LEVELL, Alfred



No C/3835, Rifleman, Alfred LEVELL
Aged 32


4th Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps
Killed in Action on Friday, 18th October 1918


Alfred Levell was born in Clare in March 1886 (Risbridge Q1-1886 4A:658), baptised in Clare, St Peter and St Paul on 20th July 1887, son of George and LEVELL (née WARD). Whether they are typos or not, the baptism record gives year of birth as 1887 and "Soldiers Died" has him born in East Dulwich.

1891 census...Aged 5, he was at Chapel Street, Clare with his father George LEVELL [45] carpenter born Poslingford; his mother Julia [36] born Poslingford; brothers Willie [16] and John [14] (both farm labourers), and George [9]; sisters Rose [12], Mary Ann [7], Annie M [2] and Flory A [5 months]. All the children were born in Clare. His sister Louisa was born in 1872 and May in 1893.

His mother died in 1894

1901 census...Aged 15, he was at Chapel Street, Clare with his widower father, sisters Rose, Mary, Annie, Florrie and May, and brother George

1911 census...Aged 25, he was a grocer's assistant,. boarding with Richard and Ellen NEWMAN at 57 Romany Road, West Norwood.

In 1915 he married Lucy Ann JARVIS in Trinity Baptist Church, Balham on 5th June 1915, later of Church Terrace, St Michael's, Tenterden, Kent. Their son Alfred John was born in Camberwell on 6th June 1916.

He was the brother in law of John MEEKINGS see here



He enlisted in Camberwell, Surrey on 11th June 1915 just 6 days after his wedding. From 128 Barry Road, East Dulwich, he gave his age as 29 years 90 days. He was 5 feet 2.25 inches (158.1 cm)tall, chest 32" to 35" (81.3 to 88.9 cm), weighing 116 lbs (52.8 kg). A grocer's assistant, he had a wife Lucy Ann. He reported to Wilson's Grammar School at 9.30 am on 14th, before joining the 17th Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps.

Posted to the B.E.F. on 7th March 1916 he received wounds to his right shoulder and his face on 14th October and was admitted to 132 Field Ambulance then sent on 15th to 49 Casualty Clearing Station and the next day to 4 General Hospital, Camiers. From there, on 19th October, via Hospital Ship "Asturias" he was evacuated to England and admitted to Nottingham General Hospital on 21st October before going on to Epsom Hospital on 3rd November. He left there to return to duty on 28th November.

On 4th February 1917 he embarked at Marseilles and arrived in Salonica on the 11th. On 25th August he was admitted to 81 Field Ambulance with NYDP (Not Yet Diagnosed Pyrexia = Army talk for "Don't know". What ever the fever was, he was sent to the convalescent camp at Stavros on 2nd September and returned to his unit on 5th September. Transferred to 4th Battalion on 17th October 1917, he spent much of early 1918 in and out of hospital (some comments illegible) before embarking at Itea on 27th June 1918, reaching Taranto, Italy on 27th and joining his unit on 28th. He then was given leave to UK from 30th August to 16th September before returning to France and his unit on 17th and was then killed in action on 18th October 1918
His widow received his personal; belonging, consisting only of a safety razor and a wrist watch. She was awarded a pension £1/5/0 weekly for herself and one child

When his widow completed the "Living Relatives" form on25th July 1919 she added beside herself and their child, his father George living as Chapel House, Chilton Street, Suffolk, his brothers John (at 128 Barry Road, East Dulwich) and William and George of unknown address, also three sisters, Louisa Rose, Mary Ann and Florence May,no addresses given.
During correspondence with the Army, his widow's address changed from 192 Trinity Road, Wandsworth Common to 58 Harold Road, Upper Norwood, London SE19




photo: Rodney Gibson



Alfred Levell is buried in Highland Cemetery, Le Cateau, grave 3:E:5

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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