Field, JA

Captain John Archibald Field

John was born on May 2nd 1884 in Sydney, Australia, the son of barrister, Edward Field. He began his education there at Sydney Grammar School, but by the time he was fourteen the family was back in England and he started at Dulwich, the first of three brothers to do so. He had intended to join the Navy from the College, but was rejected on medical grounds, as a result returning to spend a year as a member of the Engineering Sixth. Following that he went on to the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, and during his time there won the Sabre during the annual fencing match against Sandhurst. He passed out in 1903, and was granted a commission in the Royal Engineers. Not long after this he was sent to India, where he became a member of the Survey of India, and was, in 1906, promoted to Lieutenant. He served as part of the Abor Expedition of 1911-12, and was made Captain during the summer of 1914, at which time he was in charge of the Drawing Office, Calcutta.
After the war was declared, John returned to England that autumn, and was assigned to the 79th Field Company, with whom he went to France the following July. Not long after arriving at the front he was transferred to the 92nd Field Company, where he was also made Commanding Officer. On July 13th 1916 he was leading his Company near Trones Wood on the Somme when he was hit by shrapnel, dying instantly.