Gertrude Esther Levin (1917 - 1979)

Gertrude Esther Levin, known as Gertie, is my maternal great aunt. Levin family HERE. Baum family tree Here

Parents: Jacob Levin and Hannah Baum

Born: 3 March 1917 in Liverpool, England

Birth certificate for Gertie Levin. She was born on 3 March 1917 at Liverpool Maternity Hospital, Brownlow Hill, Liverpool, England. Her parents were Jacob Levin and Hannah Levin (Nee Baum). By the time the birth was registered on 5 April 1917, Jacob had died.

Hebrew name: Gitel Ester daughter of Yaakov Tzvi

Occupation: Wholesale sales assistant

Married: Harry Freedman on 27 July 1947 in Liverpool England. Gertie was 30 years old and Harry was 28 years old

27 July 1947, Liverpool. The wedding of my great aunt, Gertrude Esther (Gertie) Levin, to Harry Freedman

Wedding of Harry and Gertrude Freedman, Liverpool, 27 July 1947. Front row, L-R: Marcus Levin, Zella Levin, Harry Freedman, Gertrude Freedman (Nee Levin), Regina Freedman (Nee Blaser), Ruth Levin, unknown. Back row L-R: Harry’s brother Melville Freedman, Peggy Levin, Simon Bernard Levin, Solomon Freedman

Children: They had no children

Census details

1921

Gertie and her family are living at 142 Islington Street, Liverpool, England. Her father Jacob died on 29 March 1917 when Gertie, a premature baby, was 3 weeks old was and his eldest son Marcus has taken over the running of the drapery business operating from the premises. Her mother Hannah is age 43 and the children are Marcus age 22, Simon Bernard age 15 and Gertrude Esther age 4

1939 Register

In the 1939 register Gertie is living at 195 Woolton Road, Liverpool, England with her brother Simon and his wife Peggy and their maid Morfudd Davies. Gertie is working as a warehouse assistant

Electoral registers

In the 1938/39 and 1939/40 electoral registers Gertie is listed as living at 62 Hartington Road, Liverpool, England. She was probably living here before she then moved in with her brother and his family in Woolton Road following the onset of the war

After their marriage in July 1947 Gertie and Harry lived at 1 Olive Lane, Liverpool, England

Women's Land Army

Gertie's World War II Women's Land Army index card. She enrolled on 14 January 1942 and was demobilised on 2 February 1946. She wanted to support the War effort but refusing to be involved in anything that would include "killing"! So she joined the Land Army and worked on a farm in Wales

Biographical summary

Gertie was born prematurely on 3 March 1917. She was so small she fitted into a shoe box! Less than a month later her father died at the age of 44 from Bowel Cancer. Consequently Gertie was raised by her mother and her eldest brother Marcus (my grandfather) and when Marcus married his wife Zella in 1927 Gertie came and lived with them at their house in York Avenue, Liverpool. My mom shared a bedroom with her and Gertie was more like an older sister than an aunt to her - the age difference was 13 years. Gertie's mom Hannah died in 1938 when Gertie was 21. By then she was working as a warehouse assistant and had moved to 62 Hartington Road, Liverpool. In the 1939 register Gertie is listed as living with her brother Simon Bernard and his wife Peggy in Liverpool. On 14 January 1942 Gertie joined the Land Army, working on a farm in Wales, until her demobilisation on 2 February 1946. She then moved back in with her brother Simon and his family before marrying Harry in 1947 and they moved to 1 Olive Lane Liverpool and lived there until her death in 1979

Her niece Gillian Ranicar-Breese (Nee Levin) describes how "she looked after Marcus and Bertie (her two brothers). She was a house Frau and never got an education. But she was a nice good natured woman. She ... subscribed to The Tatler Magazine and in her living room were photos of the Royals and the aristocrats." My mom remembers her as a lovely sweet natured woman. By all accounts her marriage to Harry was a very happy and fulfilling one

Death
4 April 1979 in Liverpool, England at 62 years of age from cancer. Buried in the Long Lane Cemetery, Liverpool, England, plot no B-J.4

Liverpool Jewish Burial Record for Gertrude Freedman

Tombstone inscription: In loving memory of Gertrude Esther Freedman who passed away 4 April 1979, aged 62 years. Deeply mourned

Hebrew translation: Gitel Ester daughter of Ya'akov Tzvi, Died 7th Nisan 5739.

Probate

Gertrude Esther Freedman Probate 19 June 1979. She lived at 1 Olive Lane, Liverpool, England. The value of her estate was £31,306

Letters and telegrams

Telegram from Gertie and Harry to my parents in July 1955 congratulating them on becoming engaged

Letter from Gertie and Harry to my father in September 1956

Letter from Gertie and Harry to my parents in March 1969

Letter from Gertie to my parents in May 1970 on the death of her husband Harry

Photographs

My grandparents' wedding, Liverpool 1 February 1927. The bride is Zella Levin (Nee Greenberg) and the groom is Marcus Levin. The best man is his best friend, Hyman Raddan. The little girl is Marcus's little sister, Gertie Levin

Gertie with my mom and my uncle Jack in Liverpool around 1935

Gertie with my mom and my uncle Jack in Liverpool around 1937

Gertie (on the right) with my mom (at left) and my grandmother Zella (centre) probably in Liverpool around 1937

Gertie (on the right) with my mom (at centre) and my grandmother Zella (sittin on the chair at left) on holiday around 1937

Gertie with the family dog Rufus in Southport in the early 1940s

My parents wedding in Liverpool in April 1956. Gertie and Harry are on the extreme right

Gertie with her sister-in-law Brenda Margaret (Peggy) Levin and Peggy's daughter Gillian at my parents wedding in Liverpool in April 1956

A family photo taken in Southport around 1957. Left to right: Berthold Greenhill, Harry Freedman, Marcus and Zella Levin, Bertie Levin (with tie), Gertie Freedman, Hilda Greenhill, Gillian Levin, Peggy Levin

Taken 3 August 1958. My mom's family. My grandmother Zella Levin (Nee Greenberg) 4th from right and her husband Mark Levin next to her. On the far right is my grandfather's sister Gertie Freedman (Nee Levin) and her husband Harry who fought in Burma in WW2. On the left of my grandmother is Peggy (Brenda Margaret Nee Lyons) Levin and her husband Bertie (Simon Bernard) who was my grandfather's brother. Between them is Gillian Levin, their daughter. On the far left is my grandmother's brother, Bertold Greenhill (Bertie) and his wife Hilda (Nee Lerner)

Residences

In 1917 when Gertie was born her family were living at 142 Islington Street, Liverpool

In the  1938/39 and 1939/40 electoral registers Gertie is listed as living, as did her mother Hannah until her death, at 62 Hartington Road, Liverpool, England. She was probably living here before she then moved in with her brother and her family in Woolton Road following the onset of the war

In 1939 Gertie is living at Braemer,195 Woolton Road, Liverpool, England with her brother Simon and his family. She was still living there when she joined the Land Army on 14 June 1942 and returned there after her demobilization in 1946

After her marriage in 1947 until her death in 1979 Gertie lived at 1 Olive Lane, Liverpool, England