William Edwin BISHOP

Constable William Bishop was 20 years old when he migrated to Australia from England. He joined the Queensland Police on 26 November 1912. He was stationed at Roma Street until he took a leave of absence to join the 25th Battalion on 5 August 1915. He embarked aboard the HMAT Annadale A26 on 18 September 1915. The 25th Battalion had been withdrawn from Gallipoli when Bishop arrived to join them at Ismailia in March 1916. Two days later, they embarked to France. In May of 1916 Bishop suffered a nasal obstruction which required hospitalisation. He returned on 13 July as they were moving towards the brickfields near Albert. Just after midnight on 29 July, the 25th Battalion entered the Battle of Pozieres. And while Bishop survived, 680 men of the 25th Battalion lost their lives during the 14 days in the line. At 9.10am on 5 November 1916 Private Bishop and his Battalion which included Sergeant George Dewhurst, fell to machine gun fire while advancing from Flora towards a heavily defended German position at Bapaume, on foot and through thick mud. Of the 100 men of the 25^th Battalion who took part in the attack, 81 were either wounded or killed. Private William Bishop was only 25 years old; his body was never recovered.