Charles William Layhe

Pte. C. W. Layhe Worksop Guardian 24 August 1917 Tidings has reached his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Layhe, of 8, Vicar’s Walk, Worksop of the death killed in action, of their son Pte. Charles William Layhe, of the Sherwood Foresters. The news was first received in a letter from Lieut. W. E. Else, who writes:- “Dear Mrs Layhe, - I am exceedingly sorry to have to write this letter telling you that your son, Pte.C. W. Layhe, was killed in the advance on 31st July last. We have taken our objective, which was the last to be taken by the Battalion, and were a mile and a half behind the old German front line, reaching there with practically no casualties. We had dug ourselves in and had been there about two hours when your son was shot by a sniper whilst going from one post to another. His death was a great loss to us, as he was always one of our smartest soldiers, being ready any time both for work or play. I trust that you will try and not worry over his death, but will keep a smiling face like many other mothers who has lost her son in this Great War. He died a soldier’s death after helping to win what was one of the greatest battles of the war, and the battle which we all hope will end the war. We are proud of every soldier who went into action that day and helped give our enemies such a tremendous beating. We of this Division are particularly proud because we have been told by our Corps. Commander that ours was the finest performance in the Army that day. I trust that you will accept our deepest sympathy, and the sympathy of all his friends who are still here, in your great loss,-Yours Truly, W. E. Else, Lieut.” A further letter came from Pte. Layhe’s Platoon Sergeant, dated two days later. This ran as follows:- “Dear Mrs. Layhe,-Just a line from your late son’s comrades who send you our most sincere sympathy in the loss that you have sustained in your son. He was a lad that was well liked by all, and I can assure you that we miss him very much. He was always willing to do anything, and was cheerful and full of hope in soon being back in the old country again. He was killed in the last big push. He was killed instantly by a shell, and is buried just behind where he fell. If you need any other particulars about his grave I shall only be too pleased to let you know. So once again I offer you our sympathy. - From your late son’s Platoon Sergeant and comrades, Serge. R. Teer.” Pte. Layhe enlisted in the Sherwood Foresters in December, 1914, when he was about 18, and he saw his 21st birthday in the trenches in June. Soon after enlistment he was drafted to France, and was wounded in August 1916. He came to England, and upon recovery was again sent to France in January of this year. Previous to enlistment he was employed by the Worksop and Retford Brewery Co, as a cellar man. Mr. and Mrs. Layhe have another son in the Army, Sergeant Percy Layhe, who is in Hospital at Rouen? He took part In the Dublin rebellion. The deceased lad was of a happy temperament and much liked by his colleagues, and he made a very good soldier, as the letters to his mother will testify.

His name is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Belgium. Research by Colin Dannatt