Charles Upham | Timeline

Charles Hazlitt Upham, VC & Bar (21 September 1908 – 22 November 1994) was a New Zealand soldier who was awarded the Victoria Cross (VC) twice during the Second World War - for gallantry in Crete in May 1941, and in Egypt, in July 1942. He was the most recent of three people to receive the VC twice, the only one to receive two VCs during the Second World War and the only combat soldier to receive the award twice. As a result, Upham is often described as the most highly decorated Commonwealth soldier of that war, as the VC is the Commonwealth's highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy. (Intro from Wikipedia)

September 21, 1908 - Christchurch, New Zealand - Charles Hazlitt Upham is born

January(?) 1(?), 1917 - Near Winchester, South Canterbury, New Zealand - Elementary school at Waihi School, near Winchester, South Canterbury

January(?) 1(?), 1923 - Christchurch - Enrolls at Christ's College, Christchurch

January(?) 1(?), 1927 - Canterbury, New Zealand - Attends Canterbury Agricultural College

January(?) 1(?), 1930 - Canterbury - Earns his diploma in Agriculture. During the next years he works on Canterbury sheep stations for the next six years

March 1(?), 1937 - Timaru, New Zealand - Joins the Valuation Department as assistant district valuer in Timaru

February 1(?), 1939 - Canterbury - Returns to Canterbury Agricultural College to complete a diploma in valuation and farm management

September 18, 1939 - Burnham Camp, S. of Christchurch - Enlists in the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force (2NZEF) at the age of 30, and is posted to the 20th Canterbury-Otago Battalion, part of the New Zealand 2nd Division =(START)

December 25, 1939 - Christchurch - Christmas at home

December 28, 1939 - Burnham Camp - Returns to Burnham

December 30, 1939 - Burnham Camp - The Battalion is inspected by Major-General B.C. Freyberg

January 3, 1940 - Christchurch - The battalion marches through Christchurch for an official farewell

January 5, 1940 - Burnham Camp | Lyttelton - The Battalion marches to Burnham station and goes by train to Lyttelton. Upham embarks on the "Sobieski" as a Sergeant

January 18, 1940 - Freemantle, Western Australia - The "Sobieski" reaches Freemantle, escorted by HMS Ramillies

January 30, 1940 - Colombo, Ceylon - The convoy reaches Colombo

February 5, 1940 - Gulf of Aden - HMS Ramillies leaves the NZ convoy in the Gulf of Aden

February 8, 1940 - Aden - Stop at Aden to refuel

February 12, 1940 - Port Tewfik | Maadi, Egypt - The 20th Battalion reaches Egypt. Later it travels by train to Maadi Camp, via Zagazig, Benha and Cairo

April 8, 1940 - South of Helwan - The Battalion marches 21,5 miles during an exercise

April 22, 1940 - El Saff ridge - The troops leave for the El Saff area and take defensive positions on El Saff ridge

April 26, 1940 - Maadi, Egypt - Back to Camp Maadi

July 1(?), 1940 - Mersa Matruh area, Western Desert - The battalion leaves Maadi for the Western Desert, Mersa Matruh area. Upham is persuaded to join an Officer Cadet Training Unit

July 20, 1940 - Garawla - A new camp is built at Garawla

August 1(?), 1940 - Maadi, Egypt - The battalion returns to Maadi

September 1, 1940 - Amiriya, Western Desert - The Battalion moves to Amiriya, Western Desert

September 27, 1940 - Baggush - The battalion moves to Baggush

January 13, 1941 - Helwan - The Battalion moves to Helwan

March 13, 1941 - Alexandria, Egypt - The battalion departs for Greece on board the "City of Norwich"

March 15, 1941 - Piraeus, Greece - The convoy arrives at Piraeus. Upham rejoins the battalion after passing through OCTU (as a Second-Lieutenant)

March 16, 1941 - Athens - Leave in Athens

March 17, 1941 - Larisa, Greece - The battalion moves north to take defensive position in the Aliakmon Line. Reaches Larisa

March 18, 1941 - Katerini, Greece - The Battalion arrives at Katerini. The New Zealand Division was to take up a defensive position from the sea to Ryakia

March 19, 1941 - Ryakia - Upham's company takes position at Ryakia

April 10, 1941 - Lava, W-SW of Katerini - Due to the rapid advance of the germans, the battalion moves to Lava

April 15, 1941 - Lava | Servia, Greece - The war reaches 20th battalion when german artillery and dive-bombers appear

April 18, 1941 -  Larisa - New Zealand forces begin withrawing as the allied lines face the danger of german encirclement

April 19, 1941 - Molos, near Lamia, Greece - The battalion reaches Molos

April 20, 1941 - Stilis, 10 miles E of Lamia - Upham's company leaves for Stilis, to prevent an enemy advance from the East

April 21, 1941 - Stilis - Due to the capitulation of the greeks, all British forces were to withraw from Greece

April 27, 1941 - Porto Rafti, E of Athens - 20 Battalion reaches the embarkation point at Porto Rafti. They are attacked by german stukas as german motorized units enter Athens. The Battalion embarks in tank landing craft and is taken out to the cruiser "Ajax" and the destroyer "Kingston"

April 28, 1941 - Souda Bay, Crete - HMS Ajax arrives at Souda Bay, Crete

April 30, 1941 - SE of Galatas - 20 Battalion moves to positions SE of Galatas

May 3, 1941 - SE of Galatas - Officers and NCOs are addressed by General Freyberg

May 13, 1941 - Maleme, W of Galatas - The battalion moves to the west of Galatas

May 19, 1941 - Maleme - German air attack against Maleme and Souda Bay

May 20, 1941 - Maleme - German air attack against Maleme and Souda Bay. Junkers transport airplanes disgorge hundreds of parachutes over Maleme airfield

May 22, 1941 - Platanias, Crete - Victoria Cross citation: "He commanded a forward platoon in the attack on Maleme on 22nd May and fought his way forward for over 3,000 yards unsupported by any other arms and against a defence strongly organised in depth. During this operation his platoon destroyed numerous enemy posts but on three occasions sections were temporarily held up.

In the first case, under a heavy fire from a machine gun nest he advanced to close quarters with pistol and grenades, so demoralizing the occupants that his section was able to "mop up" with ease.

Another of his sections was then held up by two machine guns in a house. He went in and placed a grenade through a window, destroying the crew of one machine gun and several others, the other machine gun being silenced by the fire of his sections.

In the third case he crawled to within 15 yards of an M.G. post and killed the gunners with a grenade.

When his Company withdrew from Maleme he helped to carry a wounded man out under fire, and together with another officer rallied more men together to carry other wounded men out.

He was then sent to bring in a company which had become isolated. With a Corporal he went through enemy territory over 600 yards, killing two Germans on the way, found the company, and brought it back to the Battalion's new position. But for this action it would have been completely cut off.

During the following two days his platoon occupied an exposed position on forward slopes and was continuously under fire. Second Lieutenant Upham was blown over by one mortar shell, and painfully wounded by a piece of shrapnel behind the left shoulder, by another. He disregarded this wound and remained on duty. He also received a bullet in the foot which he later removed in Egypt."

May 25, 1941 - Galatas - Victoria Cross citation: "At Galatas on 25th May his platoon was heavily engaged and came under severe mortar and machine-gun fire. While his platoon stopped under cover of a ridge Second-Lieutenant Upham went forward, observed the enemy and brought the platoon forward when the Germans advanced. They killed over 40 with fire and grenades and forced the remainder to fall back.

When his platoon was ordered to retire he sent it back under the platoon Sergeant and he went back to warn other troops that they were being cut off. When he came out himself he was fired on by two Germans. He fell and shammed dead, then crawled into a position and having the use of only one arm rested his rifle in the fork of a tree and as the Germans came forward he killed them both. The second to fall actually hit the muzzle of the rifle as he fell."

May 30, 1941 - Sphakiá, Crete - Victoria Cross citation: "On 30th May at Sphakia his platoon was ordered to deal with a party of the enemy which had advanced down a ravine to near Force Headquarters. Though in an exhausted condition he climbed the steep hill to the west of the ravine, placed his men in positions on the slope overlooking the ravine and himself went to the top with a Bren Gun and two riflemen. By clever tactics he induced the enemy party to expose itself and then at a range of 500 yards shot 22 and caused the remainder to disperse in panic.

During the whole of the operations he suffered from dysentery and was able to eat very little, in addition to being wounded and bruised. He showed superb coolness, great skill and dash and complete disregard of danger. His conduct and leadership inspired his whole platoon to fight magnificently throughout, and in fact was an inspiration to the Battalion."

June 1, 1941 - Alexandria, Egypt - The battalion moves to the beach and board HMS Phoebe and the destroyer "Jackal", reaching Alexandria on the same day

June 2, 1941 - Helwan - Upham rejoins his battalion at Helwan

June 6, 1941 - Helwan - Parade for an inspection by the Prime Minister of New Zealand

August 17, 1941 - Geneifa | Al Kibrit (Kabrit), N. of Suez - The battalion moves to the Suez Canal zone by train

August 25, 1941 - Al Kibrit (Kabrit), N. of Suez - Assault landing exercises

September 12, 1941 - 30 miles E. of Mersa Matruh, western Desert - The battalion moves to the Western Desert

October 14, 1941 - Baggush - Divisional exercises. A divisional order-of-the-day notifies the award of the Victoria Cross to Lieutenant Upham

November 11, 1941 -  Baggush - The battalion moves west

November 19, 1941 - South of the Libyan Sheferzen | Trigh el Abd - The battalion reaches the South of the Libyan Sheferzen and close to the Trigh el Abd

November 21, 1941 - Moves north to cut the road between Bardia and Tobruk

November 24, 1941 - Gambut - 20 battalion links up with 4 brigade at Gambut

November 25, 1941 - Sidi Rezegh - Advance to Sidi Rezegh

November 26, 1941 - Belhamed - 20 Battalion receives anti-tank guns during the night

November 28, 1941 - Between Belhamed and Sidi Rezegh - The Battalion attacks the germans between Belhamed and Sidi Rezegh

December 1, 1941 - Belhamed - Orders to hold Belhamed. The Battalion is attacked and defeated by the german 15th Panzer Division. Between KIA, wounded and POWs, the battalion looses 548 men

December 5, 1941 - Baggush - The scattered elements of the Battalion move back to Baggush

December 15, 1941 - Baggush - Upham takes command of C company

January 25(?), 1941 - Al Kibrit (Kabrit), N. of Suez - During the last week of January, 20 Battalion moved to Kabrit for training

February 23, 1942 - Al Kibrit (Kabrit), N. of Suez(?) - The Battalion receives a warning of a possible german invasion in the Middle East, and prepares for a move to Syria

March 1, 1942 - Suez Canal - The Battalion begins moving to Syria, crossing the Suez Canal at midnight

March 2, 1942 - Haifa, Palestine - The Battalion reaches Haifa by train

March 3, 1942 - Damascus, Syria - Arrival in Damascus

March 4, 1942 - El Aine, 20 miles from Baalbek, Syria - The Battalion reaches its destination in Syria

May 21, 1942 - East of Homs - A week of maneuvers begin in the Forqloss area east of Homs

June 16, 1942 - Rayak - The New Zealand Division receives orders to move to the Western Desert with the utmost speed

June 19, 1942 - Ismailia - 20 Battalion reaches Ismailia by train

June 20, 1942 - Amiriya, Western Desert - 20 Battalion reaches the Western Desert, via Cairo

June 21, 1942 - Mersa Matruh area, Western Desert - 20 Battalion proceeds to Mersa Matruh

June 25, 1942 - Minqâr Qaim - Moves to Minqar Qaim

June 27, 1942 - Minqâr Qaim - German forces attack the division's positions at Minqâr Qaim

June 29, 1942 - Deir el Munassib area - 20 Battalion moves 14 miles to the SE to the Deir el Munassib area

July 7, 1942 - Mungar Wahla, El Ruweisat Ridge, Western Egypt - 20 Battalion digs in on high ground on the eastern end of Mungar Wahla

July 14, 1942 - El Ruweisat Ridge, Western Egypt - 2nd Victoria Cross citation: "Captain C. H. Upham, V.C., was commanding a Company of New Zealand troops in the Western Desert during the operations which culminated in the attack on El Ruweisat Ridge on the night of 14th–15th July, 1942. In spite of being twice wounded, once when crossing open ground swept by enemy fire to inspect his forward sections guarding our mine-fields and again when he completely destroyed an entire truck load of German soldiers with hand grenades, Captain Upham insisted on remaining with his men to take part in the final assault.

During the opening stages of the attack on the ridge Captain Upham's Company formed part of the reserve battalion, but, when communications with the forward troops broke down and he was instructed to send up an officer to report on the progress of the attack, he went out himself armed with a Spandau gun and, after several sharp encounters with enemy machine gun posts, succeeded in bringing back the required information.

Just before dawn the reserve battalion was ordered forward, but, when it had almost reached its objective, very heavy fire was encountered from a strongly defended enemy locality, consisting of four machine gun posts and a number of tanks.

Captain Upham, without hesitation, at once led his Company in a determined attack on the two nearest strongpoints on the left flank of the sector. His voice could be heard above the din of battle cheering on his men and, in spite of the fierce resistance of the enemy and the heavy casualties on both sides, the objective was captured.

Captain Upham, during the engagement, himself destroyed a German tank and several guns and vehicles with grenades and although he was shot through the elbow by a machine gun bullet and had his arm broken, he went on again to a forward position and brought back some of his men who had become isolated. He continued to dominate the situation until his men had beaten off a violent enemy counter-attack and consolidated the vital position which they had won under his inspiring leadership.

Exhausted by pain from his wound and weak from loss of blood Captain Upham was then removed to the Regimental Aid Post but immediately his wound had been dressed he returned to his men, remaining with them all day long under heavy enemy artillery and mortar fire, until he was again severely wounded and being now unable to move fell into the hands of the enemy when, his gallant Company having been reduced to only six survivors, his position was finally overrun by superior enemy forces, in spite of the outstanding gallantry and magnificent leadership shown by Captain Upham."

July 16(?), 1942 - Somewhere in Libya - Upham is taken by the germans as a prisoner of war

January(?) 1(?), 1943 - Campo PG47, near Modena, Italy - Prisoner of War at Campo PG 47, near Modena, Italy, reaching there via Bari (as most of the aussie and new zealander prisoners there)

September 1(?), 1943 - Weinsberg, Germany(?) - After a failed escape attempt while recuperating in an italian hospital, he is transfered to Germany

October 14, 1944 - Colditz, near Leipzig - Upham is recaptured after a failed escape attempt and is sent to Oflag IV-C (Colditz), a prisoner camp for habitual escapers

April 16, 1945 - Colditz - Colditz is liberated by the americans. Upham tries to rejoin the fight but he is sent to Britain instead

May 11, 1945 - Buckingham Palace, London - King George VI invests Upham with his first Victoria Cross

June 20, 1945 - New Milton, Hampshire - Upham marries Molly McTamney

September 1(?), 1945 - New Zealand - Returns to New Zealand in Early September

May 31, 1946 - London, England - In London for the Victory celebrations

June 12, 1946 - London - Attend a dinner for recipients of the Victoria Cross at the Dorchester Hotel in London

June 28, 1956 - London - In London to attend the VC Centenary celebrations

July 14, 1968 - London - Arrives in London

July 18, 1968 - London - Meeting of the VC and GC Association at Chelsea Barracks in London

November 22, 1994 - Christchurch, New Zealand - Charles Upham dies, aged 86 =(END)

Billy Bishop | Timeline

William Avery Bishop, VC, CB, DSO & Bar, MC, DFC, ED (8 February 1894 – 11 September 1956) was a Canadian flying ace of the First World War. He was officially credited with 72 victories, making him the top Canadian and British Empire ace of the war. He was an Air Marshal and a Victoria Cross recipient. During the Second World War, Bishop was instrumental in setting up and promoting the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. (Intro from Wikipedia)

February 8, 1894 - Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada - William Avery Bishop is born

September 1, 1900 - Owen Sound, Ontario - Enrolls at Beech Street School

February 23, 1909 - While in Owen Sound - Canadian aviator John McCurdy becomes the first british subject to fly an aircraft in the British Empire when he pilots the "Silver Dart" off the ice of Bras d'Or Lake in Nova Scotia.

January(?) 1(?), 1910 - Owen Sound, Ontario - At the age of 15, after reading newspaper accounts of the first heavier-than-air flight in Canada by canadian John McCurdy in his Silver Dart in 1909, Bishop builds an aircraft out of cardboard, wooden crates and string, and attempts to fly off the roof of his three-story house. He is taken unscathed from the wreckage by his sister

February 8, 1911 - Owen Sound, Ontario - 17th birthday - Billy applies for admission to the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC)

August 28, 1911 - Kingston, Ontario - Bishop enters the Royal Military College of Canada, at age 17

August 14, 1914 - Kingston, Ontario - Returns to RMC for his graduating year. Appointed a Lance Corporal =(START)

Cadet Billy Bishop, 1914

September 28, 1914 - Kingston, Ontario - RMC commandant, Colonel Lancelot R.Carleton, forwards Bishop's application to join the 9th Mississauga Horse Cavalry Regiment

September 30, 1914 - Kingston, Ontario - Bishop is discharged from the RMC "at parents' request"

October(?) 5(?), 1914 - Toronto - Visit to Margaret Eaton Burden at her home in Toronto

November(?) 1(?), 1914 - Mississauga, Canada - Bishop joins the Mississauga Horse Cavalry Regiment

December(?) 1(?), 1914 - Mississauga - Due to pneumonia and an allergy, Bishop doesn't ship out with the Regiment for Europe

January 1(?), 1915 - London, Ontario - Returns to duty. Transfered to the 7th Canadian mounted Rifles

April 5, 1915 - London, Ontario - His horse rears and falls back on him. Bishop is wounded in the face and taken to Victoria Hospital

April 11, 1915 - London, Ontario - Discharged from hospital

June 8, 1915 - Montreal - 7th Canadian Mounted Rifles board the british passenger ship "S.S. Caledonia" to England

June 21, 1915 - Off the Coast of Ireland - The ship convoy is attacked by german u-boats off the Coast of Ireland. Two ships are sunk and 300 canadians die

June 23, 1915 - Plymouth, England - The "Caledonia" arrives in Plymouth, unharmed. The men are shipped to Shorncliffe Cavalry Camp

June 24, 1915 - Canterbury - The regiment crosses south England by train to Canterbury

July 1(?), 1915 - Canterbury - After watching a Royal Flying Corps (RFC) aircraft return from a mission, Bishop says "it's clean up there! I'll bet you don't get any mud or horse shit on you up there. If you die, at least it would be a clean death."

July 24, 1915 - Shorncliffe, England - Letter to Margaret from Helena Hospital in Shorncliffe

August 5(?), 1915 - Shorncliffe, England - Discharged from Hospital

August 9, 1915 - Canterbury - Bishop gets his application to join the Royal Flying Corps signed

September 1, 1915 - Netheravon, N. of Salisbury, England - Reports to 21 (Training) Squadron at Netheravon for elementary air instruction. As there were no places available for pilots in the flight school, he chose to be an observer

September 4, 1915 - Netheravon, N. of Salisbury - First flight as observer

September 6, 1915 - Netheravon, N. of Salisbury - "I had two glorious flights...with my flight-commander, an Australian named Rutledge. This is the greatest game in the world, every moment full of intense excitement. A man ceases to be human when he is way up. The Earth is merely a map and you feel that to you nothing is impossible"

October 2, 1915 - Outside Dover - Bishop reports to the Duke of York School outside Dover

October 30(?), 1915 - Outside Dover - Bishop completes machine-gun and artillery-ranging practice and begins flying over the frontlines in France

November 11, 1915 - Netheravon, N. of Salisbury - "I was put in charge of all the observers for the 4th Wing. It is a promotion but a rotten job, as I have to train all the new observers coming in and lecture, etc., which being rotten at I heartily hate"

November 24, 1915 - Netheravon, N. of Salisbury - Bishop and his new pilot, Captain Wadham, crash land while landing. Both of them survive with minor bruises

November 27, 1915 - Netheravon, N. of Salisbury - Participates in the testing of the new Armstrong Whitworth F.K.3

December 24, 1915 - London, England - Bishop goes to the Carlton for supper. Visit to Regent Palace Hotel

December 25, 1915 - Netheravon, N. of Salisbury - Christmas letter to Margaret

January 15, 1916 - Netheravon, N. of Salisbury - While all of 21 Squadron's equipment is transported to Avonmouth, at the mouth of the River Avon, Bishop leads a contingent of men to Southampton to join up with other squadron members

January 16, 1916 - Southampton - Arrives in Southampton
January 18, 1916 - Rouen - Arrives in a little hotel in Rouen, after a rough sea voyage
January 23, 1916 - Boisdinghem airfield, W. of Saint-Omer - The squadron arrives at Boisdinghem airfield, near Saint-Omer, equipped with R.E.7 reconnaissance aircraft
January 29, 1916 - Boisdinghem airfield, W. of Saint-Omer - Artillery-spotting sortie with Lieutenant Hunt
February 8, 1916 - Boisdinghem airfield, W. of Saint-Omer - Bishop's plane is attacked by german Fokkers
February 9, 1916 - St.Omer - Admitted to No.10 Stationary Hospital in St.Omer, for slight frostbite to his face
March 9, 1916 - Boisdinghem airfield, W. of Saint-Omer - Bombing raid behind german lines with other 5 F.E.7s from 21 Squadron
April 1(?), 1916 - Boisdinghem airfield, W. of Saint-Omer - During one take off, his aircraft engine fails and he badly injures his knee
May 2, 1916 - Folkestone, England - His knee injury is aggravated when he falls on the concrete pier while disembarking from the channel boat from Boulogne
May 11, 1916 - London, England - Bishop is hospitalized in Bryanston Square Hospital
May 26, 1916 - London - At the hospital, Bishop meets Lady St.Hellier, a fashionably rich and politically influential widow who saw it as her patriotic duty to visit convalescent servicemen
June(?) 1(?), 1916 - Plymouth(?) - After his father suffers a small stroke, Bishop is allowed to recuperate in Canada with the help of Lady St.Hellier, missing the Battle of the Somme, where his squadron is decimated
June(?) 15(?), 1916 - Halifax, Nova Scotia - Bishop arrives in Halifax
June(?) 20(?), 1916 - Montreal, Quebec - Passing by Montreal on his way to Toronto
June(?) 21(?), 1916 - Toronto - Bishop arrives in Toronto
June(?) 22(?), 1916 - Owen Sound - Bishop returns home on leave
August(?) 15(?), 1916 - Halifax, Nova Scotia - Departs to England
August(?) 30(?), 1916 - Plymouth, England(?) - Bishop reaches Plymouth (speculative date and place)
September 1(?), 1916 - London, England - Returns to England, where he is repeatedly rejected as medically unfit
October 1, 1916 - Oxford, England - Bishop reports to Brasenose College at the University of Oxford to begin a four-week course of ground-school training
November 1, 1916 - Upavon, Salisbury Plain - With the influence of Lady St.Hellier, is accepted for training as a pilot at the Central Flying School at Upavon
November 4, 1916 - Upavon, Salisbury Plain - First solo flight - 30 minutes
November 15, 1916 - Sutton's Farm, Essex - Bishop receives his wings and is attacked to No.37 Squadron RFC at Sutton's Farm, Essex, flying the BE.2c
December 8, 1916 - Sutton's Farm, Essex - Appointed to flying officer duties
January(?) 1(?), 1917(?) - Sutton's Farm, Essex - Bishop dislikes flying at night over London, searching for German airships, and he soon requests a transfer to France
March 17, 1917 - Filescamp Farm, (Eastern part of Le Hameau),W. of Arras - Bishop arrives at 60 Squadron at Filescamp Farm near Arras, to fly the Nieuport 17 fighter
March 22, 1917 - Filescamp Farm - First patrol - He has trouble controlling his run-down aircraft, is nearly shot down by anti-aircraft fire, becoming separated from his group
March 24, 1917 - Filescamp Farm - After crash-landing his aircraft during a practice flight in front of General John Higgins, Bishop is ordered to return to flight school at Upavon. Major Alan Scott, the new commander of 60 Squadron, convinces Higgins to let him stay until a replacement arrives
March 25, 1917 - near St.Leger - Four Nieuports (including Bishop's) engage three Albatros D.III Scouts near St Leger. Bishop shoots down one of them but his engine fails in the process. He lands 270 meters from the german front line. After running to the allied trenches, Bishop spends the night in a rainstorm. He writes a letter home: "I am writing this from a dugout 300 yards from our front line, after the most exciting adventure of my life". General Higgins congratulates him and rescinds his order to return to flight School. (1 total)
March 30, 1917 - Filescamp Farm - Bishop is named Flight Commander
March 31, 1917 - Filescamp Farm - 1 Albatros D.III shot down (2 total)
April 7, 1917 - Filescamp Farm - 1 Albatros D.III and one balloon shot down (4 total)
April 8, 1917 - between Douai and Flesquières | NE of Arras | near Vitry-en-Artois - Bishop shoots down another Albatros D.III and two other aircraft (7 total) - Bishop has the cowling of his Nieuport painted blue, to identify him as an ace
April 13(?), 1917 - Filescamp Farm - Military Cross for his participation in the Battle of Vimy Ridge
April 20, 1917 - over Bianche-Saint-Vaast - 1 Aviatik shot down (8 total)
April 22, 1917 - over Vis-en-Artois - 1 Albatros D.III shot down (9 total)
April 23, 1917 - between Vitry-en-Artois and Évin-Malmaison - 1 Albatros D.III and another aircraft shot down (11 total)
April 27, 1917 - NW of Vitry-en-Artois - 1 Balloon shot down (12 total)
April 29, 1917 - East of Épinoy - 1 Albatros D.III shot down (13 total)
April 30, 1917 - South of Lens - Bishop survives an encounter with Jasta 11 and Manfred von Richthofen, the Red Baron. 1 aircraft shot down (14 total)
May 2, 1917 - East of Drocourt-Quéant line - Bishop receives the Distinguished Service Order for shooting down two DFW C.V. while being attacked by four others (16 total)
May 4, 1917 - W. of Brebières - 1 AEG shot down (17 total)
May 7, 1917 - Hénin-Liétard | S. of Brebières - 2 Albatros D.III shot down (19 total)
May 26, 1917 - Izel-lès-Équerchin - 1 Albatros D.III shot down (19½ total)
May 27, 1917 - Dourges - 1 Aviatik shot down (20½ total)
May 31, 1917 - Épinoy - 1 Albatros D.III shot down (21½ total)

June 2, 1917 - Esnes Airfield, near Cambrai - Bishop flies a solo mission behind enemy lines to attack a German-held aerodrome, where he claims that he shot down three Albatros that were taking off to attack him and destroyed several more on the ground. For this feat, he was awarded the Victoria Cross (VC), although it has been suggested that he may have embellished his success (24½ total)
June 8, 1917 - North of Lille - 1 Albatros D.III shot down (25½ total)
June 10, 1917 - Filescamp Farm, (Eastern part of Le Hameau),W. of Arras - Billy Bishop is awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions on June 2nd
June 24, 1917 - N. of Beaumont - 1 Albatros D.III shot down (26½ total)
June 25, 1917 - Dury, E. of Arras - 1 Albatros D.III shot down (27½ total)
June 26, 1917 - Annay - 2 Albatros D.III shot down (29½ total)
June 28, 1917 - South of La Bassée - 1 Albatros D.III shot down (30½ total)
July 10, 1917 - Quiéry-la-Motte - 1 Albatros D.III shot down (31½ total)
July 12, 1917 - Vitry-en-Artois - 1 Albatros D.III shot down (32½ total)
July 17, 1917 - Havrincourt Wood | Marquion - 2 Albatros D.III shot down (35 total)
July 20, 1917 - SE of Havrincourt Wood - 1 Albatros D.III shot down (36 total)
July 28, 1917 - Phalempin - 1 Albatros D.III shot down (37 total)
July 29, 1917 - Beaumont - 1 aircraft shot down (38 total)
July 30(?), 1917 - Filescamp Farm, (Eastern part of Le Hameau),W. of Arras - 60 Squadron receives new Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5s, a faster and more powerful aircraft with better pilot visibility
August 5, 1917 - N. of Hendecourt-lès-Cagnicourt - 2 Albatros D.III shot down (40 total)
August 6, 1917 - NW of Brebières - 1 Albatros D.III shot down (41 total)
August 9, 1917 - N. of Écourt-St.-Quentin - 1 aircraft shot down (42 total)
August 11, 1917 - Buckingham Palace, London, England - Receives the Victoria Cross from King George V, one of two awarded in violation of the warrant requiring witnesses
August 13, 1917 - South of Douai - 2 Albatros D.III shot down (44 total)
August 15, 1917 - NE of Hénin-Liétard - 1 Albatros D.III shot down (45 total)
August 16, 1917 - NE of Harnes - 1 Albatros D.III and 1 Aviatik shot down (47 total)
August 18(?), 1917 - Filescamp Farm, (Eastern part of Le Hameau),W. of Arras - Bishop is removed by General Hugh M. Trenchard from operational flying because he was deemed too valuable to lose; he is sent to Canada to help in recruitment (47 total)
September(?) 1(?), 1917 - Liverpool, England - Departs to Canada
September 17, 1917 - Montreal, Quebec - Bishop arrives in Montreal and is greeted by a sea of thousands of people
September 18(?), 1917 - Toronto - Bishop arrives in Toronto
September 19(?), 1917 - Owen Sound - Returns home
September 31(?), 1917 - Beamsville, Ontario - Bishop is appointed as the Chief Instructor at the School of Aerial Gunnery and given the temporary rank of major
October 17, 1917 - Toronto - Marries Margaret Eaton Burden
November(?) 1(?), 1917 - Washington D.C. - After the wedding, he is assigned to the British War Mission in Washington, D.C. to help the Americans build an air force. While stationed there, he writes his autobiography entitled "Winged Warfare"
April 1(?), 1918 - Hounslow Heath - Returns to England - promoted to Major and given command of No. 85 Squadron, the "Flying Foxes"
May 22, 1918 - Petit Synthe, near Dunkirk, France - The squadron moves to Petit Synthe, France
May 27, 1918 - East of Passchendaele - After familiarizing himself with the area and the opposition, Bishop takes a solo flight to the Front. He downs a German observation plane in his first combat since August 1917. (48 total)
May 28, 1918 - SW of Courtemarck - 2 Albatros D.III shot down (50 total)
May 30, 1918 - Roulers | N. of Armentières - 2 Albatros D.III and another aircraft shot down (53 total)
May 31, 1918 - Quesnoy | SW of Lille - 2 Pfalz shot down (55 total)
June 1, 1918 - La Gorgue - 1 Pfalz shot down - german ace P. Billik (56 total)
June 2, 1918 - South of Armentières - 1 Pfalz shot down (57 total)
June 4, 1918 - 3 miles off coast between Nieuport and Ostend | Leffinghe - 2 Albatros D.III shot down (59 total)
June 15, 1918 - East of Estaires - 1 Pfalz shot down (60 total)
June 16, 1918 - Armentières | East of Armentières - 2 Pfalz shot down (62 total)
June 17, 1918 - Between Staden and Hooglede | Sailly-sur-la-Lys | Leventie - 1 Albatros D.III and 2 other aircraft shot down (65 total)
June 18, 1918 - NE of Ypres - Receives orders from the Canadian Government to return to England to help organize the new Canadian Flying Corps. Letter to his wife Margaret: "I've never been so furious in my life. It makes me livid with rage to be pulled away just as things are getting started". 2 Albatros shot down (67 total)
June 19, 1918 - East of Ploegsteert - The order specified that he was to leave France by noon on 19 June. On that morning, Bishop decides to fly one last solo patrol, patrolling between Neuve Eglise and Ploegsteert. In just 15 minutes of combat, he shoots down four Pfalz and another aircraft. He claimed to have downed two Pfalz D.IIIa scout planes, caused another two to collide with each other, and shot down a German reconnaissance aircraft. (72 total)
June 20, 1918 - Boulogne, France - 85 Squadron members drive Bishop to Boulogne to say goodbye
June 21(?), 1918 - London, England - Bishop arrives in London
August 3, 1918 - London, England - Bishop receives the Distinguished Flying Cross
August 5, 1918 - London - Bishop is promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel and is given the post of "Officer Commanding-designate of the Canadian Air Force Section of the General Staff, Headquarters Overseas Military Forces of Canada"
November 11, 1918 - North Atlantic Ocean - On board a ship returning from a reporting visit to Canada when news of the armistice arrive
December 19, 1918 - London, England - Bishop applies for and is granted a one-year leave of absence with permission to wear the uniform, for a lecture tour he will undertake under private contract in the United States. His leave is to begin on January 1, 1919
December 31, 1918 - London, England - Bishop is discharged from the Canadian Expeditionary Force on 31 December and returns to Canada
February 14, 1919 - New York City - Lecture on aerial warfare over Flanders Fields at the Carnegie Hall
March 19, 1919 - Roanoke, Virginia - Bishop collapses on stage while speaking at Roanoke. Later that day, an excerpt from the "Ottawa Evening Journal" indicates that Bishop is recovering from an operation and has to abandon his post-war lecture tour
November 1(?), 1919 - Montreal, Quebec - Bishop takes Hubert Fauntleroy Julian for a ride in a Sopwith Camel
January(?) 1(?), 1920 - Toronto - Bishop and a fellow VC winner, pilot and ace, William George Barker, purchase 3 seaplanes and provide passenger service between Toronto and Muskoka
August 26, 1920 - Toronto - Stunt flying at the 1920 Canadian National Exhibition (until September 9th)
June 1, 1921 - Toronto - Attends the marriage of his comrade-in-arms William George Barker to his cousin Jean Smith
December 1, 1921 - London, England - Bishop and family move to London, where he starts working as a salesman for his friend Gordon Perry's company
June 13, 1923 - London - Son William Arthur Christian Avery Bishop is born
February 10, 1926 - New York City - Eddie Rickenbacker, leading ace of the United States with 26 victories, meets Bishop aboard the steamship "Berengaria" as she arrives in New York
February 15, 1926 - While in New York - Daughter Margaret Marise Willis-O'Connor is born in London
March 1(?), 1928 - Berlin, Germany - Guest of honour at a gathering of German air aces in Berlin and was made an Honorary Member of the Association
November(?) 1(?), 1929 - London, England - The family's wealth is wiped out in the crash of 1929
January(?) 1(?), 1930 - Toronto - Moves back to Canada, where he becomes vice-president of the McColl-Frontenac Oil Company
January 15, 1930 - Toronto - Attends the funeral of his comrade-in-arms William George Barker
January 1(?), 1936 - Toronto - Bishop was appointed the first Canadian air vice-marshal
August 10, 1938 - Toronto - Bishop takes an advisory role in the fledging Royal Canadian Air Force with the honorary rank of air vice-marshal
March 1(?), 1939 - Washington D.C. - Leaves the White House and begins recruiting those who would assist in the creation of a substantial screening and recruitment plan that would bring americans into the RCAF
September 11(?), 1939 - New York City - Bishop and former comrades-in-arms Clayton Knight and Homer Smith, book a room at New York's Waldorf Astoria Hotel to act as recruiting headquarters
October(?) 1(?), 1939 - Toronto - Shortly after the outbreak of war in 1939, he is promoted to the rank of Air marshal in the Royal Canadian Air Force
January 23, 1940 - Toronto - Appointed as Director of Recruiting, RCAF
December 30, 1941 - Ottawa - Brings Winston Churchill to his house for drinks after both had had dinner with Prime-Minister Mackenzie King at Laurier House
April 5, 1943 - Uplands, Ottawa, Ontario - Filming of "Captains of the Clouds": During a

Billy Bishop, April 5th, 1943
"Captains of the Clouds"

parade, Bishop, playing himself, presents wings to real graduates of No.2 service flying training school
August 20, 1943 - Montreal, Quebec - Flies with Guy Gibson (VC) from Quebec to Montreal
January(?) 1(?), 1944 - Montreal - Resigns his post in the RCAF to return to private enterprise in Montreal, Quebec
June 1, 1944 - Toronto - He was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath in the King's Birthday Honours List
January(?) 1(?), 1945 - Montreal - Returns to his position as vice-president of Texaco Oil in Montreal
January(?) 1(?), 1952 - West Palm Beach, Florida - Retires. Begins spending his winters in West Palm Beach, Florida
September 11, 1956 - West Palm Beach, Florida - "Billy" Bishop dies in his sleep, aged 62 =(END)