Conrad Rylstone Bischoff (1924 - 1942)

Born 27 Jan 1924 in Port Moresby, Territory of Papua

Ancestors

Died 1 Jul 1942 at age 18 in Rabaul, Papua New Guinea

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Biography

Conrad Bischoff was a Prisoner of War during World War II.

Conrad Bischoff died as a prisoner of war on the Montevideo Maru during the Second World War.

Conrad Rylstone Bischoff was born on 27 January 1924 in Port Moresby in what was at that time the Australian Territory of Papua. He was the son of Henry Rylstone Bischoff and Wilhelmina Elizabeth Bischoff.^[1][2]

Conrad was an apprentice engineer. He was called up to full time duty with the New Guinea Volunteer Rifles as a Rifleman (NG3001) on 12 Dec 1941. However "circumstances" did not permit his attestation until 02 Jan 1942 in Rabaul, New Britain in the Territory of New Guinea, only weeks before the Japanese invaded. The NGVR was a volunteer Militia unit which was sponsored by the Australian Army but had not been permitted under the League of Nations mandate for the Territory to be part of it. This changed after Japan entered the War. By this stage the NGVR was considered a part of the Australian Army. He had brown hair and grey eyes.

After the Japanese invaded on 23 Jan 1942 he was captured at Keravat and became a Prisoner of War, initially held at Rabaul. He died on board the "Montevideo Maru" when it was torpedoed and sunk off the coast of the Philippines on 01 Jul 1942 en route from Rabaul to Hainan where he was destined for forced labour.

He was posthumously enrolled in the 2nd AIF as NGX461.

Sources

1. ↑ Birth: "Papua New Guinea, Vital Records, 1867-2000"
   citing Digital film/folder number: 100113526; Image number: 140
   FamilySearch Record: 6ZFS-YTBP (accessed 21 March 2024)
   FamilySearch Image: 3QS7-99F6-7WCL
   Conrad Rylstone Bischoff born on 27 Jan 1924, son of Henry Rylstone Bischoff & Wilhelmina Elizabeth Noller, in Papua New Guinea.
2. ↑ Birth: "Papua New Guinea, Vital Records, 1867-2000"
   citing Digital film/folder number: 100113532; Image number: 5
   FamilySearch Record: 6ZJ1-V3ZB (accessed 21 March 2024)
   FamilySearch Image: 3QS7-89XB-JVRH
   Conrad Rylstone Blschoff born on 27 Jan 1924, child of Henny Rylstone Blschoff & Wilhelmina Elizabeth Noller Blschoff, in Port Moresby, National Capital District, Papua New Guinea.

• "Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org : modified 21 July 2021, 09:36), entry for Conrad Rylstone Bischoff (PID https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/4:1:LTFN-VL7 ); contributed by various users.

• WW2 Australian Army Service File - National Archives of Australia - BISCHOFF CONRAD RALSTON : Service Number - NGX461 NG3001]: Date of birth - 27 Jan 1923 : Place of birth - PORT MORESBY PAPUA : Place of enlistment - RABAUL : Next of Kin - BISCHOFF HENRY - http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/AutoSearch.asp?O=I&Number=5881842

• Roll of Honour - Australian War Memorial - https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1681517

• Commonwealth War Graves Commission - https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2615394/conrad-rylstone-bischoff/

• Virtual War Memorial Australia: https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/620140

• The Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial https://www.powmemorialballarat.com.au/prisoners-of-war/bischoff-conrad-ralston/