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This data is related to World War 2
Civilian

William Ince Levick (65)

Service Number N/A
Military Unit Co-op Bakery Meadow Lane Nottingham 9/5/1941
Date of birth Unknown
Date of Death Unknown (Age Unknown)
Place of Birth Sheffield (17/4/1876)
Employment, Education or Hobbies William Ince Levick was employed as a baker/confectioner for most of his working life apart from spells as a steel forger (1891) and tobacco knife grinder at John Player & Sons (1921).
Family History

William Ince Levick was the son of George and Anne Eliza Levick and the brother of Thomas, Lily, Edward, George and Joe Levick. In 1881, they lived at 12, Beehive Upwell Lane, Brightside Bierlow, Sheffield. By 1891, they had moved to 73, Channing Street, Nether Hallam, Ecclesall Bierlow, Sheffield. In 1900, William married Florence Varney Mortimer at Nottingham and a year later in 1901 they were living in this city with Florence’s widowed father Thomas and his son Charles at 129, Alfred Street South. In 1911, they lived at 163, Windmill Lane, Sneinton, Nottingham along with their six year old son Harold. By 1921, William and Florence had moved to 22, Haven Street, Radford, Nottingham accompanied by six children – Wilfred, George, Sylvia Doris, Lily, John and Thomas. William and Florence lived at 82, Lees Hill Road, Sneinton in 1939 and were still there at the time of William’s death in 1941.

Military History

Nottingham’s heaviest loss of life at a single location during May 9th 1941’s air raid occurred within the Co-op Bakery on Meadow Lane where 49 night shift workers perished. The bakery was hit twice; one bomb caused tons of flour stored on upper floors to crash down to ground level. A second device penetrated the bakery’s air raid shelter roof before exploding amongst the assembled work force. Rescue efforts were impeded by blazing fat. For an excellent account of this incident, see David Needham, Battle of the Flames, Nottingham’s Fight for Survival in WWII (2nd Ed. Chesterfield: Banister Publications Ltd, 2020 p.p. 141-142. First Ed. Horizon Press, 2009).

Extra Information

Nottingham Evening Post, Deaths, Monday May 12th 1941: LEVICK – May William Ince, died enemy action. Funeral Wilford Hill Friday 3.30. LEVICK – William OInce, through enemy action. Always we will remember him. – Harold and Mildred, granddaughter Caroline. –LEVICK – In May by enemy action. William Ince the devoted husband of Florence. A sad farewell. Nottingham Evening Post, 9/5/1942, Page 2, In Memoriam: LEVICK (W) - Memories of a dear husband, killed by enemy action, May 9th 1941. Sadly missed – Flo.

Photographs

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