A Layton 3388

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Alan LAYTON

Service number: 3388.  Age: 37 years 4 months.  Enlisted: 29 Sep 1916.
Occupation: Storekeeper.  Next of kin: (wife) Mrs Lily Layton.
Address on enlistment: Bribie Island.

HMAT Euripides troopship [1]

Service Summary:

29 Sep 1916: 8 reinforcement 4 Pioneer Battalion.

25 Nov 1916: Embarked from Sydney on HMAT A72 Beltana.

8 May 1917: Taken on strength 4 Pioneer Battalion.

“The 4th Pioneers were raised as part of the re-orgnaisation of the AIF that took place in Egypt after Gallipoli and prior to deployment to the Western Front. They were engaged in every action undertaken by the 4th Division, starting at Pozieres and Mouquet Farm in mid-1916 through Bullecourt, Messines and Third Ypres in 1917, the stemming of the German tide in the Spring Offensive of 1918 most notably near Hebuterne and Dernancourt and culminating in the Hundred Days campaign in late 1918.”[2]

6 Sep 1919: Returned to Australia from England on HMAT Euripides.

9 Dec 1919: Discharged at Brisbane.

Life Summary:

Alan Layton (1879-1961) was the son of John William Layton (1858-1910) and Sarah Jane Bruton and was born in England in Jul 1879. Alan emigrated to Australia and in Jul 1904 married Lily Alice Petry in Brisbane.

By 1914, Alan Layton, his wife and their two children were living at Bribie Island when he took over the role of postmaster on Bribie Island from George Gilbert Jacques.

After his service, Alan Layton returned to his home on Bribie Island and by 1925 he was caretaker for the Brisbane Tug & Steamship Company. By 1930 Alan Layton and his wife had moved to Sydney as had their married son and daughter. Alan Layton, aged 82, died in 1961 in the Newcastle district of New South Wales.

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[1] Photo and caption: Australian National Maritime Museum id 24832 http://collections.anmm.gov.au/en/objects/details/23559/hmat-euripides-troopship-1st--aif--world-war-i

[2] Source: https://vwma.org.au/explore/units/29