Joseph Fielder. Died 21 August 1915
Joseph was born about 1892 in Wokingham to Joseph and Elizabeth, He was the youngest child and had 3 elder sisters (Mabel, Elizabeth and Amy).
By 1901 the family lived in London Street, Wokingham and Joseph snr was a self-employed Cattle dealer. By 1911 the family lived on Finchampstead Road, Joseph snr was a farmer and young Joseph now a cattle dealer.
Joseph jnr joined the Berkshire Yeomanry.
“The Berkshire Yeomanry is the County of Berkshire‘s senior volunteer unit with over 200 years of voluntary military service.Originally formed as mounted cavalry in 1794 to counter the threat of invasion during the Napoleonic Wars, the squadron, which has seen service as machine gunners, artillery, armour, infantry and now signallers, serves within the Royal Corps of Signals.
The Berkshire Yeomanry has a number of battle honours won from Europe to the Far East, including a Victoria Cross won by Private Frederick Potts in the Gallipoli operation In recognition of its service, the Berkshire Yeomanry was granted the freedom of the Royal Borough of Windsor in 1994 on its 200th anniversary, and the freedom of the borough of Runnymede (borough) in July 2009”.
Joseph was serving in Gallipoli when he was killed on the 21st August 1915 his name is commemorated on the Helles memorial. It is likely that he was taking part in the same action as John Horne at Scimitar Hill when he was killed; when Potts of Reading won the VC and when David Niven Snr (father of the actor) also lost his life.
After the war Joseph’s mother was living at 2 Eldon Road, Reading