| Accession Number | P04834.001 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | Negative |
| Place made | Australia: New South Wales, Sydney |
| Date made | c 1917 |
| Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
Studio portrait of Mrs Lily Conquest (nee Clark), born in 1885 at Liverpool, England, who ...
Description
Studio portrait of Mrs Lily Conquest (nee Clark), born in 1885 at Liverpool, England, who emigrated to Australia with her family in 1886, with her two sons, Frederick Theodore Conquest (born 31 March 1915) left, and Horatio William Henry Conquest (born 9 April 1912) right. Lily was the wife of 5235 Signaller William Henry Conquest of Camberwell, London, born 3 May 1886, who had joined the Royal Navy (RN) on his eighteenth birthday in 1904 and who immigrated to Australia shortly after. He was officially 'lent" to the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) on 1 July 1913. Conquest served aboard HMAT Warrego (1 April to 25 May 1916), patrolling Australia's east coast, then transferred to the Torpedo Boat Destroyer (TPD) HMAS Swan (1 October 1916 to 30 June 1917), and saw service as part of the Australian Destroyer Flotilla, part of a large anti-submarine force based at Brindisi, Italy. Conquest remained attached to the force, serving variously aboard HMAS Parramatta (1 July to 2 August 1917) and HMAS Torrens (3 August 1917 to 30 June 1918) before transferring back to HMAS Swan until 15 July 1919. The replica Australian infantry uniform being worn by Horatio 'Horrie" Conquest is typical of the miniature replicas available commercially in Australian during the First World War, and includes the style of soft cap issued to Australians during the initial stages of the war, puttees and patent leather boots. Young Horrie confidently adopts a pose commonly seen in studio portraits of adult diggers, even down to the swagger stick. Both Horatio and Frederick saw service in the Second World War. 2735 Flight Sergeant Horatio Conquest, an amateur boxer during the 1930s, enlisted on 15 March 1937 and served in the RAAF in the Middle East and 3 Squadron and at Morotai with 79 Squadron as a fitter and turner. NX8148 Lance Sergeant Frederick Conquest enlisted on 3 November 1939 and served with the 2/1st Australian Field Company and saw service in the Middle East and New Guinea.