MORE THAN 100 former servicemen turned out in Cwmbran on Saturday to honour a brave son of Torfaen.
The John Fielding Memorial Parade, pictured, held at St Michael's Church, Llantarnam, at 11am, payed tribute to a local hero decorated for his part in the battle of Rorke's Drift in the Zulu War in 1879.
Cwmbran and District ex-Servicemen's Association secretary Brian Mahoney said: "This is the eighth year that we've been holding the parade.
"John Fielding joined the 24th regiment under the name of John Williams, fought at the battle of Rorke's Drift, and was awarded the Victoria Cross.
"He was from the Cwmbran area, born in Pontypool and died in 1932. He changed his name because he didn't want his parents to know he'd joined the army.
"We hold the parade on the nearest Saturday to the anniversary of the battle, which took place on January 22 and 23 in 1879.
"And it's getting bigger and bigger. When we started there were about 20 of us and there were more than 100 this year.
"As well as the mayor and Paul Murphy, the former Secretary of State for Wales and current Northern Ireland Secretary, we had two great-granddaughters of John Fielding who came to pay their respects."
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