LAYTON, Edward Thomas
| Service Number: | 2199 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 19 July 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 21st Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Port Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 5 May 1890 |
| Home Town: | Tatura, Greater Shepparton, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Plumber |
| Died: | 1958, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Tatura St Andrew's Presbyterian Church WW1 Roll of Honor |
World War 1 Service
| 19 Jul 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2199, 21st Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 27 Sep 1915: | Involvement Private, 2199, 21st Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '13' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Hororata embarkation_ship_number: A20 public_note: '' | |
| 27 Sep 1915: | Embarked Private, 2199, 21st Infantry Battalion, HMAT Hororata, Melbourne |
Help us honour Edward Thomas Layton's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Edward Thomas Layton enlisted with the 21st Battalion during mid-1915. His younger brother, 1118 Pte. John Mackay Layton 5th Battalion AIF was killed in action at Fleurbaix 10 May 1916, aged 21.
Another younger brother, 1224 Pte. Richard Goulburn Layton 59th Battalion AIF was killed in action in Belgium 15 October 1917, aged 20.
Annie Layton wrote the following letter, addressed to General Sir William Birdwood, a copy of which exists in the service file of Edward Thomas Layton. It was dated 22 November 1917, just over a month after the death of her second son.
“I wish to make an earnest appeal to you on behalf of my son, 2199 Pte. E.T. Layton, No.1 section, 6th Machine Gun Coy. AIF, who has been on active service for 2 years.
The circumstances are these, on May 10th 1916, John M. Layton B Company 5th Battalion was killed in action after serving for two years in Gallipoli and France. On 15th November 1917 Pte. R.G. Layton D Coy. 59th Batt., was killed in action in France after serving about 18 months, and during this period we have also lost a little chap, 13 years.
I beg you to do all in your power to have our last remaining one released from service as we feel we cannot bear any further losses.
I cannot express myself very well, but hope you will understand a broken-hearted mother, I am, yours respectfully, Mrs. A. Layton.”
Mr. Layton also must have made representation though no copies exist in the service file. A letter was written to The Hon. W.A. Watt, Minister for Works and Railways, by the Defence Department on 15 January 1918.
“With further reference to your representations on behalf of Mr. T.R. Layton, …who desires the return of son, I am directed to inform you that the matter has been carefully considered, but it is regretted that, owing to the very serious shortage of reinforcements, it is quite impossible to approve of this soldier’s return….”
It seems that Birdwood himself intervened in this case, and in any case, less than a fortnight later the HQ of the 2nd Division was ordered to organize the soldier’s return to Australia for family reasons.
Click images to start slideshow.