John Forbes Menzies Fleming was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant while still in New Zealand, before embarking for the war with the 6th Reinforcements. He commanded the 14th Company, 1st Battalion of the Otago Infantry Regiment when it went into action on September 27th, 1916, during the Battle of the Somme. The Otagos' Official History describes what happened to the 14th: "The two leading Companies, 14th and 4th, valiantly endeavoured to press on against this hail of fire; but it was only a question of distance when they were literally swept away by it. Every officer and almost every man became a casualty.
2nd Lieut. John Forbes Menzies Fleming, son of Mr. D. T. Fleming, chairman of the Dunedin Education Board, and nephew of Mrs. A. Paul, of Brougham-street, Wellington, who died of wounds on 30th September, was formerly in the Mounteds, but when the call came in Egypt to join the Infantry he willingly volunteered. He saw service in Gallipoli, and afterwards went to France, where the supreme sacrifice was made. Prior to enlistment he was an officer of the Bank of New Zealand. -Evening Post, 11/10/1916.
John Fleming died from the results of the gunshot wound to his right thigh which fractured the femur. The wound developed an infection which killed him in a French hospital three days after it occurred.
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