HERBERT SIDNEY BISHOP
Should there be differences in the details of a serviceman's death between the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and the local parish memorial it is usually wise to accept the former as fact, whilst retaining an open mind. In the case of Herbert Sidney Bishop the two sources cannot even agree on the year of death let alone the ship on which he was serving.
Herbert Sidney was born in Bath on 28th of February 1877, the son of Thomas and Mary Ann Bishop. It seems likely that he remained in that area until he joined the Royal Navy in the 1890s. In 1898 he married Flossie Parsons in Portsmouth but the couple do not seem to have set up home together as the 1901 census lists Flossie and her son, Herbert jnr., living with her parents Thomas and Sarah Parsons at 72 Adames Road. Herbert snr. does not appear in the census and was probably away at sea.
At some point between 1901 and 1911 Herbert left the Royal Navy and settled down with Flossie, Herbert jnr. and a second son Archibald at 39 Northam Road. His occupation was described in the 1911 census as a General Labourer, so it may have come as some relief that at the outbreak of war he was recalled to the Royal Navy.
According to the CWGC Herbert Bishop was serving with HMS Victory in October 1915 when he met his death. The CWGC website does not give a cause but their headstone above Herbert's grave in Kingston Cemetery indicates that he died by drowning. By contrast, the Memorial in St. Wilfrid's Church gives the year of death as 1914 and says that Herbert was serving aboard "HMS Sweeper Erin". The latter must be assumed incorrect, especially as the Erin was a battleship and the minesweeper was Erin's Isle.
FURTHER INFORMATION
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) website lists Petty Officer 1st Class Herbert Sidney Bishop, (179900), Royal Navy, HMS Victory, date of death, 19/10/1915. Buried in Kingston Cemetery, Portsmouth.
Herbert Bishop is also remembered on the St. Wilfrid's Church WW1 Memorial and on the Cenotaph. He is not listed in 'The National Roll of the Great War'.