Major William Fitzgerald LEVIN (1899)

Wellington Mounted Rifles, New Zealand Expeditionary Force
Born 6 December 1879
Died of wounds 25 December 1915, aged 36
Buried at Alexandria (Chatby) Military and War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt. Also commemorated on a plaque in Greatford Church; and on a stained glass window in Wanganui Collegiate School Chapel, New Zealand.

William Levin was the younger son of William Hort Levin and Amy, née Fitzgerald. On 12 January 1904 he married Zoe Charlotte, née Johnston; the couple lived at ‘Rawhitiroa’, Greatford, Rangitikei, New Zealand, and had three children.

He was educated at Wanganui Collegiate School, New Zealand, and (briefly) at Rugby. Whilst at Merton he rowed for the College.

After University in 1902, he became a professional soldier with a commission in the King’s Dragoon Guards, a British regiment, for two years, one of which he spent on garrison duty in South Africa. He resigned his commission in 1904 and returned to New Zealand.

When war broke out he enlisted in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. He gained his commission as a Major on 21 November 1914.

He embarked at Wellington, New Zealand on 14 December 1914, and arrived at Suez, Egypt, on 28 January 1915. He acted as the Beach Commandant at Anzac Cove during the Battle of Gallipoli.

He was severely wounded at Gallipoli on 18 December 1915, and died eight days later at No.15 General Hospital, Alexandria, on Christmas Day.