Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

"Studio portrait of 897 Cyril Benjamin Levien, 9th Light Horse Regiment, from Geelong, Victoria. An 18 year old farm hand prior to enlisting on 16 December 1914, he embarked for overseas with the 5th Reinforcements from Melbourne on 8 May 1915 aboard HMAT Kabinga. He served with the Regiment at Gallipoli where he was killed in action on 28 August 1915 at the Battle for Hill 60 and is believed to be buried in the Hill 60 Cemetery, Gallipoli, Turkey." - SOURCE (www.awm.gov.au)

"PTE. CYRIL LEVIEN'S DEATH.

Pte. George Cross, of the 9th. Light Horse, has written the following letter to Mrs. C. R. Levien, of Bourke-crescent, concerning the death in action of her son, Pte. Cyril Levien:— Gallipoli, Friday, September 18th.— Dear Mrs. Levien — I am taking the liberty of writing to you to let you know that your parcel for our late comrade and friend, Cyril, arrived to-day. Cyril's comrades deeply regret that he was not spared to receive it himself, and we offer you our heartfelt sympathy for the loss of your brave son. He gave his life, his all, for his country's sake. I did not have the pleasure of making Cyril's acquaintance until the week before we left Australia, when I was transferred to his squad. We became fast friends, and were section mates ever since. We came to the Peninsula. It is the usual custom to send such parcels back to headquarters, where the staff usually keep them, but as Tommy Rundle and myself were great friends of Cyril's your parcel was given to us. Under the painful circumstances our thanks would be out of place. It was early on the morning of Saturday, August 28th, that Cyril met his death. He was in the thickest of the fighting. We have marked his grave with a cross, and trust that time the great healer, will soften the blow to you. I am a nephew of Mr. H. M. McDonald, head teacher at Geelong South, with whom Cyril was aquainted." - Geelong Advertiser 18 Nov 1915 (nla.gov.au)