BISHOP, Raymond Charles
| Service Number: | 3761 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 55th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Moruya, New South Wales, Australia, July 1895 |
| Home Town: | Eurobodalla, Eurobodalla, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Eurobodalla Public School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Fromelles, France, 20 July 1916 |
| Cemetery: |
Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery Plot I, Row E, Grave No 11, Pheasant Wood Military Cemetery, Fromelles, Lille, Nord Pas de Calais, France |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Bodalla Nerrigundah Roll of Honour WW1, Moruya Uniting Church Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 20 Jan 1916: | Involvement Private, 3761, 19th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '13' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Runic embarkation_ship_number: A54 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 20 Jan 1916: | Embarked Private, 3761, 19th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Runic, Sydney | |
| 20 Jul 1916: | Involvement Private, 3761, 55th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 3761 awm_unit: 55th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1916-07-20 | |
| Date unknown: | Involvement 55th Infantry Battalion, Fromelles (Fleurbaix) |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Raymond Charles Bishop was the son of Alice A. Bishop, of Tilba Tilba,New South Wales, and the late William Bishop. He gave his place of association as Eurobodalla NSW.
His older brother, 2nd Lt Harold Mackay Bishop, 3rd Battalion AIF, was later killed in action at Flers, 5 November 1916.
Their father had passed away during 1906 and they had numerous brothers and sisters.
Raymond seemed to have been referred to as “Roy” in the newspapers of the day and was only 20 years of age when he enlisted.
He was listed as wounded and missing at Fromelles on 20 July 1916.
From his Red Cross file several accounts speak of his last known deeds, when he was part of a Lewis Gun team on the morning of 20 July 1916. The Germans were advancing in scores and the remnants of the Australians left in the second line were being bombed back. Ray volunteered to go forward with another man and attempt to bomb the Germans advancing on their position. He was seen to throw all of his bombs before he was severely wounded in both thighs. As the Australians had to retreat, they could not carry their badly wounded and he was left in the position.
In a German report, dated 2 August 1916, it was stated 'Austr. Sold. Bishop, R. C. Nr.3761. 55.austr.Batl. am 19.7. in Gegend Fromelles gefallen.'
Raymond was originally listed as 'No Known Grave' and commemorated at V.C. Corner (Panel No 11), Australian Cemetery, Fromelles; subsequently (2010) he was identified, in a mass grave which held about 250 bodies, and his remains were interred in the beautiful Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery, France.
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