A curious case is that of bricklayer 2057 Private Cecil Roy Field, 23, whose name appears only on the honour roll at St Philip’s Anglican Church Auburn. His name does not appear on the Auburn War Memorial even though Field nominated his father of 55 Queen Street, Auburn as his next-of-kin and even though, for the gravestone in the Cite Bonjean Military Cemetery in Armentieres, his parents chose the inscription 'In loving memory of the dear son of A J & V Field of Auburn NSW'.
Whatever the reason for Field's absence from the Auburn War Memorial, we can note from his file he had a less than exemplary record of service in the AIF. Enlisting at RAS Showground on 21 March 1916, Field had total VD period 15 days on the voyage of the Anchises to England. Arriving in France on 22 November 1916, Field was in and out of hospitals in Etaples and Boulogne with wounds, VD and Gonnorrhoea. In addition, there are several crimes against his name: Absent without Leave for 2 days, refusal to obey orders, and disobedience of order from his superior officer.
Field spent very little time with his battalion, the 36th, but on New Year’s Eve 1917 he was shot dead by Private Bolton, one of his own company. In Field's service record is the following report: "After completing a tour of duty on a front line outpost, Pte. Field and other members of the post were marched down to the subsidy trenches and on entering the door of the dugout Pte. Field was accidently shot by a bullet from Pte. Bolton’s rifle. Statement by Sgt. Allen attached. Note:- Pte. Bolton was tried by F.G.C.M. on charge of Manslaughter and is now serving sentence of 12 months I.H.L. (Sgd) J. A. Milne. Lt. Col. 36th Bn."
Field lies in the Cite Bonjean Military Cemetery, Armentieres, France as does fellow Auburn soldier Lieutenant John James McGrath. An image of the cemetery is shown below.
