Pte. Francis Alvar Fenton

Francis Alvar Fenton (also known as Alvar Francis Fenton) was born in Auckland on 21 July 1895 (reg. 1895/15981). His parents were William Ashby and Rose Mary Fenton (nee Russell) who married on 24 February 1890 (reg. 1890/43).

Mary died on 5 April 1897 when Alvar was just two years old (reg. 1897/2707). He was adopted from Huia Hospital in Grafton Road, Auckland by James and Elizabeth Lever (nee Legg) who had arrived in New Zealand in 1883. Huia Hospital was owned by their daughter Isabel Daisy Lever (1877-1959) who would later nurse during World War I. James and Elizabeth lived at the corner of Willow and Hamilton Streets in Tauranga. The family later moved to Greerton where the family farm was managed by their son Henry Graham Lever (c1870-1957).

James Lever died in Tauranga in 1907.

In 1907 Alvar's birth father, William, remarried to Lavina Ann Creighton (nee Rhodes) (1862-1925) of Hunua, Auckland (reg. 1907/2052).

The Greerton farm was sold in 1910 and Henry Lever moved to Auckland, then back to Tauranga at the end of 1911 when the family bought a farm of 62 acres from Mr. Dickie at Matua. The road leading into the area would become known as 'Levers Road'. Alvar would have worked on the Lever farm.

On 7 March 1916 Alvar enlisted to fight in World War I, training at Featherston Military Camp. He embarked with E Company, 8th Reinforcements, 1st Battalion, New Zealand Rifle Brigade, from Wellington on 26 June 1916. They disembarked at Devonport, England on 22 August 1916.

Marching into Sling Camp, Wiltshire, they were taken on strength with Auckland Company, 1st Brigade Training Battalion, on 23 August 1916.

The unit arrived in France on 26 September 1916, disembarking at Etaples before marching in to the New Zealand Infantry and General Base Depot on 27 September 1916.

Alvar joined the 1st Battalion, Auckland Infantry Regiment, in the field on 1 November 1916.

On 12 February 1917 Alvar was wounded in action, receiving bomb wounds to both legs. He was admitted to No 1 New Zealand Field Ambulance and transferred to the 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station on 13 February 1916.

Alvar died of his wounds at the 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station in France on 14 February 1917, aged 21. He was buried in the Estaires Communal Cemetery, Nord, France (Grave III. K. 8).

His adoptive mother, Elizabeth, died at Huia Hospital on 29 August 1918 (reg. 1918/5054).

In 2013 a book by Mount Maunganui-raised military historian Damien Fenton was launched called New Zealand and the First World War 1914-1919. The book is dedicated to the memory of Damien's grandfather's cousin, Private Francis Alvar Fenton. "We don't know too much about him. There is no photo of him. He had such a short life," said Damien.

Alvar Fenton had lived in Te Puke and his name is on the war memorial gates in the Tauranga Domain.

Biography written by Debbie McCauley: http://tauranga.kete.net.nz/remembering_war/topics/show/2326