St Venant is a town in the Pas-de-Calais, near Bethune and from January 1915 to October 1917, was used as a base for British and Indian Casualty Clearing Stations.

11/74 Major Edward (Ted) Levien MC, Wellington Mounted Rifles [1891-1962]

Ted Levien was born at Bulls and educated at Palmerston North District High School. When the war broke out in 1914 Ted Levien enlisted with the Wellington Mounted Rifles and embarked with the Main Body in October. He served on Gallipoli, where he was wounded to the right shoulder on 9th August 1915, and in Egypt.

Major Levien was awarded the Military Cross “For conspicuous good work” from 1st March, to 15th September, 1917 and was mentioned in Despatches "For gallant and distinguished conduct in the field or for other valuable services.” Reference: Wayne McDonald, "Honours and Awards to the NZEF in the Great War 1914-1918 p 180.

He remained with the Mounted Rifles in Egypt, returning to New Zealand in early 1918, but returned to Egypt with the 41st Reinforcements, remaining in service until September 1919, and during this time served with the War Graves Commission. On his return to New Zealand Ted took up a soldier’s resettlement block at Maihiihi in 1921 and after farming there for several years moved to Otorohanga where he continued as a farmer and became an active member of the RSA. During WW2 he joined the National Military Reserve after Japan entered the war and served on Great Barrier Island, and later organised and became Commanding Officer of the Home Guard at Otorohanga.

He died in Hamilton on 4th November 1962.