Private Richard Bishop

Richard Bishop
His wife Ellen & seven children.

Biography
Richard Bishop was one of eleven children born to Rebecca Guest and Richard Bishop of Tivdale, Staffordshire. He lived in Tivdale from his birth in 1875 until the age of six, when his parents decided to relocated to Wombwell, Yorkshire. Once he was old enough, Richard began working as a miner at one of the local collieries. At some point during the 1890s he met his future wife, Ellen Hancock, a domestic servant from Darfield. Ellen had recently returned home after spending time in service to a family of grocers in Halifax. By 1901 the couple were married and residing at 39 Gower St. Wombwell. By the time Richard went off to war the couple had seven children; Richard, Gertrude, Evelyn, Doris, Ernest, Leonard and Phyllis.

Richard enlisted in March 1916, joining the 2nd Battalion of the King's Own Scottish Borderers. He was one of several men from the Shipcroft area of Wombwell who joined the KOSBs. These men included his younger brother Albert J Bishop, his brother's lodger William Skidmore and neighbour Arthur Ferneyhough. The latter two would not survive the war. They were all members of the Wesleyan Chapel on Park Street and would later be commemorated on a memorial tablet within the chapel.

Wesleyan Chapel Memorial Tablet

On 3rd September 1916 Richard was wounded in battle. He was making an advance with fellow soldier and Hemingfield man Lance Corporal Henry Hunt. Henry was gunned down first and Richard was injured shortly afterwards. While convalescing in Cardiff Richard wrote to Henry's widow from his hospital bed. In the letter Richard describes how Henry met his death only 10 minutes into the advance:

 "Your husband got killed in a charge we were making on a farm on a 500 yard front. I was only sorry our acquaintance was so short, as he was my section commander, and he was liked by everyone. He was a good soldier, and died a hero's death. The bullet hit him in the heart and he fell on my legs. I said, "Harry, have you been hit?" But he never spoke."
Barnsley Chronicle
October 7th 1916

Only ten minutes later Richard too was hit, All though he survived initially Richard died of his wounds on 20th September 1916 in Hospital at Cardiff.

Richard Bishop's grave
in Wombwell cemetery

Richard was buried with full military honors in Wombwell cemetery.  He is also remembered on the war memorial beside St. Mary's Church.  Henry Hunt's body was never recovered and he is subsequently commemorated on the Thiepval  memorial, Wombwell war memorial and the Hemingfield war memorial in Jump cemetery.

Service Details:
Private Richard Bishop, 18489 King's Own Scottish Borderers "A" Coy. 2nd Bn.
Died of wounds Age 41 on September 20th 1916

Grave: 
Richard is buried in Wombwell cemetery.

Links:
CWGC.org
LivesoftheFirstWorldWar.org.