Henry Francis Conway was born in Flint 25^th April 1891 and baptised 14^th June 1891 at St Mary’s Catholic Church, Flint. He was the seventh child of ten to Thomas Conway and Sarah Ann (Hayes) of 1, Castle Terrace, Flint, where they lived for many years, and the brother of Private James Conway who also died in the war and has his own page here.

Henry’s father, Thomas, was born in Widnes, Lancashire in c1854 and died in March 1907, aged about 50, and buried in the Northop Road Cemetery, Flint. He was employed as a chemical labourer.

Henry’s first job was as a labourer at a cotton factory before gaining employment at the Hawarden Bridge Ironworks, Shotton.

He married Sarah Emily Cartwright in 1914. She was born in Gardeners Row, Oakenholt on 6^th September 1894, and a daughter of George Francis Cartwright, painter, and his wife Mary Elizabeth, of West View, Oakenholt.

Henry and Sarah Emily began their married life at 299, West View, Oakenholt and had a son they named Wilfred (1915-1982) who was known as Bud.

He enlisted in Flint on 5^th October 1914 as a Private with the 1^st 5^th Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers, and his service record is as follows:- forfeited 6 days pay being absent from 10pm 29^th January 1915 to 10am 3^rd February 1915; embarked on HM Troopship “Caledonia” at Devonport for Gallipoli, 14^th July 1915; admitted to hospital in Gallipoli suffering from exposure, 28^th November 1915; admitted to hospital in Nanders suffering from frost bite, 22^nd December 1915 and invalided to England on the “Aquitania,” 26^th December 1915; admitted to Netley Hospital 3^rd January 1916 to 21^st January 1916 suffering from frost bite in both feet and recommended for ten days furlough; embarked on HM Troopship “Tunisian” at Devonport for Egypt, 30^th April 1916; disembarked at Alexandria, Egypt, 9^th May 1916 and joined battalion, 18^th May 1916; granted Class 2 Proficiency Pay, 5^th October 1916; appointed paid Lance Corporal in the Field, 1^st November 1916; admitted to hospital in the Field suffering from abrasions on his feet, 25^th February 1917; re-joined Battalion for Duty in the Field, 6^th March 1917; on enlistment he was 5ft 5ins tall, chest 37 inches and his vision and physical development were good; his wife was awarded a widow’s pension of 26s 3d per week.

Lance Corporal Conway was killed in action in the First Battle of Gaza, Palestine on 26^th March 1917.

He has no known grave but is commemorated on the Jerusalem Memorial on Panels 20 to 22. He is remembered on two war memorials – Flint Town and St Mary’s Catholic Church, Flint. He is also commemorated on the North Wales Heroes’ Memorial Arch, Bangor.

He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.

Sarah Emily re-married in 1919 to Patrick Burke (1894-1948) and they had nine children and lived at 35, Woodfield Avenue.

Henry’s mother was born in Flint and died 19^th August 1946, aged 84, at 59, Sydney Street, Flint, the residence of her daughter and son-in-law, and was buried with her husband.

Sarah Emily died 23^rd November 1953, aged 58, and was buried in the Old London Road Cemetery, Flint with her second husband Patrick and their son Kenneth Patrick who died in mysterious circumstances in 1993.