Robin Basil Levkovich was a policeman of Russian origin who had become a naturalized Briton in the years preceding the war.
During the hostilities he worked for Food Control and was captured by the Japanese while on a mission to Kowloon. He was held in the Kowloon Hotel for a number of months after the surrender on the grounds that he'd worked for the British Government, but was released in March 1942 due to the intervention of his family dentist, who was in fact a Japanese officer.
Thereafter he worked as a driver for Dr. Selwyn-Clarke and helped in his illegal relief activties. He was caught while attempting to escape (on a mission from Selwyn-Clarke the main point of which was to contact Dr Gordon King) and interrogated. Nevertheless, he managed to escape to Macao after his release and was eventually debriefed by the British Army Aid Group in December 1942.
Sources:
https://jonmarkgreville2.wordpress.com/2012/08/23/levkovich-as-driver-s…
Comments
Corrected name
Paul Leslie, this gentleman's son, has been in touch with additional information:
Name is incorrect
Should read:
Name: Robert Basil Levkovich (Boris Vasili Levkovich)
Born: Kiev, Ukraine, 1915
I've updated the details above. (Previously the name was entered as Robin Boris LEVKOVICH).
Regards, David
I am curious about the
I am curious about the Lefkovich and would like to make contact with this gentleman's son, who I believe is residing in Australia. I received a large envelop of old family photographs many years ago from R.B. Leslie with an address of 57 Nicholson St., Strathfield 2135 NSW, Australia. In this package I have photographs of childrens' party in HK sometime between 1948 and 1950 (I think it was in Prince Edward Road) of the Levkovich family.
Particulars of R B Leslie (Levkovich)
Paul Leslie has sent a copy of a document about his father:
CONFIDENTIAL
PARTICULARS OF NX700334 LT R B LESLIE
Full Name - Robert Basil LESLIE
Date and Place of Birth - 29 Jun 1915 KIEV UKRAINE
National Status - British Subject (Imperial Naturalisation Certificate 84A Issued In LONDON May 1937.
Family Particulars
Father - Colonel, Horse Artillery. Naturalised British Subject - killed in 1944.
Mother - Doctor - Naturalised British Subject. Living with Lt Leslie in Australia.
Sister - Vera - Born 1913 - Married to Mr G Gavriloff, Engineer China Light and Power Company, HONG KONG. At present with husband in HONG KONG.
Past History
Lt
(R B LESLIE)
And a copy of his passport photo:
Robert Basil LEVKOVICH - HKP
Hi David,
As promised here are some of my notes on Robert Basil Levkovich.
His father, is recorded as Basil Ivanovitch Levkovich in the 1931 List of Jurors, and as being an Engineer at Texas co. Ltd., living in United Terrace Homantin. I have read a remark on a genealogy site that his father died in Shanghai. I am not sure about that, but he has a grave in the Hong Kong Cemetery “B. I. LEVKOVICH” followed by his name in Cyrillic, 27.1.1888 – 17.12.1944. (also listed on Gwulo in Patricia Lim’s list.)
The notes on this site provided by his son, Paul Leslie, indicate that Robert joined the HKP in 1934. I cannot confirm the date he joined, but his naturalization document, which is in the UK National Archives ( dated 22nd May 1937) confirms that he was a member of the HKP.
The certificate records his original name as being, Boris Vasilievich Levkovich commonly known as Robert Basil Levkovich. Occupation - Police Constable, Hong Kong Police Force. Born Kiev, Ukraine, 29th June 1915. Living at 2 United Terrace, Homantin Street, Kowloon. His father’s name is Vasili Ivanovich Levkovich and his mother Ekaterina Stanislevovna Levkovich.
As far as I know, all of the other members of E Contingent - originally for the Anti-Piracy Guard - were recruited in Shanghai, which makes Robert unique, as he lived for many years in Hong Kong before joining, and this was later to be a factor in his activities during WWII, when he was able to avoid internment and eventually leave Hong Kong.
It seems at some time after 1937 he left the HKP. The notes mentioned above indicate that he went to Shanghai.
He next appears in Hong Kong on 3 April 1941. A Gazette Notice (No. 390), announces his enrollment in the Hong Kong Defence Reserve, B Group, Key-Posts. In his statement to the BAAG, which would have been in March 1943, he records his post as Inspector, Pool Exchange Department, Food Control Office, based in the Union Building. The Food Controller was Mr. Newbigging. ( So the P.E. was not to do with physical exercise, and this was not a Police position.)
He records that during the invasion his mother and sister were working (as nurses?) at the C.B. School Hospital, which was near the Kowloon Hospital. I think this is the Central British School, now known as KGV School. At the time he gave his statement to BAAG (in Kweilin I believe), he recorded that his mother was in Macau, with his father and sister in Hong Kong. His brother in law was a prisoner of war. (From the POW list and the name above, this would be Corporal G J Gavriloff HKVDC).
His Commission is in the London Gazette for 23 April 1943. He was commissioned on 20 April 1943, using the name Robert Basil Levkovich.
He next surfaces making sea passage from UK to Hong Kong on board the S.S. Lancashire which left Liverpool on 21 November 1947. He is still using the name Levkovich, and is accompanied by Lavinia Charlotte, his wife and Michael James (aged one) his son. He is recorded as being a “Police Officer”, but I suppose this was a cover, he was not a member of the HKP post-WWII. There were HKP officers on board the vessel, including Leo Karpovich from E Contingent, who would have known him very well, so he was not travelling incognito.
There is more, but I will send you a separate message for his family.
Levkovich
Interestingly in the portrait photograph he wears what appears to be the medal ribbons of the 1939-45 Star,the Burma Star and the Defence Medal.There is also a silver rosette on his Burma ribbon,indicating a Mention in Despatches. Anything known of the reason for this award ?
Medals
I consulted a medal expert about the clasp when the picture was posted. He thinks it is the Pacific Clasp to the Burma Star and not a Mentioned in Despatches clasp.
Levkovitch
That fits,many thanks.
Some photos
Looking for Paul Leslie of R.B. Levkovich aka Leslie
I May be related to R.B. Levkovich. I am new to this site and would like to make contact with any relatives or friends of R.B.
Thank you,
Monica
Relationship to R. B. Levkovich
Hi Monica,
R. B. Levkovich was my Father....why do you think you are related?
Regards/Paul
Robert and Alexandra
Paul,
Robert married my grandmother Alexandra on March 8, 1940 in Shanghai at Union Churchl, registered under the American consulate. Additionally, it appears that they rented an apartment together in HK in April 1941. They had one child, my mother. I imagine this may come to you as much of a shock as it all this has come to me. For that, I am sorry. I would like to take the discussion privately to honor that. I can be reached at flagrant12 at M(mylastname) dot org.
Thank you,
Monica Wells
Robert and Alexandra
Monica,
I shall contact you via your email directly.
Paul
Robert's naturalisation certificate
I was suprised to see Robert's name on a poster at an exhibition this week. The exhibition shows the contents of the Deacons Archive, which includes a copy of his naturalisation certificate:
Robert Basil LEVKOVICH (aka Boris Vasili) [1915-????]
I scanned through the HKUL index for the Deacons archives, which is in an online excel spreadsheet. It seems they were dealing with something very specific during the period June-October 1940, not the original naturalisation application. Indications are that he was attempting to have his wife returned to HK after she was evacuated to Manila. Amongst the documents they are holding, are letters from his wife, and also his certificate of service from the HKP, issued in Aug. 1937 ( hopefully this will have his service dates and no.) Also there is a certificate of service from the Chinese Maritime Customs in Shanghai, which clears up which organisation he work for between 1937 and 1940. I'll try to view these documents when I have the opportunity.
Thanks for the update. I'd
Thanks for the update. I'd be very interested to get copies of the doc's and letters written by Alexandra (his wife) to my father whilst she was in Manila. These could certainy assist to shed furher light on the situation and circumstances that existed at that time.
I've also been communication with the granddaughter of my father’s first wife, (who resides in the USA) - she too has some information relating to her grandmother (Alexandra) whilst in she was in Manila.
There are a few more details
There are a few more details of Alexandra, and her divorce from Robert, in the article HK MP's Daughter "Not Kidnapped" on page 1 of the The China Mail, 1947-02-03.