| Rank | Sgt. |
| Service # | 189576, A19215 |
| Unit # | Royal Canadian Engineers |
Born 3 December, 1899 (but wrote 1897 to enlist in WWI), in Wilkesport, Sombra Twsp., Lambton Co. The son of Mr. George H and Margret ‘Maggie’, Bishop of R.R. #3, Dresden, ON. His brothers Lou and Orville also served in WWII.
2/12/1915. His service number was 189576. He enlisted in St. Thomas, ON. and went to the 91st Overseas Batt. at the age of 16. Albert was awarded a Military Medal in the Great War.
Albert actually had three service numbers: 880260, 880407 and 189576. Military file: RG150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 754-58, Item: 44985. PDF B0754-S055. Age: 18 years, 5’ 6”, Fair complexion, Eyes: Blue, Hair: Light Brown, Small scar on right wrist. A single machinist. Had his medical 7/12/15 at Chatham, ON. He came down with the Mumps 8/07/16 to 1/08/16 well training in Canada.
Embarked at Halifax NS. aboard the S.S. Lapland sailing 26/03/17, arrived in Liverpool, England 7/04/17.
20/04/17 He was TOS with the 4th Reserve Batt. – Bramshott. He went overseas to France and was TOS with the 18th Batt. CEF. He wounded in action 12/10/18. He was gazetted for the Military Medal Auth. #31173, 25/08/17.
His wound was classified as a GSW to the right arm. His tour through the medical procedures began 14/10/18 at the 7th Convalescent Hospital at Bolougne, France. He was transferred back to England to R.C. St. Martins Hospital 22/10/18, and after repairing his injury, he was transferred to #10 Convalescent Hospital for recovery 26/10/18.
On 4/12/1918 at #5 ‘Rest Camp’ Albert was “Docked 3 days pay for Disobedience of camp order – sleeping in the wrong tent”. He would be docked again 11/01/19 for 7 days being AWOL (Absent With Out Leave)
1/02/19 Albert was given a 14 day leave in the UK. Returning on 27/01/19 On the 22nd of February 1919, he boarded the ship “S.S. Coromia” and sailed from Liverpool to Canada for discharge from H.M.S (His Majesty Service)
The war had been hard on Albert. He spent some time in Westminister Hospital suffering from “Shell Shock” (better known in the 21st century as post-traumatic stress disorder, aka PTSD).
It was reported in the CDN 4/11/14 that his niece, Sonya Gail, and her cousin Peggy Marchand, transcribed Albert’s story of his time in the Great War amounting to forty-five pages, completed at the time of his hospitalization as therapy for his condition. In one account, the difficulty of transporting a wounded person to a dressing station that “Rather than risk being shelled by the enemy by taking the road, the opted for the safety of open fields. However, the mud was so deep the made poor time with their load. Water on the field hid the holes, and the weight of the stretcher and the wounded soldier would push them down to their hips. Even throwing away everything, great coats, gas-masks and kits it was difficult to move. “The eventually had to take the road and endured the shelling before reaching the aid station.”
Albert was living in Dresden when he enlisted on 14/09/1939 in London, ON. to the Royal Canadian Engineers at the age of 40 years. Albert served in Canada, England an N.W. Europe (France & Holland), serving with the RCE. Prior to his return, he was with a RCE Troop at the Army General Headquarters. He was reported to have arrived in Halifax, NS. aboard the S. S. “Nieu Amsterdam”, 9 Sept., 1945. He was expected to arrive at Lachine, PQ on the 11th for leave to return home. CDN 10/09/45.
After the war, Albert worked at the hospital in London where he was treated after the Great War. He sponsored many veterans with Alcoholics Anonymous.
Albert Earl Bishop passes away in London, ON. 1/09/1973 at the age of 73.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
| Awards | Military Medal, 1939-1945 Star, Defence Medal |
| Sources | WWI:IODE, Family ((24-05-1919)), ,, , SN-RH. , LAC., KCFA, IODE-CM, CDN(4),, WN, family |
| Height | 5' 7'' |
| Eye Colour | Blue |
| Complexion | Fair |
| Hair | Light Brown |
| Race | White |
| Birthplace | Born- December 3, 1899, Sombra Township. |
| Religion | Baptist |
| Last Place of Employment | Wallaceburg Brass Works. |
| Marital Status | Single |
| When Enlisted | December 1st, 1915, September 14th, 1939 |
| Where Enlisted | Wallaceburg, ON, London, ON |
| Next of Kin | Mother- Mrs. George H. Bishop, Wilkesport |
Notice something wrong with this record? Or, do you have something to add? Report it using our online form.
