Category Archives: Western Front

Walter John Levy

Army, Commemorated name/s, Loos, Other Regiments, Somme

Walter John Levy
Private 29006 14th Battalion formally 22342 K.O.S.B.
Highland Light Infantry

 Divison 18 

Levey WJ photo

Walter John Levy is commemorated on the grave of Martha and Philip Levy who died in 1937 and 1938 respectively.  They are were the parents of Walter Levy.   The Berkshire family history Society classification for the grave is given a 18H3.  Cemetery Register number 12394.

A picture of a Private Levy (there is an error in the spelling of the name) gives the address as 12, Francis Street, Reading.  The 1911 census indicates that Philip Levy was a carter at the Corn Merchants (possibly Sutton Seeds) and the Walter a tin worker at the tin factory (Huntley, Borne and Stevens),other family members worked at the biscuit factory (Huntley and Palmers). Walter was 19 at the time of the census.

Walter Levy is recorded on the grave as being killed in action on 21st October 1916, aged 25.  He is buried in the Philosophe British Cemetery, Marzingarbe, Pas de Calais.   Location I.D.37.  The cemetery is situated between Bethune and Lens.  Graves from the Loos battlefield were brought to the cemetery after the Armistice.

Originally the 14th Battalion was a Bantam battalion but it ceased to have this designation in early 1917. The battalion landed in France in July 1916 as part of the 40th Division. The division was formed between September and December 1915. Serving mainly on the loos battlefront the division was also involved in the battle of Ancre in 1916 on the Somme. There were a number of fierce attacks between including between 1 October and 11 November 1916 including one on 21 October the day Walter Levy lost his life, aged 24 years.

Further research is required to find out about the action in which Private Levy was killed.

Leonard William Levey

Alfred Sutton School War Memorial, Ypres

Leonard William Levey
Private 44209
2/23 Bn.East Surrey Regiment

Little is known of Leonard William Levey except that he waskilled in action on 2 September 1918 during the time of the final British advance. He is buried at Wulverghem-Lindenhoek Road Cemetery, location V.E.17.

The 1911 census spells his name as Lenard William Levy and gives his address as 101, Orts Road, Reading. There were seven children living at home between the ages of 25 and four years; Leonard’s age is given as eleven years. His mother had borne twelve children in total although four had died. Alfred Levey, father was recorded as a miller at the biscuit factory and of those old enough to work all except one were employed at the biscuit factory. In 1911 Leonard was still at school.

Two battalions of the 23rd were found during the First World War for overseas service with a reserve battalion at home. The 1/23rd fought in France and Flanders from March 1915 until the end of hostilities in 1918, being involved in actions at Festubert, Loos, the Somme in 1916 and 1918, Messines, Ypres, Cambrai, Lille and Tournai. Casualties were heavy, 237 being killed and 262 wounded at Givenchy during the Battle of Festubert. The 2/23rd went initially to France in June 1916 but later went to Salonika and then to Egypt to take part in General Allenby’s offensive against the Turks in Palestine. Finally they returned to France in 1918 and saw action around Ypres. http://www.queensroyalsurreys.org.uk/militia_vol_territorial/mvt19_1.html 

Leonard William would have been about 18 years old at the time of his death and it is not known when he joined his battalion. His name is on the Alfred Sutton School war memorial.

Leslie Thomson

Army, Commemorated name/s, Other Regiments, Reading University College, St. Laurence's Church, Ypres

Leslie Thomson
Rifleman 1877
16th Batt. London Regt. Queen’s Westminster Rifles 

Thomson L photo Thomson L cem mem Thomson L grave

Leslie Thomson was the second son of Mr Walter and Mrs Thomson, hairdresser, of High Street, Reading and 18 Lorne St. Reading.  He was educated at Kendrick School and Christ’s Hospital (where he was in the Officers’ Training Corps), at the outbreak of the war he was employed in the Army and Navy stores.  He at once enlisted, and went with his battalion to Hemel Hemsted.  In November the battalion went to France, where they were involved in trench work.  On one occasion Leslie had a narrow escape when brining in a wounded comrade.

The Standard  Jan 16th 1915 published an extract of a letter from Walter to his father with the headline,

 “80 yards from the enemy”

Leslie Thomson was in the firing line with his regiment when they exchanged greetings with the enemy on Christmas day 1914.

“They were a rather weedy lot, although they included some fine American Germans.  Not a shot was fired all day.  In the morning we had a Communion Service under the most picturesque circumstances.

We have moved into new trenches now and are only about eighty yards from the enemy.  We are too near each other to be able to employ artillery, but of course we watch each other very closely”.

He was in action on the 18th March 1915 in the trenches near Houplines when a rifle grenade, fired by the Germans burst just behind him.  He died in hospital the following day from his wounds. He was 22 years old.

His mother also received the usual letter informing her of his death:-

Dear Madam,

I regret that it is my painful duty to have to inform you of your son’s death.  He died this morning of wounds received in action yesterday.  It is very sad, as he was such a nice boy, and well liked by all, and it is a great loss to his company, as he was so keen; also to the battalion.  It may be a little consolation to you to know where his body was placed at rest.  His funeral took place today.  The Commanding Officer and some of his comrades were present.  The Rev. H. M. Webb-Peplow performed the ceremony.  The effects found on his person will be forwarded as early as possible. 

Believe me to remain in you great loss,
Yours in deepest sympathy,
A. N. Davis, S.A.

Leslie Thomson is buried in Cite Bonjean Military Cemetery, Armentieres.  Grave location IX.C.17.  His funeral was described by Major Tyrwhitt in a letter to his parents.

“Your son was buried by the chaplain to the brigade in the hospital cemetery, and I was fortunate to be able to attended the service with a number of his comrades.  His grave will be marked by a simple wooden cross, bearing his name and that of his regiment, and a careful record of its position will be kept at our headquarters.  Your son was always a bright, and cheerful man, and such a good soldier that I shall personally much miss him, as will many of his comrades to whom he had endeared himself.”

Forty two of his comrades signed a letter to his mother, each expressing heartfelt sympathy with her in her loss, and stating:

”We shall miss him very much, as he was a good soldier, one who could be relied upon to do his duty in the face of any odds, and he was always very willing to do all he could for the comfort of his fellow men.”

He is commemorated on the family grave with the words:

“He gave his heart to God, his life for his King and Country”.