William Frederick LEVY (1912-1944)

Individual Events and Attributes

Additional Information

Individual Note

William Frederick Levy was born at Itchen on 2nd September 1912 to George Henry Levy and Gertrude Ellen Maton. His family lived in Itchen and Bitterne in Southampton, later moving to Stockbridge.

William enlisted in the Army at Winchester on 29th June 1931 for 12 years, that is 7 with the colours and 5 on reserve. His trade on enlistment was given as a cowman. He gained a third class certificate of education. He was known as Pte Levy 5495692. He evidently served in India as he was entitled to the India General Service Medal and was part of the Mohmand Campaign of 1935.

There are two character references contained on his Comrades Association form:

"Good - a reserved character who quietly gets on with any job he is given. Sober, honest and reliable." Company Commander’s Remarks "Not a typical Hampshire soldier. I cannot quite place him. Intelligent, well behaved and hardworking" O.C. C Coy 13/11/37.

His home address: No 1 High Street, Stockbridge, Nr Winchester. His date of leaving colours: 21.5.1938. Jean remembers Bill Levy - when she couldn't walk due to rickets he would come over and walk her up and down so she would learn to walk.

He was still on reserve when War started in 1939, so he would have been called up during the earlier part of the War.

William was serving with the 2nd Bn, Hampshire Regiment in Italy when he was killed on Sunday 3 September 1944 aged 32. It is believed that he was part of the advance from Ancona to Rimini (which broke the Gothic Line) and in the heavy fighting around Rimini as he was buried at Gradara War Cemetery (grave ref I, B, 9).