Joseph was a chemist and was living with one of his sisters at 43 Lyndhurst Road, Burnley when he enlisted. He entered the war in Egypt on 11th August 1915. He was onboard H.M. Transport Ship 'Royal Edward' when it was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine UB-14. Private George Macdonald, 2/2nd East Lancs Field Ambulance, wrote to Joseph's family and advised that Joseph had been rescued but died an hour later and was buried at sea. Joseph was the son of the late Francis and Catherine Conway.