Person Record

Metadata

Name

Bishop, William A. (Billy)

Othernames

Billy Bishop
William Avery Bishop Jr.

Born

1894

Birthplace

Owen Sound, Grey County

Places of residence

948 3rd Ave. West, Owen Sound, Grey County, Ontario
Overseas, First World War (England / France)
England
Montreal
Florida

Titles & honors

Victoria Cross
DSO (Distinguished Service Order)
Military Cross
Commander of the Order of Bath
Canadian Efficiency Decoration

Had a reception at Buckingham Palace (mentioned in his book WINGED WARFARE)
A 43-cent Canadian postage stamp was issued in _____ that featured a portait of Bishop as he looked during the First World War.

Father

William Avery Bishop Sr.

Mother

Margaret Louisa Bishop (nee Greene)

Nationality

Canadian

Education

Owen Sound Collegiate Institute (O.S.C.I.)
Partial training at the Royal Military College

Notes

William Avery Bishop Jr., usually known as "Billy Bishop", was born in Owen Sound in 1894. His father was Registrar of Grey County, and the Bishops lived at _____ Street (known as 948 3rd Ave. West after 1909), in Owen Sound. Billy attended the Owen Sound Collegiate Institute (O.S.C.I.) at Owen Sound. His older brother, Worth Bishop, did well at the Royal Military College. Billy entered RMC as well, in 1911, wasn't as successful as Worth, as he failed his first year. He was at RMC until 1914?

When the First World war began he was commissioned to the Mississauga Horse (=9th Mississauga Horse, 170th Battalion, CEF). This was a cavalry detachment. He was transferred to the 7th Canadian Mounted Rifles. He decided to leave the cavalry and joined the Royal Flying Corps. He learned how to be an Observor and Pilot and became a formidable fighter pilot.

After becoming famous, he returned to Canada to marry his longtime fiancee, Margaret Burden, who was a grand-daughter of Timothy Eaton (the department store millionaire).

During the Second World War, Bishop was an Air Marshal, in charge of recruitment. The Grey Roots Museum has an oil portrait of Bishop in uniform that was painted during this time period.

On Friday, Sept. 28, 1917, Major Bishop travelled from Toronto to Owen Sound on the C.P.R. for his homecoming.

In 1920, when the Town of Owen Sound achieved City status, he flew in the charter by airplane.

Occupation

World War 1 Flying Ace
Victoria Cross winner
Second World War Air Marshal (RCAF)
Writer

Publications

Bishop, W. A., COURAGE OF THE EARLY MORNING
Bishop, W. A., WINGED WARFARE
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC (had at least one article about him)

Armitage, Andrew, "The Great Billy Bishop's Homecoming", THE SUN-TIMES (Owen Sound), Friday, Sept. 28, 2007, p. A5.