Conway, Edward
No.249 – Lance Corporal Edward Conway – 28th Battalion AIF
Edward Conway was born in South Fremantle in 1882 to Sarah and Jeremiah Conway. The family lived at 107 Alma Street (later renumbered to 37 Alma) and also 119 Watkins St Fremantle. (later renumbered to 101 Watkins). Jeremian Conway had a fuel dealership on Hampton Road and then a wood merchant business in South Street Beaconsfield.
Edward was one of seven children (Alice, Cecil, Henry, Jeremiah, Mary and Robert) and was educated at the local primary school. After leaving school he took up work as a labourer and in 1906 married Vera Everett. They had two children from the marriage, Ruby and Teddy. The family moved to the York district until Edward enlisted in the AIF.
On the 2nd March 1915, Edward offered his services to the AIF and was accepted as fit. The medical examiner found Edward to be 5 feet 4 inches in height; weight of 145 lbs; chest measurement of 35-38 inches, medium complexion, blue eyes and dark brown hair. His religious denomination was Roman Catholic.
After initial service in the training depot, Edward was assigned to “B” Company of the newly forming 28th Battalion AIF. This group trained in WA until the end of June 1915 when they boarded the transport ship H.M.A.T. “Ascanius” in Fremantle Harbour. They journeyed across to Egypt where all the battalions of the 7th Brigade gathered together for the first time. The 28th Battalion trained in Egypt until the beginning of September 1915 when they left Alexandria for Gallipoli. Edward served right through the remaining few months of the Gallipoli campaign except for a few days when he was admitted to hospital with chest pains.
After the evacuation from Gallipoli, the 28th Battalion returned to Egypt where they spent the first few months of 1916. On the 16th March 1916 they left Alexandria, bound for France. After arriving at Marseilles on the 21st March 1916, the 28th Battalion were sent north to Armentieres where they would spend the next few months gaining experience in trench warfare.
In July 1916 the 28th were sent to the Somme battlefield where they took part in the actions at Pozieres and Mouquet Farm. Edward survived these actions unscathed and remained with the battalion through 1916, surviving another attack on the Somme battlefield at Flers in November 1916. On the 17th March 1917 Edward was admitted to Hospital with mumps though his stay in hospital was short and he rejoined the Battalion several weeks later. Edward served in the 2nd Battle of Bullecourt in early May 1917 and on the 12th May was sent to the Army Rest Station, rejoining the 28th on the 29th May 1917. The 28th Battalion were then pulled out of the line for a few months rest during which time much training was undertaken.
The 28th Battalion would come back into the front line in September 1917 when they would take part in the Third Battle of Ypres. They fought on the 20th September 1917 in the Battle of Menin Road and again Edward survived this action, he had seemingly bared a charmed life after going through some devastating battles.
On the 26th September 1917 he was promoted to Lance Corporal though he was not to hold this rank long as on the 2nd October 1917 he was killed by shellfire. His body was not knowingly recovered and he is commemorated on the Menin gate Memorial in Ypres Belgium.
After his death, his widow Vera received a pension of 40/- per fortnight and in the early 1920’s moved to South Australia with her children.