Roland Churchill Layton
- Family History
- Military History
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He was the son of Reverend William Edward and Christina Isabella LaytonOn 1881 Census he is living with his parents and sister, Ethel, at St. James Villa, Winkfield, Cranbourne, Berkshire. His father is listed as curate of St.Peter’s ChurchOn 1891 Census he is listed as a pupil of Tonbridge Castle Prepatory School.Attended Tonbridge School 1893 from Tonbridge Castle Preparatory SchoolHe left the following Christmas and was afterwards at Felsted School. In 1899 he went up to Brasenose College, Oxford, but did not take his degree, as he volunteered for service in the South African War and obtained a commission in the Yeomanry, 27th March 1901.He married Catherine Goff Cooke on 21st May 1909, in Croydon and they lived at 59 London Road, St. Albans
Served as a Private in 1st Surrey Volunteer Rifle CorpsCommissioned a Temporary Second Lieutenant (Unattached) 27th March 1901 (London Gazette 26th March 1901)Appointed to 10th (Sherwood Rangers) Company, 3rd Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry with rank of Temporary Lieutenant 7th May 1901 (London Gazette 13th August 1901)Relinquished his commission and granted the honorary rank of Lieutenant 24th September 1902 (London Gazette 3rd October 1902)Appointed Temporary Lieutenant in Cavalry Reserve Regiments 7th September 1914 (London Gazette 22nd September 1914, Precedence confirmed London Gazette 19th July 1917)Rejoins Sherwood Rangers, but does not embark with Regiment for Egypt in April 1915 and probably served with 2nd / 1st Sherwood Rangers or at Depot in Retford.Appointed Temporary Captain 22nd August 1915 (London Gazette 26th April 1916)He embarked at Devonport on 30th August 1915 and disembarked in Egypt on 12th September 1915.Sherwood Rangers moved to Salonika February 1916.Admitted to 30 Field Ambulance in Salonika with malaria on 23rd June 1916Rejoined his unit on 2nd July 1916Readmitted to the Field Ambulance on 15th December 1916 with malaria and was admitted to 21 Stationary Hospital in Salonika on 25th December 1916Evacuated to Malta arriving 5th January 1917Returned to the UK and admitted to hospitalAwarded French Croix de Chevalier of the Legion of Honour (London Gazette April 1917 and Edinburgh Gazette 24th April 1917)Embarked at Southampton to rejoin unit 24th June 1917 landed at Le Havre the next dayLeaves Marseilles 29th June 1917 and arrived Alexandria on 6th July 1917Relinquished rank of Temporary Captain 20th July 1917 (London Gazette 19th July 1917)Appointed CaptainTook part in the capture of Beersheba, 31st October 1917Admitted to Brigade Field Ambulance 27th November 1917Admitted to 19 General Hospital 4th December 1917Discharged and rejoined Regiment 9th January 1918Killed in Action at Es Salt 30th April 1918Commemorated Jerusalem Memorial Panel 2Awarded French Croix de Guerre 16th January 1920 (London Gazette 16th January 1920)
An officer wrote: — “He was sent forward to take a small commanding hill. He went forward with the first of the attack. . . . As soon as he got to the top of the hill, in front of his men as he always was, he was shot through the head and killed instantly. . . . The Regiment is the poorer by one of its most capable officers." He is remembered on a plaque in St. Mary’s Church, Cuddington. He is remembered on Worthing War MemorialHis Colonel's letter contained the following: — “It was whilst he was leading his squadron most gallantly for an attack on foot that he was killed. . . . It was largely due to his gallantry and energy that the Regiment got on so well and his loss is very severely felt by all of us. Though I have only been four months with the Regiment his loss is a great personal grief to me, especially as he had been appointed second in command of the Regiment and I was very much looking forward to working with him."
