John Williams (Fielding)

Posts : 1862 Join date : 2009-03-25

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

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.

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).

Source:36regimentra

Posts : 1862 Join date : 2009-03-25

http://gbg-international-news.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/rorkes-drift-vc-recipient-to-get-new.html Salute

Subject: Re: John Williams (Fielding) Fri Mar 23, 2012 5:21 am

His Great Grandson is a forum member I believe, a good friend of Neils.

Regards

Posts : 1093 Join date : 2009-01-14 Location : East London

That would be "Colin Fielding" He attends all the re-dedications.

Posts : 553 Join date : 2009-10-14 Location : Loughborough

And Raucus Drifters boozy forays to the Battlefields
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Colin @ the drift 22.1.2010

Posts : 1862 Join date : 2009-03-25

Strange to think 132 years ago, his blood line was walking in the same footsteps. Salute

Subject: John Williams ( Fielding ) Fri Mar 23, 2012 10:25 pm

Hi Neil .
Good on him :lol: . Half his luck !. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: . Have you been again recently or going shortly ? .
I think all of us on the forum should make our way there , and make it one huge boozy foray , which will be spoken about
in song for generations !. Shocked

.
cheers 90th. Salute

Posts : 553 Join date : 2009-10-14 Location : Loughborough

90th
not this year, 1st missed in 9, I was in Malta last weekend lecturing at Fort Rinella, and a four day martini trolley dash in the USA next weekend, plus taking Rob Caskie to Normandy in May means all me brownie points are used.

Going next year, it'll give them time to import more Gin..and Bacardy for Colin LOL.

» Roll of Honour (Rorke's Drift)
» The annual parade in memory of Cwmbran’s Zulu War hero, Private John Williams (Fielding) VC, is due to go ahead on January 18th 2014.
» Pte John Williams, survivor of Isandlwana