Orders, Decorations & Medals - Australian Singles

Lot 3933    SESSION 18 (11.30AM FRIDAY 12TH APRIL)    Orders, Decorations & Medals - Australian Singles

Estimate $1,400
Bid at live.noble.com.au

FOUR SINGLES TO BROTHERS (2 KIA): (Brother 1) British War Medal 1914-18. 1013 Pte. N.S.Layton. 14-Bn. A.I.F.; (Brother 2) British War Medal 1914-18. 4809 Pte C.H.Layton. 53 Bn. A.I.F.; (Brother 3) British War Medal 1914-18. 2277 Pte J.Layton 5 Bn. A.I.F.; (Brother 4) British War Medal 1914-18. 3511 Pte J.W.Layton. 60 Bn. A.I.F. All medals impressed. Four single medals, good very fine - extremely fine.

(Brother 1 - KIA) Norman Stanley Layton, labourer, age 20 born at Richmond, Melbourne, Vic; Enl.01Oct1914 at Mildura, Vic in 14Bn; Emb.22Dec1914; KIA 02May1915 at Gallipoli; Buried at Courtney's and Steel's Post Cemetery.
A report in the Richmond Guardian on Saturday 5 June 1915 on page 2 reads as follows. 'Private Norman S. Layton, killed, was a popular young fellow in the eastern end of this city. He was the second son of Mrs. and the late Mr. H. Layton, of 221 Burnley-street. He was born in Richmond, and educated at the North Richmond State School. He was 21 years of age. He was employed at Kennon's tannery for some time, but for a year previous to the war had been working on the railways at Ouyen. Members of the Ouyen Football Club are wearing mourning in his memory. A brother is in training at Broadmeadows.'
(Brother 2 - KIA) Charles Henry Layton, motor driver, age 27, born at Melbourne, Vic; Enl.11Sep1915 at Cootamundra, NSW; Emb.08Mar1916; TOS 53Bn 20Apr1916; to France 19Jun1916; MIA 19Jul1916 at Fromelles, France; KIA 19Jul1916 following Court of Enquiry 'In the Field' 02Sep1917. A report in the Richmond Guardian on Saturday 6 October 1917 on page 2 reads as follows. 'Private C. H. Layton, now officially reported to have been killed in action on July 19, 1916 (previously posted as missing), was the eldest son of Mrs. Mary Jane Layton and the late Mr. Harry Layton, of 223 Burnley street. He enlisted in New South Wales in November, 1915. His brother, Private Norman Layton, was killed at Gallipoli on May 2, 1915. Another brother, Private Jack Layton, has been on active service for two years and five months, and has so far escaped harm. Yet one more of this brave-hearted brotherhood, Private Jim Layton, enlisted early in the war, was seized by illness and invalided home, but has now crossed the seas again. He arrived in England a few days ago. Private Charlie Layton is one more name to bear the asterisk that will for all time tell of his sacrifice on the Honor Board of Central S.S. He was an unassuming young man, well liked, and his passing at 29 years of age is another sad blow to be borne by a fine mother who has had more than her share of this world's troubles.'
(Brother 3) John Layton, jockey, age 21, born at Richmond, Melbourne, Vic; Enl.01Mar1915 at Kilmore, Vic; Emb.25Jun1915 with 6Reinf 5Bn; to Gallipoli with 5Bn 05Aug1915; TOS 57Bn 17Feb1916; to hospital sick 28Feb1917; to 5 AGBD (Aust Gen Base Depot) 18Mar1917; to hospital sick in France 16Jan1918; rejoined 57 Bn 28May1918; to permanent staff of AIBD (Aust Infy Base Depot) from 57Bn 17Sep1918; RTA 24Jan1919; Disch.02May1919.
(Brother 4 - WIA twice) James William Layton, jockey, age 18, born at Richmond, Melbourne, Vic; Enl.26Jul1915 at Melbourne, Vic; Disch.10Nov1915 Medically Unfit with deficient chest measurement; Re-Enl.03Feb1916 at Prahran, Vic, as James William Leighton, now a tanner still aged 18; Emb.12Mar1916; AWL until apprehended by Military Police 14Aug1916; invalided to Australia 17Aug1916; Disch.29Nov1916 ex 22Bn; Re-Enl.11Jul1917 at Prahran, Vic, as James William Leighton, now a driver aged 21; Emb.16Jul1917 with 9Reinf 60Bn; TOS 60Bn 13Jan1918; to hospital in Tel-el-Kebir with mumps 17May1918; WIA gassed 05Jul1918, France; to hospital with neurasthenia 14Jul1918; rejoined 60Bn 22Jul1918; TOS 59Bn 25Sep1918; WIA 29Sep1918 and to Hospital with GSW left hand 03Oct1918; RTA 10Dec1918; Disch.08Mar1919. (Note that James William Layton completed a Statutory Declaration declared on 24Oct1917 stating that he had enlisted under the name James William Leighton - see enlistments on 03Feb1916 and 11Jul1917).
A report in the Richmond Guardian on Saturday 3 August 1918 on page 4 reads as follows. 'News that her son, Private Jim Layton, has been gassed in action and is in hospital adds further to the anxieties of Mrs. M. J. Layton, of 223 Burnley-street. Two of her sons have made the supreme sacrifice, Norman Layton at Gallipoli in 1915 and Charles Layton in France in 1916. Another son, Jack Layton, has been on service for four years, and so far has got through with little more than a scratch. They have proved themselves noble sons of one of the first playing members of the Richmond Football Club. He died three years ago. "Jim" Layton, who began this paragraph, is the youngest of the four soldier boys. As soon as war broke out he wanted to join Australia's fighting army. He went and enlisted and actually passed the doctors. But he was not yet 16 years of age and his mother declined to let him go, and made representations to the authorities. She got him out of it, but Jim was determined to go. A few weeks later he went over to Prahran and enlisted there. On September, 1916, he was returned from Egypt suffering from nervous breakdown. His spirit was willing but his young frame had not been able to stand the terrible strain. He was given an honorable discharge. But a few weeks in Australia worked wonders, and when the news came through that his second brother had been killed, Jim Layton didn't want to stay here any longer. He went in and enlisted again. The military authorities here were filled with admiration for the youthful hero, and directed that he be given a congenial position in camp for some time. They felt that the Laytons had done more than their share - and that Jim should be given a show. But he wanted to get right into the fighting line again. He got there, and for the last 12 months has been, with other brave men, daily performing deeds of prodigious valor. His last letter home said that he was one of the stretcher bearers who picked up and carried in three Richmond boys, the late Lieut. Bayliss, Private Wood and Private J. Devitt.' Another sporting news report stated that Jim Layton was one of the Port Melbourne goal-kickers in a match played against Richmond in the R.S.S.I.L.A. Competition in May 1920.
The Layton brother's father, Harry Layton, played in Richmond's first ever VFA game in 1855 and died in September 1915.
With research.