Grave immediately to the right on entering. Note headstone states 21th. Regiment. Location can be found on Google Earth at:

51° 37' 58.61" N 3° 00' 11.94" W

DOWNLOAD PLACEMARK

Click on the grave inscription to zoom in, or click here

On the opposite side of the road is a residential home for the mentally handicapped which is named after him, 'Fielding House'. Found from the A4051.

Why was he awarded the Victoria Cross?

Held one hospital room for an hour against heavy odds until his ammunition ran out, then with Hook broke through three patition walls to allow the evacuation of eight patients to the inner defence lines, holding the enemy back at bayonet point. He was 21 at the time of the defence.

Further Information

Born in Merthyr Road, Abergavenny as John Fielding. He enlisted first in the Monmouthshire Militia in February 1877 but later that year joined the 2/24th. He received his VC from Major General Anderson at Gibraltar in March 1880. He served in India in 1880-1883 before transferring to the reserve. He later served as a sergeant in the 3rd Volunteer Battalion, South Wales Borderers.

In 1914, he volunteered for service and served on the SWB Depot staff at Brecon throughout the Great War. He married Elizabeth Murphy and had 3 sons and 2 daughters; one son was killed while serving with 1/SWB during the Retreat from Mons in 1914. He died in Cwmbran in 1932 and was the last surviving Rorke's Drift VC holder to die. (His VC is in the SWB Museum Collection).

Further Information supplied by the South Wales Borderers Museum, Brecon.

Back


St Michaels Church