Five: Private J. F. Bishop, Manchester Regiment, later 5 Commando, who was killed in action in Burma on 15 March 1944

General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine (3525334 Pte. J. F. Bishop. Manch. R.); 1939-45 Star; Burma Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, mounted court-style for display, good very fine (5) £160-£200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Robert Barltrop Collection of Medals to the Manchester Regiment.

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John Franklin Bishop was born in Sheffield in November 1912. On 11 November 1931 he attested at Nottingham, and was posted for service to the Manchester Regiment. In January 1938 his battalion moved to Palestine, and he was discharged from the army time expired in July 1938. He rejoined the Manchester Regiment on 15 June 1939 being posted to 2nd Battalion and embarked with his battalion on the S.S. Biarritz arriving in Cherbourg on the 23rd September 1939. After the success of the German invasion in northern France his battalion was ordered to retreat to Dunkirk. Private Bishop was one of those to be successfully evacuated from the beaches at Dunkirk.

In July 1940 Bishop managed to obtain a transfer and joined No. 5 Commando at Bridlington, and is included in the nominal roll of 5 Commando dated 16 July 1940. He was posted to the Middle East, possibly in connection with Operation Ironclad, the invasion of Madagascar where No. 5 Commando were was placed under the command of 29 Infantry Brigade for the assault on Diego Suarez. No 5 Commando was further involved in the landings against the Vichy Forces at Majunga and Tamatave and later in the advance on Antananarivo.

After the invasion of Madagascar 5 Commando returned to the U.K. becoming part of 3 Special Service Brigade together with 44 R.M. Commando, 1 Commando and 42 R.M. Commando, they were posted to Bombay in December 1943. In early 1944 they arrived at the Burmese border in advance of Operation Screwdriver, the invasion of Burma. On 15 March at Maungdaw, 5 Commando came under heavy mortar and shell fire and Private Bishop was killed in action, being buried locally but later re-interred at Taukkyan War Cemetery, Burma.

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