Sculpture to remember local war hero

A memorial slate sculpture will be placed at the entrance to a new homes development to commemorate a local war hero. Redrow’s new development John Fielding Gardens, in Llantarnam, is named after the local solider who received the Victoria Cross, for bravery during the Zulu War in South Africa in 1879.

Now the hero, who at the age of just 21 risked his own life to save the lives of eight hospital patients in the face of heavy fire, will be honoured with a fitting tribute in the form of a carved stone and memorial plaque.

Born in Merthyr Road, Abergavenny as John Fielding, he enlisted first in the Monmouthshire Militia in February 1877 under the name John Williams. He was awarded the VC for his bravery on January 22, 1879, when, at Rorke's Drift, Natal, South Africa, Private Williams and his comrade Alfred Hook courageously held a hospital room for an hour until their ammunition ran out. They then broke through three partition walls to evacuate eight patients to the inner defence lines, holding the Zulu enemy back at bayonet point after they had killed one of their comrades and two patients.

John Fielding is buried in St. Michael's Churchyard, Llantarnam, near to the housing development.

Stone carver Teucer Wilson, the artist commissioned by Redrow to create the tribute, said he was delighted to have been chosen to commemorate such a worthy hero.

He said: “I found out a lot about John Fielding by researching on the internet and decided 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.

“It will be in a residential area so I want it to be something people enjoy passing and studying, and something that makes people think.”

The final stone will feature the words of a song called “Y Corn Hirlas” (the Hirlas Horn), which is a traditional celebratory hymn about bravery in the battlefield, along with a carving of the horn itself.

A lion and the words ‘for valour’, which both feature on the Victoria Cross, will also be carved into the stone.

Teucer added: “It was a fascinating piece to research and it represents a very important piece of local Welsh history.”

The sculpture will be visible to residents and visitors entering the development and will stand about 1.2m off the ground.

Debby Pavitt, area sales manager for Redrow Homes (South Wales), said: “John Fielding is a local hero and it is only fitting that a memorial should be created on the site.

“As well as being steeped in local history this really is a beautiful place to live. The stone will be in keeping with the contemporary yet traditional homes on the development.”

House prices currently range from £449,995 for a four-bedroom house to £529,995 for a five-bedroom detached property. A deluxe five-bedroom Windermere house similar to the show home starts at £489,995.

Llantarnam is on the fringes of Cwmbran and is surrounded by a host of local amenities such as shops, banks, restaurants, pubs and sports facilities. Less than a mile from the development is a popular park with a boating lake and children’s play area.

To view the stunning show home, or for any information about the remaining properties at John Fieldings Gardens visit the marketing suite open daily 10am-5.30pm, or go online at Redrow.co.uk/developments/view/61.

For general information about Redrow Homes visit Redrow.co.uk.