 Nyorai kupfuurira kweiyi ndima - Leavis akanga akunda bhezari kubva kuPerse School kuenda kuEmmanuel College, Cambridge kunodzidza nhau. Paakanga ava nemakore 19, Britain yakabva yazivisa kuti yaida kurwisa Germany. Leavis akasiya Cambridge mushure megore rake rokutanga semudzidzi uye akabatana neFriends Ambulance Unit FAU kuYork muna 1915. Pashure pokuunzwa kwebasa rechiuto muna 1916, apo munununa wake Ralph akabatanidzwawo neFAU, akabetserwa nokuzivikanwa kwose kwenhengo dzeFriends Ambulance Unit sevanoramba basa nemhaka yehana. Leavis anonokorwa mashoko achiti: Asi pashure peBloody Sommehapana mubvunzo kuti munhu wose aiziva kuti hondo yemazuva ano yakaita sei aizopinda muchiuto. 