1395 Pte John Williams (Fielding) VC,

1395 Pte John Williams (Fielding) VC, Died 25th Nov 1932, Buried St Michael’s Churchyard, Llantarnam.Mon
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Photos by Tim Needham

Rorke's Drift hero honoured John Fielding

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His citation describes how he won this award stating:

"22-23 January 1879 – At Rorke’s Drift, he was posted with two others (William Horrigan and Joseph Williams) in a distant ward of the hospital. They held out for an hour until cartridges ran short. The Zulus burst in and speared Joseph Williams and two of the patients to death. John Williams grabbed a pickaxe and broke a wall down through which he passed the two surviving patients to Private Hook. He pick axed one partition wall after another as Hook bayoneted countless attackers until they had moved eight patients through four rooms and into the inner defence. At that moment the roof collapsed, crushing and burning the pursuing Zulus."

John Fielding was born 29th September 1886, Nantyglo, Monmouthshire, Wales. He enlisted in the Army using the surname Williams so his parents would not find out. He died 25 November 1932, Tycoch, Cwmbran and is buried St Michaels Churchyard, ,Lllantarnam, Gwent. Rank: Sergeant.

A soldier, among 11 awarded the Victoria Cross for bravery during a famous Zulu War battle in South Africa, is being honoured with a sculpture.

Private John Fielding, also known as John Williams, was 21 when he risked his life to save eight hospitalised soldiers at Rorke's Drift in 1879. The battle was immortalised in the 1964 film Zulu, starring Michael Caine. The memorial has been placed at a new housing complex near Cwmbran, which has also been named after Pte Fielding. The Battle of Rorke's Drift was fought on 22nd and 23rd January 1879 in Natal, South Africa. Around 140 British troops, mainly Welshmen, faced an army of around 4,500 Zulu warriors as they tried to protect a British base at the Rorke's Drift crossing on the Buffalo River. Earlier that day, the Zulus, armed with spears, had killed more than 1,000 British soldiers at nearby Isandlwana. But the small crew of soldiers at Rorke's Drift, a supplies base and military hospital, were able to fight off the approaching Zulu warriorsDuring the battle, the hospital at the base was set on fire and stormed by the Zulus and the patients had to be evacuated.

But Pte Fielding and his comrade Alfred Hook defended the hospital until their ammunition ran out. They then brought eight patients to safety, holding back the enemy with bayonets. After a heavy night of fighting, the Zulu warriors withdrew from the battle in the morning.
Abergavenny-born Pte Fielding was the last surviving VC holder from the battle, when he died in 1932. He was buried in Llantarnam near Cwmbran, close to the site of a new housing development which has been named after him. His character was played by Peter Gill in the epic film Zulu. Stone carver Teucer Wilson, who was commissioned by the developers, said: "I wanted to create a sculpture that was relevant to the struggle of all those who fought in Rorke's Drift, but also have a timeless quality.

Source: Zulu War hero's sculpture honour

Click here to view his funeral procession