Levy

Harry Moss

Private

3531

Church of England

His name is not on the Historic Obelisk in Melbourne General Cemetery. Harry attested that he was Church of England. He was born 23 September 1897 Reg No 610 Glenelg, SA as Harry Maurice Levy. Son of Morris (Maurice) LEVY & Edith née STACY who were married in St Pauls Church, Adelaide which according to Beryl Schahinger of South Australian Genealogy & Heraldry Society Inc, Research Coordinator, was a Church of England on Pulteney Street, Adelaide. Maurice died 1939 Reg No 6065 age 79 and is interred at Fawkner Cemetery Melb & E Melb Hebrew. Edith died 1949 Reg No 6995 age 77. She is interred at Fawkner Cemetery Church of England, Section T, Grave 7328. Edith is in the same grave as her son Keith Levy who was interred 12/7/1956. Maternal grandparents: Harry Hussey STACY & Annette née SMITH. There was a testament & hymn book in Harry’s possessions. There was no minyan or notices in Jewish publications in Victoria. There is no evidence of him being Jewish, but his father was. Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) Grave registration forms has “Jewish” therefore a Magen David is on his gravestone. The CWGC was notified of the wrong religious emblem, citing the evidence of the above information. Their reply, “This case has been rejected on the basis that, at the time, relatives of Private Levy requested that a Star of David be inscribed upon his headstone - supported through a full register entry, the headstone schedule and the presence of a personal inscription. Therefore, this case is now closed, and no further action can be taken in this regard.” CWGC were not able to supply documents from relatives to support this claim. Rabbi’s decision: Originally was ruled to be Jewish. However, new evidence has come to light that caused this casualty’s religion to be re-examined. Now ruled to not be Jewish. Therefore not to be on the list for future memorials.