Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Fred Fielding was a champion footballer with South Bendigo FC before moving to Melbourne where he played 1 game (1911) for South Melbourne FC and 17 games (1913) for Collingwood FC in the VFL prior to enlisting.

Enlisted under alias James GLEESON.

Son of James and Winifred Fielding of 101 Breen Street, Bendigo, Victoria. Enlisted under the name of James GLEESON.

Fred was born in Quarry Hill, Bendigo, playing football in the local competition for Bendigo in 1910. He was initially invited to play with the Footscray Football Club, playing a few games. He showed skill, but it was not enough for him to remain with Footscray Club. It was upon his return to Bendigo, the rules had changed with players required to have clearance to play with other teams. He had unintentionally moved to Footscray without a permit and was refused a permit to play at the Bendigo club, Fred took up umpiring.

It was not long before Fred was back on the football field playing consistent football. He played a fine game against St Kilda in 1911 and it is believed that St Kilda where keen for Fred to join them. For reasons unknown Fred ended up playing at South Melbourne. Again, success alluded him, playing one game against Collingwood before heading back to Bendigo.

The 1912 season at Bendigo gave Fred another opportunity where it is reported by the Bendigo Advertiser that Fred was champion player. “He is the best all-round footballer in the district,” the paper said. “The player is cool, clever and tricky and when at his best is most entertaining to watch.” Fred won South Bendigo’s best-and-fairest in 1912.

It was the Collingwood Football Club that gave Fred another chance at the big time in 1913, he didn’t let this opportunity go begging. He played 17 games, kicking 10 goals in that year. He was described as an” exceptionally clever player” with his kicking a highlight and his ball handling to be sure and reliable. Named among the best when Collingwood played in a losing semi-final to Fitzroy. It was in this year that Fred’s football career was to end, returning to Echuca to take up a role as Captain – Coach and spending more time umpiring.

In 1915, Fred returned to Melbourne to give football another try and was cleared to play for Carlton, but never to play a game for them. It was during this year he was in an army training camp where he continued to play football.

This is where Fred’s movements become a mystery never officially enlisting in the AIF in Melbourne but travelling to Western Australia under an assume name of James Gleeson, to enlist in the AIF in April 1916 at Blackboy Hill West Australia. Gleeson was his mother’s maiden name.

Fred embarked with 28th Battalion from Fremantle in September 1916 arriving in France in December 1916. The battalion was in action in Belgium on 20th September 1917 with Fred receiving a wound to his shoulder by an artillery shell, as the battalion was taking a section of enemy trenches north of Polygon Wood. He was transported to England to recuperate, re-joining his battalion in May 1918.

On 8th August 1918 Fred’s battalion was involved in “The Battle of Amiens” or as it is also known the “100 Day Offensive”, a battle that would end the First World War. The offensive commenced just east of the village of Villers Bretonneux. 

It was at the commencement of the battle that an artillery percussion shell knocked down Fred, Percy Wilkes, Sergeant Clayton, Lieutenant Hopkins and a Private Povak. It was when Private Povak came to, Fred and Percy were dead along with Sergeant Clayton. Lieutenant Hopkins was crawling away, surviving the percussion shell.

Records indicate that both Fred and Percy where buried on the battlefield where they fell along with Sergeant Clayton. After the war Clayton’s body was exhumed to be buried in Villers Bretonneux Military Cemetery. There are no records of Fred and Percy having named headstones, they lay in unknown graves.

It is through research that the two headstones in Crucifix Corner Cemetery that are side by side marked, “Unknown Unto God A Soldier of the Great War 28th Battalion Australian Infantry” that is believed this is the final resting place of Fred Fielding and Percy Wilkes.

Fred’s family was initially told he’d been wounded in action a second time, before getting the worst news of his death a short time later. His heartbroken family placed a notice in The Age Newspaper:

“The hardest part is now to come, when all the boys are returning. We miss among the happy throng Dear Fred, who will never return.”