Portrait of Edmond James Conway

Studio portrait of 1091 Private Edmond James Conway holding a swagger stick. His uniform is without badges, suggesting the photograph was taken shortly after enlistment and the stick is a prop.
Conway was born in Berry, New South Wales on 14 March 1892. He enlisted for the AIF on 22 March 1916 at the age of 24. On 13 May 1916, Conway departed from Sydney abord HMAT Beltana for England with the 36th Battalion. On 22 November he was sent to France. In May of 1917, he was temporarily promoted to Lance Corporal in the field. He spent a month in Hospital in Belgium with shell shock. In June he re-joined the unit, but was back to hospital in July for a month. He was temporarily promoted to Corporal. On 14 September, while in a rest camp, he was promoted to Sergeant. In November Conway returned to hospital for a month with Laryngitis.
In 1918, Conway was posted to the 9th Training Battalion in England, attending Gas school, where he graduated as 2nd Class. He stayed as an instructor permanently with the 9th Battalion in Tidworth and was promoted to extra-regimental Company Sergeant Major during this time. Conway finished his service with the substantive rank of Sergeant. He arrived back in Australia on 27 November 1919. Conway is one of three brothers (William and Daniel Conway) that enlisted, but he was the only one to survive and return to Australia.