Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Name: Tom Levett
Service Number: 12203
Parents: John Levett and Lydia Levett (nee Crowhurst)
Place of Birth: Kersbrook
Date of Birth: 18 February 1888
Place of Enlistment: Adelaide
Date of Enlistment: 3 November 1915
Age at Enlistment: 27 years 8 months
Marital Status: Single
Next of Kin: Mother, Lydia Levett
Occupation: Farmer
Religion: Church of Christ
Rank: Private 4th Field Artillery Brigade
Memorials: Kersbrook Roll of Honor; Kersbrook School Roll of Honor
Tom went to Renmark in search of work and purchased land there around 1908-1910. As land opened up in the Kimba area in 1913, Tom then moved there and worked on the roads. He didn’t make the move to Kimba until after the war when he was granted a soldier – settler block, Section 20, Hd Cortlinye, on 1 August 1921.
Tom trained with C Coy 2nd Depot Battalion and was attached to the 6th Field Artillery Regiment. His unit embarked for Alexandria on 17 March 1916 and were then stationed at Ismailia. On 5 December, Tom sustained scalding of the left foot, with his Commanding Officer stating he bore no blame for the incident. He was treated at 38 Casualty Clearing Station, then admitted to the 20th General Hospital at Camiers. On 14 December Tom was admitted to Greyling Well Hospital in England, and in February to the 3rd Auxiliary Hospital for further treatment.
Tom’s unit were sent to Rouen, France, where on 21 July he rejoined them from hospital. He served in France until he was sent to England on 26 May 1919. Tom returned to Australia per Takada on 4 September and was discharged on 27 October 1919. He was awarded the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
After the war, Tom took up a soldier- settlement block at Kimba. It was tough, arid land. Having no running water meant Tom had to use a wagon to obtain water from a nearby dam using a horse and wagon. He lived in a tin shed with an earthen floor.
Tom walked off the property during the depression of the 1930s. A year after he returned from the war, he married Gertrude Gavin, whom he first met whilst on leave from the front. Her family was from Scotland and she had followed him to Australia. Gertrude and Tom had two daughters, one born in Kersbrook in 1922, the other in Cowell in 1924.1.
Tom worked for his cousin, Walter Pound Crowhurst, who had begun a paint company called Solver Paints c.1920.2.
During World War Two, Tom enlisted as a volunteer on 5 August 1940 and was appointed to the 4th District Training depot. At one time he worked as a cook. Upon his discharge from the Army on 4 December 1946, he was attached to the 29th Australian Works Company.3.

The News (Adelaide) of October2,1951, stated in the Death Notices, “Levett: On October 1(suddenly), at his residence, 14 Bolton Avenue, Devon Park, Tom (late 6th Brigade 1st A.I.F.), dearly beloved husband of Gert and loving father of Iris and Aileen; formerly of Kimba and Kersbrook. Aged 63 years. So loved, so mourned.”4.
Tom Levitt died at Devon Park, Adelaide on 1 October 1951.


Tom Levett
Source: www.naa;B2455; Levett.T.
Barcode 8203428.
Photo & Footnotes 1-3, The Levett Brothers in World War One: L.Watkins & K.Levett
Footnote: 4. www.trove.nla.gov/digitised newspapers.