Williams was 21 years old, and a private in the 2nd Battalion, 24th Regiment of Foot (later The South Wales Borderers), British Army during the Anglo-Zulu War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

He was there joined by Alfred Henry Hook, and working together (one holding the enemy at bayonet point while the other broke through three more partitions) they were able to bring eight patients into the inner line of defence.

These two men together, one man working whilst the other fought and held the enemy at bay with his bayonet, broke through three more partitions, and were thus enabled to bring eight patients through a small window into the inner line of defence.

[12] Fielding served with the battalion until 1883, after six years of service with the colours, when he returned to the UK from India aboard HMS Malabar (1866) and was transferred to the reserves.

The nursing home directly opposite his burial place in Llantarnam, Cwmbran,[19] was later named in his honour, as was a local pub, the John Fielding, where a picture of him is displayed.

[20][21] The South Wales Argus revealed in January 2019 that the annual parade, to remember Fielding's heroism, had been cancelled for "health and safety" reasons.