Ancestor Details

Name of Ancestor: Herbert Alexander Bishop

Ancestor's date of birth: 21/11/1880

Ancestor's date of death: 02/05/1967

Cause of Death: Cerebral Thombosis, Cerebral Arteriosclerosis and chronic bronchitis

Service and Life Before the Boer War: Herbert Alexander BISHOP, known as Alec, was born on the 21 November 1880. By 1899 he was a saddler by trade.

Service Number: 845

Colony or State of enlistment: NSW, Place of Enlistment: Mudgee

Unit: 1^st Australian Horse

Rank attained in Boer War: TPR, Date Effective: 1900

Highest Rank attained (if served after war): SGT, Date Effective: 12/10/1917

Murray Page: 46

Contingent: First New South Wales

Ship: Surrey, Date of Sailing: 17/01/1900

Memorial details: Laurieton Cemetary

Awards/Decorations/Commendations: Queen's South Africa Medal with clasps, 1914-15 Star BWM, VM,

Personal Characteristics: 181 cm tall, fair complexion, blue eyes, fair hair, saddler by trade.

Reasons to go and fight: Detail not provided

Details of service in war: February 1900 - March 1901 in northern Cape Colony, Free State, and east Transvaal; with French's cavalry division from relief of Kimberley (February 1900) to sweep to Heidelberg (October 1900).

Service and life after the Boer War: On the 8 July 1901, Herbert, Trooper No. 845, received his discharge from the 1^st Australian Horse, after 1 year and 142 days, as his services were no longer required with the South African Contingent at the Boer War. He is described as being 20 years of age, and intended place of residence Redbank, Mudgee. On the 21 August 1914, Alec enlisted as a Private, Regimental No. 107, in the 3rd Battalion, A Company AIF and with his Unit, embarked from Sydney on board HMAT A14 Euripides on the 19 October 1914. Alec was wounded at least three times during World War 1. The first time was at Gallipoli in June 1915 although he was not hospitalised until the 12 September of that year when the wound to his left leg became septic. He received his second and third wounds in France on the 12 June (right leg) and 27 July 1916 (right arm), but returned to duty each time. During this time, Herbert Alexander was promoted to Lance Corporal, then Corporal and finally Sergeant. He returned to Australia on the 7 July 1918 and was discharged from the AIF on the 10 August 1918 in consequence of medical unfitness.

Descendant Details

Name of Descendant: Faith Cameron Bell, Laurieton NSW
Relationship to Ancestor: Daughter