Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of John Fielding, born 1826 in Hinckley, Leicestershire and his wife Helen (Ellen) Fielding (nee Mahony), born 1828 in Cork, County Cork, Ireland. Sydney was born in the 4th quarter of 1870 in Leicester, his siblings were, Harry, born 1857 at sea, Albert, born 1864 in the East Indies and Francis, born 10th January 1866 in Leicester, in April 1871 the family home was at Barston Street, Leicester. In April 1881 Sidney was a schoolboy and was residing in the family home at 27, Watling Street, Leicester, together with his father, a framework knitter, his mother and siblings, Henry, a printer and compositor, Albert, a plumber and Francis, a sadler. In April 1891 Sidney was employed as a hosiery trade worker and was residing in the family home at 27, Watling Street, Leicester, together with his father, a framework knitter, his mother and siblings, Harry, a printer, Albert a water works inspector and Francis, a sadler. In April 1911 Sidney was a serving soldier and was residing in the family home at 87, Haddon Street, Derby, together with his wife, Ada Jane Fielding (nee Lawrence, married on the 26th December 1891 in St. Nicholas’s Church, Leicester), born 31st December 1871 in Old Humberstone, Leicester and their children, Irene Gladys, a shorthand typist, born 19th February 1895 in Leicester and Alan Forester, born 1904 in Hong Kong. They also had a son, Henry Lawrence Randolf, born 11th June 1893. In 1939 Sidney’s widow was residing in the family home at 38, Hamilton Road, Derby together with their daughter Irene, a bank officer.
Sidney’s Army enlistment documents do not survive, all that is known of his military service is that he enlisted into the Nottinghamshire and Derby Regiment (Sherwood Foresters), being allotted the service number 4800, and was posted as a Private to the 1st Battalion Nottinghamshire and Derby Regiment where he attained the rank of Colour Sergeant during the South African (Boer) War, he was awarded the Queen’s South Africa Medal and the following clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Cape Colony and Orange Free State. After the South African War he rose to the rank of Quartermaster Sergeant and was appointed to a Commission as Lieutenant Quartermaster on the 22nd July 1914. His last posting was at Normanton Barracks, Normanton, Derbyshire, where he was serving with the 3rd Battalion Nottinghamshire and Derby Regiment. He died on the 12th November 1914 in the 4th Southern Hospital, Plymouth, Devon.
An explanation of Sidney’s South African War service using the clasps that he was awarded for his Queen’s South Africa Medal show that in the case of the South Africa 1901 clasp, it was awarded for those not eligible for the King’s Medal, although they had served at the front between the 1st January and the 31st December 1901, likewise the South Africa 1902 clasp was awarded for those not eligible for the King’s Medal, although they had served at the front between the 1st January and the 31st May 1902. The Cape Colony clasp was awarded to all troops in Cape Colony at anytime between the 11th October 1899 and the 31st May 1902, inclusive, who had not received a clasp for a specific action in the Cape Colony or the “Natal” clasp. The Orange Free State clasp was awarded to all troops in Orange River Colony at any time between the 28th February 1900 and the 31st May 1902, inclusive, who had not received a clasp for a specific action in the Orange River Colony. The Johannesburg clasp was awarded to those troops who, on the 29th May 1900, were north of an east and west line through Klip River Station and east of a north and south line through Krugersdorp Station. The Diamond Hill clasp was awarded to all troops who, on the 11th and 12th June 1900, were east of a north and south line drawn through Silverton Siding and north of an east and west line through Vlakfontein.
On Friday November 20th 1914 The Leicester Journal published the following article under the heading. “ROSE FROM THE RANKS.” – Lieutenant Sydney Fielding, who has just died in Plymouth Southern Hospital, came of an old Leicester family. His father served in the Crimea and the Indian Mutiny, while his brother went through the Egyptian wars. Other members of the family have served in many campaigns since the Peninsular War. Lieutenant Fielding was educated at Alderman Newton’s School. Just after he came of age he joined the Army, attaching himself to the 1st Battalion of the Sherwood Foresters. He served with the Colours in Ireland, Malta, China, Straits Settlements, India and South Africa. He went through the Boer War, and was twice mentioned in despatches for conspicuous service on the field of battle. He held the Queen’s medal, the King’s medal, seven bars, and also the Long Service Medal. The greatest compliment a soldier expects was vouchsafed the deceased in June of this year, when he was promoted from the ranks and gazetted Lieutenant.
On Thursday 15th July 1915 The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – Old Newtonians’ Roll of Honour. Nearly 300 old boys of Alderman Newton’s School are known to be serving with the colours. A complete list has been prepared and printed for private circulation, “With the best wishes and heartiest greetings to the Old Newtonians who are serving their King and Country in defence of honour.” The following Old Newtonians have fallen:-
HUNT, A. D., 12th Lancers, Mons, Aug. 28, 1914.
RICHARDSON, J. T., H.M.S. Good Hope.
FIELDING, Lieut., 1st Sherwood Foresters.
ASHWELL, F., Sergt. K.R.R., Tryon, Sept., 1914.
PRATT, H.
ADAMS, C. H., Leicester Yeomanry, 13th May, 1915.
HOPKINS, J. H., Leicester Yeomanry, 13th May, 1915.
MATTHEWS, F. H., Leicester Yeomanry, 13th May, 1915.
HOLMES, H., Lnc-Cpl., Leicester Yeomanry, 13th May, 1915.
FLETCHER, Wm., Sergt., 2nd Leicester’s, 15th May, 1915.
FREER, J. W., Lieut., Dardanelles.