New book shines light on Levens in World War One

From Lady Bagot’s hospital for wounded troops to schoolchildren collecting chestnuts and blackberries, Levens in the Shadow of the Great War evokes life on the home front as well as recalling the men who went off to war.

As Allan Steward, acting secretary of Levens Local History Group explained, the research began with the 17 names of the fallen on the war memorial at St John’s Church.

The group had been given £5,100 by the Heritage Lottery Fund to mark the centenary of 1918 Armistice, and an exhibition was staged at Levens Institute featuring stories and memorabilia such as treasured family photographs.

The new book has arisen from that research and it will be launched at the Institute on Saturday, February 1, from 2pm to 5pm.

Sources include poignant accounts of soldiers’ deaths and letters written to The Westmorland Gazette by renowned nurse Lady Theodosia Bagot, of Levens Hall. She set up the mobile Hospital of Friendship in Belgium with 26 iron bedsteads for injured soldiers. Living in a tiny hut ten feet square, she “worked tirelessly” to help the surgeons, dress wounds and care for the men. Queen Elizabeth of Belgium awarded her the Medaille de la Reine for her service.

Some of the Levens men who served in World War One were recruited to “The Lonsdales”, set up by the famously extravagant “Yellow Earl”, Lord Lonsdale. Four of them died in 1916 in the Battle of the Somme, with the village losing three of its sons on the first day.

The history group's book records biographical details and pictures of the fallen and the survivors, noting: “We are missing many personal accounts of these men’s experience of war and their return to Levens in peacetime. We can only imagine their suffering and their resilience.”

Rather than selling the book, Levens Local History Group is asking for donations to be shared between the group and SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity.

Copies can be obtained by emailing levenshistory@btinternet.com