Charles Roy LEVETT

Badge Number: 14073, Sub Branch: Marion
14073

LEVETT, Charles Roy

Service Number: 28
Enlisted: 3 January 1940, Adelaide, SA
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 22nd Infantry Battalion
Born: Kersbrook, SA, 11 October 1893
Home Town: Kersbrook, Adelaide Hills, South Australia
Schooling: Kersbrook Primary School
Occupation: Grocer
Died: Gumeracha Hospital, Gumeracha, 14 August 1980, aged 86 years, cause of death not yet discovered
Cemetery: Kersbrook General Cemetery
Memorials: Kersbrook Roll of Honor, Kersbrook School Roll of Honor
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World War 1 Service

10 May 1915: Involvement Private, 28, 22nd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '14' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ulysses embarkation_ship_number: A38 public_note: ''
10 May 1915: Embarked Private, 28, 22nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ulysses, Melbourne
11 Nov 1918: Involvement Private, 28

World War 2 Service

3 Jan 1940: Enlisted Adelaide, SA

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Biography contributed by Annelese Howard

Charles Roy Levett was born on the 11th of October 1893. He lived in Kersbrook, South Australia and his parents were John James Levett and Lydia Crowhurst. He had four brothers including, Edgar, Thomas, James, Robert and Leslie Levett. Edgar, Thomas and Charles (including their father John Levett) all went to WWI. The boys went to Kersbrook Primary School where their names are now on an honour board located near the school in the Kersbrook Hall. Before Charles went to War he worked as a grocer. He was also a Baptist.

Charles' father, John Levett, was born in South Australia at the Gumeracha Hospital on the 1st of November in 1849. According to the "Biographical Index of South Australians 1836-1885", volume 3 he had one residence and it was at Kersbrook, South Australia. His occupation was a farmer of Kersbrook. John had married Lydia Crowhurst on the 13th of July 1886 at the Holy Trinity Church, Adelaide, South Australia. John had passed on the 26th of February 1923 at his residence and had his burial the day after on the 27th of February 1923, Kersbrook General Cemetery. He had died while he was pumping water for the cows and had a heart attack. He was found by his son James. After his death one of his sons had said he was "hard working, always getting up early in the morning and going to bed early, he was fairly quiet, minded his own business, owed no one money, went to church and made sure his family also went."

His mother Lydia Crowhurst was not very well known. She was born on the 10th of September 1854 at Gumeracha, South Australia. She was in the Parkside Lunatic Asylum, South Australia and sadly died there on the 28th of November 1918.

His first brother born was James John Levett (Jim) and he was born on the 19th of November of 1886. He didn't go to war but he was known for having many talents as an entertainer. His voice was amazing, he was a dancer and played the piano. He played the piano for productions at the Kersbrook Hall. He was the organist at the Kersbrook Methodist Church and acted as a librarian at the Kersbrook Institute Library. He died on the 5th of February 1955 at Mannum, South Australia.

His second brother born was Thomas Levett (Tom) on the 18th of February 1888. Thomas went to war on the 28th of January 1916. Before going to war he moved from away from his family at Kersbrook and went to Renmark in search for work. He later purchased land there in about 1910. Land was then opened up in the Kimba area in 1913. He purchased a block of land and worked on the roads. He married Gertrude Gavin on the 20th of November 1920. He moved in with her and then died on the 1st of October 1951 at his residence, 14 Bolton Avenue, Devon Park.

His third eldest brother Edgar (Ed) Levett. He was born on the 11th of October 1889 at Kersbrook. He was a farmer at Kersbrook but embarked at age 25. He returned from war with the Military Medal, 1914-15 Star, British War Memorial and the Victory Medal. When he returned he moved to Daw Park, Adelaide, South Australia and died on the 10th of July 1951.

His fourth eldest brother was Robert Percy (Perce). He was born on August 12th 1891. He didn't go to war but worked for his wife's parents on their Kersbrook property. He had damaged his eyes when chopping wood and a chip became lodged in his eye. He married Selina Buderick on the 28th of April 1917 at the Christ of Christ Kersbrook. Selina had lived there her whole life and went to Kersbrook Primary School and later worked there as a monitor. Before she was married to Robert she was engaged to his brother Thomas. Selina's parents had built a house for them to live in. Once Robert died on the 31st of October at his residence Selina moved to Adelaide.

His youngest brother Leslie Harold was born on March the 8th 1898. He went to war and returned back home to marry Violet Lucy Caroline Hogben. She lived at Gawler and they married on the 20th of August 1925 at the Church Of Christ and Kersbrook. Leslie died on the 15th of June 1975 but Violet lived much longer and died in 2002.

Charles enlisted in Adelaide, SA on the 12th of February 1915 and embarked from Melbourne, Victoria on board the HMAT A33 Ulysses on the 10th of May 1915. Charles went to Gallipoli and was in the first AIF 22nd Battalion. He returned to Australia in 1919 on the 30th of April with 3 medals including, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

When he returned to Australia, Charles continued to live his life in Kersbrook. He married Catherine Doyle at St Pauls Deanery, Mount Gambier on the 20th of October 1919. They did not have any kids but Charles had many family members to keep him company. He worked for the Pitmans in Kersbrook. The Pitmans still have a carpentry business located in Kersbrook called; A J Pitman carpenter.

Charles lived a good life in Kersbrook with his wife Catherine Levett (Doyle). He ended his life nearby in Gumeracha Hospital on the 14th of August 1980 and was buried shortly after (4 days) at the Kersbrook General Cemetery.

In Kersbrook there is also a road called Levett Road. Maybe that is where the Levett's grew up. On the other hand, it could have been named after the family because of the sacrifice they made to our country.

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