Albert Edgar Bishop
From Our Contribution
 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 20 Sep 1881 |
| Place of Birth | Jarrahdale, Western Australia |
| Death | 3 Jan 1939 |
| Place of Death | Victoria Park, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 34 years, 6 months |
| Description |
5'6½" (1.69m) tall ; 138 lbs 62.596 kg ; fresh complexion ; grey eyes ; fair hair |
| Occupation | Mental hospital attendant |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | Central avenue, Osborne Park, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Wife , Mrs May Bishop |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 17988 |
| Date of Enlistment | 26 Jul 1916 |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit/Formation | Australian Army Medical Corp Reinforcements transferred to 8th Field Ambulance |
| Date of Embarkation | 1 Aug 1917 ‒ 21 Sep 1917 |
| Ship Embarked On | HMAT A7 Medic |
| Date of Embarkation | 21 Sep 1917 ‒ 3 Oct 1017 |
| Ship Embarked On | SS Orita |
| Date of Return | 1 Feb 1918 ‒ 18 Mar 1918 |
| Ship Returned On | SS Balmoral Castle |
| Fate |
Wounded in Action 2 Nov 1917 (gassed) Returned to Australia |
| Monument |
Mundijong Honour Roll ANZAC Memorial Park (Byford) |
| Medals |
British War Medal Victory Medal |
Pre War
Raised in Mundijong with brothers Clyde and Thomas. Electoral Roll entries - 1903 & 1906 a farmer living in Mardella. 1910 - 1914 with wife May (nee White) at 2nd avenue, Claremont, an attendant. May died 20 Oct 1961 aged 81 in Mt Lawley.
War Service
Albert enlisted in WA, and within a week was allocated to Medical Corps reinforcements, requiring training in NSW. It was almost a year later before Albert sailed for overseas from Sydney, with nothing untoward noted in his records so we might assume he received detailed training for his role in France.
Embarking for Halifax, Nova Scotia (Canada) from Sydney aboard HMAT A7 Medic, he was transferred there onto SS Orita for the rest of the journey to Liverpool.
The day after arrival in England he was sent to Parkhouse to prepare for France, and a fortnight later he proceeded overseas to France from Southampton. On 27 Oct 1917 he was taken on strength by the 8th Field Ambulance.
Three days later he was detached to the 13th Field Artillery Brigade, and another three days later (i.e. 2 Nov 1917) he was wounded in action (gassed).
Seen by the 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station he was admitted to the 2nd Australian General Hospital at Boulogne on 3 Nov 1917, and on 16 Nov 1917 he was evacuated to England, where the next day he entered the Barnet War Hospital in Hertfordshire. On 27 Nov 1917 Albert was released to the 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Harefield.
Associated with the gassing effect was a case of Trachoma [1]
With Albert unable to regain health sufficient to rejoin his unit, a decision was taken to sent him to the Command Depot in Weymouth and then back to Australia for early discharge.
Discharged at 5th Military District on 14 Jun 1918.
Post War
Electoral Roll entries - 1925 farmer with wife May at 55 Canterbury terrace, Victoria Park; 1936 & 1937 hasn't moved but is now a library attendant. After his death wife May remains at 55 Canterbury terrace until 1958 or later. Children were Norman Vincent (1908 - 1965); Stanley Gordon (1909 - 1996); Muriel Jan [Fenner] (1911 - 1999); and George Douglas (1915 - 1990)
Notes
- ↑ Trachoma is an infectious disease caused by bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis. The infection causes a roughening of the inner surface of the eyelids. This roughening can lead to pain in the eyes, breakdown of the outer surface or cornea of the eyes, and eventual blindness. Untreated, repeated trachoma infections can result in a form of permanent blindness when the eyelids turn inward