Paul Bishop

Artist’s impression based on the D Company 12th Reinforcements group photograph and a photograph of Don and Paul Bishop held by Puke Ariki, New Plymouth.

Private 414038 · D Company, 28th (Māori) Battalion · Wounded in Italy

Early life

Paul Bishop came from Rāhotu in Taranaki, where he worked as a farm hand. He lived on Kāhui Road and was single when he enlisted. His next of kin was his mother, Mrs J. Bishop of Rāhotu.

War

On 9 June 1944 the people of Rāhotu held a social to honour Private Paul Bishop. He sailed with the 1944 reinforcements and can be seen in the second row of the D Company 12th Reinforcements group photograph. In Italy he was wounded, and his name appeared in the casualty list of 7 March 1945. That date puts him with the battalion on the Senio River line over the winter of 1944–45.

After the war

Paul came home to Rāhotu and went back to farm work. Puke Ariki in New Plymouth holds a photograph of Don and Paul Bishop together as young men, which suggests they were related and possibly brothers. In June 1954 Don and Paul were both in a road accident at Rāhotu, and Paul suffered concussion and an arm injury. Paul may also have been related to Jim Bishop (801892), who came from Rāhotu and served in D Company too. Both men gave their mother as Mrs J. Bishop of Rāhotu, with Jim’s record adding a second initial (Mrs J. S. Bishop).

Sources: Auckland Museum Online Cenotaph C117760; 28th Māori Battalion website, D Company 12th Reinforcements photograph; Taranaki Daily News 9 Jun 1944; Evening Post 14 Jun 1954; Puke Ariki collection.