Contributed by Ron Inglis, October 2021:
Dairy hand John Robert Fielding, ’23 11/12’, enlisted at the Sydney Showground on 9 November 1916. He declared he had served for six months in the United Kingdom Territorial Forces, before migrating to Australia.
This military service may explain why Fielding embarked on the Beltana and was away to the war only 14 days after enlistment. He sailed direct to England, arriving in Devonport on 29 January 1917. Private Fielding crossed to France and marched into the Australian Pioneers on 20 April 1917. He served on the front, without any interruptions, for almost six months, before he was killed in action in Belgium on 18 October 1917. Fielding was one of 14 Auburn Memorial men killed during the 3rd Battle of Ypres.
Fielding was buried in the Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, south of the Belgian town of Poperinge. This cemetery contains 1,131 Australians out of 10,750 burials.
It is not clear what connection Fielding had to Auburn. His medals were sent to his father in Lancashire, UK, whom Fielding had nominated as his next-of-kin. In a piece of correspondence in Fielding’s service file is a reference to a John M Fielding of Chiswick Road, Auburn.
John Fielding is honoured on the following memorials in Australia:
- Auburn War Memorial
- Municipality of Auburn 1914-1919 Honour Roll
- Roll of Honour Australian War Memorial Canberra
His decorations:
- British War Medal
- 1914-20 Victory Medal
