Edward Leviston was born in Ballarat and was a Motor driver by trade when he enlisted in the 58th Battalion, 8th Reinforcement on 25 October 1916 at the age of 32. His unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A7 Medic on 16 December 1916.

In April of 1917 he was admitted to the Edmonton Military Hospital then transferred to hospital at Fovant suffering from inflammation of the lymph glands. By August he was fit enough to join the 58th Battalion in France but on September 28th he was evacuated suffering from shell shock. He was transferred to the 3rd Southern General Hospital at Oxford. In late April 1918 but he returned to hospital in England in early September suffering from what proved to be Trench Fever. He did not return to the battle line and returned to Australia on the Aeneas, reaching Melbourne on February 5th 1919. He was discharged on March 7th as æmedically unfit – Trench Fever'.
Tree No. 3883