He accompanied the battalion to Gibraltar, disembarking on 12 February 1880, where it was briefly stationed, prior to redeploying to India. After disembarking at Poona on 2 September, the battalion was sent by rail to Secunderabad on 15 September 1880. He is documented as being at
Secunderabad with the 2nd Battalion, from April to September 1881, as documented by the muster and pay books. He served with the battalion until 1883, after six years of
service with the colours, he returned to the UK from India aboard
HMS Malabar and was transferred to the
reserves. He extended his reserve service by four years, up to 1893. He was recorded in the 1891 census as living with his wife and five children at
Llantarnam, and employed as a labourer. He later achieved the rank of
Sergeant in the
3rd (Monmouthshire) Volunteer Battalion, South Wales Borderers, In 1914, he re-enlisted for service and served on the SWB Depot staff at
Brecon throughout
World War I. and they had three sons and three daughters. One son was killed while serving with the 1st Battalion SWB during the
First Battle of the Aisne in 1914. The nursing home directly opposite his burial place in
Llantarnam,
Cwmbran, was later named in his honour, as was a local pub, the John Fielding, where a picture of him is displayed. ==The medal==