Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Thomas Fielding, a farmer and butcher, born 1845 in Houghton on the Hill, Leicestershire and his wife Elizabeth Fielding (formerly Clifford, nee Bramley, married on the 17th May 1887 in the Billesdon, Leicestershire district), born 1851 in Narborough, Leicestershire. Andrew Leonard was born in the 1st quarter of 1890 in Houghton on the Hill and baptised on the 12th January 1890, his half blood siblings were Arthur Edward, assisting in the family business, born 1874, George Sydney, a schoolboy, born 1876, William Ernest, a schoolboy, born 1877, Elizabeth Margaretta, a schoolgirl, born 1880, Herbert Henry, a schoolboy, born 1883 and Marion Louise, a schoolgirl, born 1885, the latter six half blood siblings were all born in Houghton on the Hill, his full blood siblings were, John Thomas, assisting in the family business, born 1873, Charles Gordon, born 1888, both full blood siblings were born in Houghton on the Hill, his half blood siblings were, Claude William Clifford, a schoolboy, born 1875, Mary Elizabeth Clifford, a schoolgirl, born 1877, Thomas Oswald Clifford, a schoolboy, born 1879, Kathleen Jane Clifford, a schoolgirl, born 1883 and Ida Evelyn Clifford, a schoolgirl, born 1886, the latter five half blood siblings were all born in Houghton on the Hill, in April 1891 the family home was at 58, Main Street, Houghton on the Hill. On the 24th December 1897 in the Billesdon, Leicestershire district, Andrew’s mother died aged 47. In March 1901 Andrew was a schoolboy and was residing in the family home at 32, Main Street, Houghton on the Hill, together with his widowed father, a farmer and butcher and his half blood siblings, Arthur, a butcher, Sydney, a farmer, Francis Frederick, a carpenter and joiner, born 1879 in Houghton on the Hill, Elizabeth, Henry and Marion, and his full blood siblings, John, a farmer, Charles, a schoolboy and Henrietta Maud, a schoolgirl, born 1893 in Houghton on the Hill. In April 1911 Andrew was employed working on the family farm and was residing at in the family home at Houghton on the Hill, together with his widowed father, a farmer and butcher and his half blood siblings, Ernest, working on the family farm, Francis, working on the family farm, Margaretta, working on the family farm, Henry, working on the family farm and Marion, working on the family farm, and his full blood siblings, Charles, working on the family farm and Henrietta, working on the family farm. His half brother, Claude William Clifford also fell in action on the same day.
Andrew attested into the Army on a Short Service engagement (For the Duration of the War, with the Colours and in the Army Reserve.) on the 11th December 1915 in Leicester. He gave his full address as Houghton on the Hill, Leicestershire, his age as 25 years and 11 months and his trade or calling as butcher and farmer. He confirmed that he was unmarried. He gave his father Thomas Fielding of Houghton on the Hill, Leicestershire as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 9½ inches in height and he had a chest measurement of between 35 and 38 inches. After attestation on the 11/12/15 in Leicester he was transferred as Private, service number 25784 to the Army Reserve. Mobilized on the 1/3/16. Posted to the Leicestershire Regiment Depot on the 1/3/16. Posted to the 3rd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 4/3/16. Embarked from Folkestone to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 3/8/16. Posted to the 6th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 4/8/16. Appointed Lance Corporal (paid), in the field on the 27/10/16. Admitted to the 1st Canadian Field Ambulance, suffering from impetigo (contagious) in the field on the 26/1/17. Re joined unit in the field on the 6/2/16. Admitted to 64th West Lancashire Field Ambulance, wounded, in the field on the 13/4/17. Admitted to the 20th Casualty Clearing Station, suffering from a gunshot wound to the left leg, in the field on the 13/4/17. Admitted to 15 -?- in the field on the 14/4/17. Admitted to the 5th Convalescent Depot, Cayeux, on the 23/4/17. Appointed Acting Corporal (paid) on the 9/5/17. Confirmed in rank of Corporal on the 9/5/17. Transferred to 15th Infantry Brigade Depot, Calais on the 14/5/17. Rejoined Battalion in the field on the 26/5/17. Appointed Lance Sergeant (paid) on the 13/10/17. Killed in action in the field on the 22/3/18. A summary of his service records: Home Service, 1/3/16 – 3/8/16. British Expeditionary Force, France, 4/8/16 – 22/3/18. Andrew was awarded the British and Victory medals. The following information was provided by Andrew’s father Thomas Fielding on the 14th September 1919, and was witnessed and signed by S. T. Witcherley, Rector of Houghton on the Hill, Houghton Rectory, Leicestershire on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family) Father of soldier, Thomas Fielding of Houghton on the Hill, Leicestershire. Mother of soldier, Elizabeth Fielding (Deceased). Full blood brother of soldier, Charles Gordon Fielding. Full blood sister of soldier, Henrietta Maud Fielding. Andrew’s surviving service documents are in a very poor condition, and much of the finer detail relating to the period of time that he spent in the Army, is either illegible or missing, hence the sparse overall description of his military and personal family history.
The War Diary records: 22 Mar-18. EPEHY. 6.30am. Intense bombardment of FRONT LINE for over an hour, which extended to CLOSE SUPPORT LINE. 8.30am. Troubled by snipers in rear of YELLOW LINE. During the night 21st/22nd Two Field Companies of ROYAL ENGINEERS came up and were under our orders. One Company from the Reserve Brigade and three Vickers guns were also to have come under our orders, but failed to do so on account of being unable to get through hostile barrage. 8.40am. About this time Lieutenant Colonel W. N. STEWART D.S.O. was killed, being shot through the head by a sniper, death being instantaneous. Command of the Battalion being taken by Major J. C. BURDETT. 8.50am. Enemy reported to be massing in front of YELLOW LINE, patrols being within 100 yards of our line. 9.00am. Enemy attempted to bomb down COMMUNICATION TRENCH leading to our FRONT LINE, but were knocked out by a Lewis gun. 9.30am. Enemy worked round both flanks and we were surrounded. 11.00am. A rearguard action was fought to the BROWN LINE forming a defensive flank on the EPEHY-SAULCOURT ROAD, gaining touch with the 8th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT. Enemy now advancing in extended order, wave after wave towards the BROWN LINE. Two tanks checked the enemy advance temporarily. 12.30pm. Enemy in EPEHY-SAULCOURT ROAD. Orders to withdraw to AERODROME-LONGAVESNES, 7th and 8th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT. withdrawing north of EPEHY-SAULCOURT ROAD through BROWN LINE. Arrived LONGAVESNES about 3.00pm. We came under heavy artillery and intense machine gun fire from CAPRON COPSE and SAULCOURT during withdrawal. LONGAVESNES being shelled, orders were received to withdraw to AIZECOURT-LE-HAUT, where deficiencies of small arms ammunition etc. were made up.
On Friday April 26th 1918 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “HOUGHTON ON THE HILL.” – LOCAL SOLDIERS KILLED. – The death in action in France is reported on the 22nd ult. of Leonard Fielding, Lance Sergt., Leicestershire Regt., youngest son of Mr. Thos. Fielding, of Houghton on the Hill; also his half brother, Sapper Claude Clifford, Sherwood Foresters, of Little Bowden, on the 28th. The latter was a son of the late Mr. Thos. Bird Clifford and the late Mrs. Thos. Fielding and son in law of Mr. W. Ward, of the Manor Farm, Houghton. Both were natives of Houghton, where Leonard Fielding had lived all his life, and Claude Clifford till a few years ago. A memorial service is being held in Houghton Church tomorrow.