Bischoff, Walter Samuel
No.4462 – Private Walter Samuel Bischoff 11th Battalion AIF
Walter Samuel Bischoff was born in Jarrahdale Western Australia in 1897 to Charles & Christina Bischoff. He was one of several siblings and the family soon moved to Jarrahdale and then to Carnac Street Fremantle where they took up residence, and later moved to Spearwood, in the southeast of the Fremantle district.
Charles Bischoff was German born but had become a British Citizen upon moving to Australia. His son Walter was educated at Fremantle Boys School and spent four years as a Naval Cadet.
On the 8th November 1915, Walter presented himself at Swan Barracks in Perth with the hope of enlisting in the AIF. As he was only 18 years old, he needed the signed approval of both his parents. Both gave their consent and Walter returned to the Swan Barracks on the 17th November for a fitness & medical examination. The examining Medical Officer found Walter to be 5 feet 7 & ½ inches in height; weight of 134 lbs; chest measurement of 33-36 inches; fair complexion; blue eyes and Dark Brown hair. His religious denomination was Methodist.
After spending a month in No.37 Training Depot, Walter was assigned to the 14th Reinforcements to the 11th Battalion, which was under the command of a fellow Fremantle resident, Lieutenant Benno Lehmann.
After a few months training this group left Fremantle Harbour on the H.M.A.T. “Miltiades”. A large Western Australian contingent of several units was on board and the wharf was packed with well-wishers, no doubt the Bischoff’s among them. On the 10th March 1916 they reached Egypt where the men of the reinforcement group were sent to the 3rd Training Battalion. Soon after arrival Walter was sent to hospital with influenza, spending three weeks in hospital before rejoining the training depot.
On the 9th May 1916, Walter left Egypt bound for France, arriving at Marseilles on the 16th May. Four days later he joined the 1st Division Base Depot at Etaples. He spent a month here and on the 22nd June 1916, joined up with the 11th Battalion. Walter joined up with the 11th in time for their trip to the Somme battlefield. On the 21st July 1916 the 11th Battalion took their part in the Battle to capture Pozieres. The village was captured but the 11th Battalion was badly hit with many casualties. Walter was wounded in the right hip on the 22nd July. He was evacuated back to 2nd Field Ambulance, then to No.44 Casualty Clearing Station. A day later he was transferred to No.23 General Hospital at Etaples.
His wounds were assessed as severe and he was evacuated back to England on the 28th July 1916. Upon arrival in “Blighty” Walter was admitted to the County of London War Hospital in Epsom. He would spend the next six weeks in this hospital recovering. He was then sent to No.1 Convalescent Hospital at Perham Downs where he was given furlough. On the 28th September he reported back from furlough and soon got into trouble for being drunk and failing to salute an officer. He was given 14 days detention.
On the 13th October 1916 he reported to Wandsworth where he was classed as not yet fit for active service. Walter would spend the next 11 months in England, as in March 1917 he was transferred to the 70th Battalion of the proposed new 6th Division AIF which was being formed in England. However he soon ran foul of military discipline again as he was charged with neglecting to obey orders and for using obscene language. For this he was awarded 7 days Field punishment No.2. His stay with the 70th Battalion would be until September 1917 when the 6th Division was broken up due to lack of numbers. Walter was then transferred back to the 11th Battalion on the Western Front, joining them in Flanders Belgium on the 16th October 1917. He served with the 11th Battalion for the next five months until he was evacuated to hospital ill in March 1918. He arrived back at the 11th Battalion just in time to hear of the Massive German March Offensive.
The German “Michael” Offensive broke through the Third & Fifth British Armies. The Australians, in the line near Messines, were sent back to the Somme. The 1st Division was the last division to be sent south and had just reached the Somme when the Germans launched an attack to the north, breaking through the British line bear Messines. The 1st Division was therefore rushed back up north in the vicinity of Hazebrouck. The 1st Division and scattered British units managed to hold the Germans up and commence a defensive line.
On the 23rd April 1918 Walter was badly hit in the thigh by shrapnel. He was evacuated back to the 3rd Field Ambulance, then No.15 Casualty Clearing Station and finally to No.3 Canadian General Hospital at Boulogne. Unfortunately the wounds proved too severe and Walter died of his wounds on the 30th April 1918. The O.C. of the hospital stated that;
“He was operated on immediately, as the wound was already infected with gas gangrene. Unfortunately it was not possible to control the gas gangrene which spread from his thigh to his body, and caused his death on the 30-4-18. He was buried May 3rd in Boulogne Eastern Cemetery.”
Walter was buried in Boulogne Eastern Cemetery Plot No. IX.B.16. He was the 2nd son of Charles & Christina Bischoff to die in the war. His brother Norman died with the 28th Battalion in January 1917.
A further tragedy for the family would occur in 1919 when the youngest of the Bischoff children, Frederick died from influenza on the 1st August at Blackboy Hill hospital aged just 17. Three of their five children died young; Christine Bischoff would die in 1941 aged 71 and Charles in 1953 aged 89 but their sons would never be forgotten and memoriam notices would continue to appear after the war. One of Walter’s memoriam notices had the following poem attached;
He sleeps beside his comrades
In a Hallowed Grave Unknown
His name is written in letters of love
In the hearts he left at home