William Bishop (1882 - 1917)

William Bishop was born on 24th May, 1882 and was baptised at Quatford on the 25th. He was one of twins, the son of William Bishop, a gardener, and his wife Mary Ann. By 1901 William senior had died and Mary was landlady of The Crown, Eardington.

William junior went into service. In 1901 he was working as a footman at 29 Eaton Square, London and by 1911 he had risen to be butler at Sandridge House, Ascot.He later married Emily by whom he had two children. They lived at 3, Baker Road, Harlesdon, London NW.

William served in the Royal Navy attached to the Royal Navy Air Service as Officer's Steward (3rd Class). He was killed on 27th June, 1917 when the Germans bombarded Dunkirk.

BOMBARDMENT OF DUNKIRK
[Marlborough Express (NZ) 27th April, 1917.]
A French naval communique states that a squadron of German destroyers bombarded Dunkirk for ten minutes on Wednesday night while sailing past the port. The coast batteries replied.
British and French patrol boats engaged the enemy, who retired towards Ostend at high speed. A French torpedoer was sunk in the course of a short engagement. The enemy's losses are not known.

EARDINGTON MAN KILLED
[Bridgnorth Journal, 7th July, 1917]
Mrs Bishop, The Crown, Eardington, has received official information from the Admiralty that her second son, 149/157, William Bishop, R.N.A.S., Officer's steward, was killed in the bombardment of Dunkirk on the 27th ult. The deceased leaves a widow and two children, and their home is at Harlesden, London, N.W.