Captain Maitland Ben Levy, MC was an Australian officer of the British Army who died during the First World War.
He was born on 9 July 1893, in West Maitland, New South Wales, the eldest son of Septimus Ralph, a director in the firm David Cohen & Company, and Gwendoline Levy (née Marks). Levy studied firstly at Sydney Grammar School before continuing his education in England, at Repton, where he belonged to the institution's officer training corps.[1]
Levy returned to England soon after the outbreak of war, securing a commission as a second lieutenant in the Irish Guards. He joined No. 4 Company, of the 1st Battalion, on 24 October 1915, bringing with him a draft of three NCOs and 58 other ranks, who were divided among the battalion.[2] Levy later joined the regiment's 2nd Battalion, with which he died on 12 April 1918, in the Battle of Hazebrouck during Germany's Spring Offensive. Having long been subject to determined and sustained German attacks, Allied forces were exhausted and in some disarray at the moment the offensive shifted its attention towards Hazebrouck.[3]
On the night before Levy's death, the 2nd Irish Guards had bussed into an area near to Paradis, whence, eventually, towards the village of Vieux-Berquin. There, the following morning, the battalion came under artillery fire, aided by observation balloons. Levy, who had recently been promoted to acting captain, was struck and instantly killed by shrapnel.[4] He was one of 27 confirmed killed, of the battalion's 250 casualties, including 100 missing, during three days of fighting in and around Vieux-Berquin.[5] He had been awarded the Military Cross the previous October. His citation in the London Gazette, published in April 1918, read:
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. It was mainly due to his splendid powers as a leader that the attack was so successful. He formed and held a strong point under heavy artillery fire.[6]
He has no known grave and is commemorated by the Ploegsteert Memorial.

Maitland Benjamin Levy

Born July 9th 1893, the son of S.R. Levy, Quambi, Edgecliff, Sydney, New South Wales
Orchard 1907 - 1912
Private, Australian Light Infantry, 1914. Second Lieutenant, Irish Guards, Special Reserve, attached 2nd Battalion, 6/15. Lieutenant, 7/15. Captain. 12/17. France, 1915. Military Cross
Killed in Action 12/04/18 aged 25
PLOEGSTEERT MEMORIAL
At the age of 13 he left Australia to come to Repton where he entered Mr. Exham’s house and remained until the age of 18½, then returning to Australia. Shortly after war broke out he returned to England and joined the Irish Guards. The Colonel of his regiment writes: “Your gallant son has rendered most brilliant service in the course of this war and was regarded by this Commanding Officer as one of his most dependable officers. His loss at such a time as this is irremediable. Nevertheless I trust that it may be some little consolation to you to know how highly he was esteemed and how greatly he was beloved.”
The Reptonian, July 1918

He was born on July 9th 1893, in West Maitland, New South Wales, the eldest son of Septimus Ralph, a director in the firm David Cohen and Company, and Gwendoline Levy (nee Marks). Levy studied firstly at Sydney Grammar School before continuing his education at Repton, where he was a member of the O.T.C.

Levy returned to England soon after the outbreak of war, securing a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Irish Guards. He joined No.4 Company of the 1st Battalion on October 24th 1915, bringing with him a draft of three NCOs and 58 other ranks, who were divided among the Battalion. Levy later joined the regiment’s 2nd Battalion, with which he died on April 12th 1918 during the Battle of Hazebrouck. Having been subject to determined and sustained German attacks, Allied forces were exhausted and in some disarray at the moment the offensive shifted its attentions towards Hazebrouck.

On the night before Levy’s death, the 2nd Irish Guards bussed into an area near to Paradis and eventually made their way towards the village of Vieux-Berquin. There, the following morning, the Battalion came under artillery fire, aided by observation balloons. Levy, who had recently been promoted to acting Captain, was struck and instantly killed by shrapnel. He was one of 27 confirmed killed, of the Battalion’s 250 casualties, including 100 missing, during three days of fighting in and around Vieux-Berquin. He had been awarded the Military Cross the previous October. His citation in the London Gazette of April 5th 1918 reads:

“For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. It was mainly due to his splendid powers as a leader that the attack was successful. He formed and held a strong point under heavy artillery fire.”

From the ‘They Served’ website