Paul Bassil (Tupurkovski) was born in the village of Oshchima, Agean Macedonia, in 1908. His father Vasil was killed by the Turks at a young age and his mother, Sultana had to raise his brother, Spero, his baby brother Micho and sisters Velia, Sandra, Elena and Ilinka all alone. His mother was killed by the Germans during the second world war.