CONWAY, William John

Corporal, 2nd Batt. (attch. 7th), Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
Service No: S/6003
Died: 26/03/1918
Age: 22

Remembered on Arras Memorial
Remembered on family memorial in Bangor Cemetery

Stevenston War Memorial, Ayrshire

William John Conway was born in 1st October 1895 at 10 St. Leonard Street in Belfast. (His birth was register by a Grace Macaulay who gave the surname as Connery). He was the second child of Robert Conway, a Railway Guard, and his wife Margaret Jane (nee Moore).

William's father Robert came from Conlig, a small village midway between Newtownards and Bangor. Robert was working as a car driver when he married Margaret in Ballygilbert Presbyterian Church in February 1892.

Robert and Margaret where living in Castle Street, Bangor, when their first child Margaret was born in Dec 1892 – Robert now working as a Railway Porter – before moving to Belfast where William was born in 1895 and his sister Minnie Agnes was born 12 St Leonard Street in 1899.

The family then moved to Stevenston in Ayrshire, although the exact date is unknown. As no sign can be found in the 1901 Irish census it can only be assumed they moved shortly before. It was there that Williams four other siblings where born – Robert, Martha, Hugh, and Thomas.

William enlisted in the Black Watch (Royal Highlanders), entering France on 20 September 1915 – the date which the 10th Battalion are recorded as entering France. Two months later, in November 1915, the 10th were sent to  Salonika.

In April 1916, suffering from acute nephritis, William (recorded as serving with D Company, 10th Batt.) was transferred to the Hospital Ship Formosa and in December he embarked at Shat-el-Arb for Bombay (now recorded as serving with the 2nd Battalion) and in February 1917 was transferred to England.

As the 2nd Battalion stayed in Palestine and Mesopotamia, however, it is logical to assume he was transferred to the 7th Battalion with whom he is recorded as serving when he was presumed killed on 26th March 1918.