TO OUR GRANDFATHER dedication by two of Willie Layton's Australian granddaughters

 TO OUR GRANDFATHER

On 8th June 1912, nearly 112 years ago, and with his footballing career behind him, Willie Layton suddenly disappeared from his pub, The Butcher’s Arms in Whitwell, never to be seen again on English soil. The mystery of why he left remains with his two families on both sides of the world, to this day.

On that date, Willie sailed to Australia on the “Somerset” out of Liverpool, accompanied by his brother Edward. It was a sudden disappearance for those left behind, although the trip was clearly planned, tickets and passage booked. His brother was in on the secret, and Willie’s age was lowered by two years to enable emigration to Australia. By today’s standards it is staggering to think what he left behind - his wife Elizabeth, his three surviving English children, his livelihood. He also left behind his footballing career, his extensive fame, his memories, his parents, his two sisters and one other brother………indeed his whole life – with no forewarning and no explanation. Willie lived the next 32 years of his life in Australia, in obscurity and away from any hint of fame or attention. He never returned to his homeland and never saw his English wife and family again.

Upon arrival in Australia, he returned to mining in Sydney. It was a very dangerous mine with dreadful working conditions, and it must have meant a difficult life. He remarried in 1914 to Margaret, who bore him four children, and 7 years later he, his wife and young family moved to Lithgow, a coal mining town in regional NSW. He never played football again, and he forbade his two sons from playing the game.

He resumed his miner’s life until 1929, when he suffered a serious accident whilst driving a sulky, which rendered him unable to work again, in the mines or anywhere else. Sadly, Willie spent the last 15 years of his life in great pain, using alcohol as a pain killer. He died exactly 80 years ago today, on the 17th April 1944, at the age of 68 - an unhappy and unfulfilled man, in impoverished circumstances due to his health and the consequences of the Great Depression and World War 2.

At present, Willie Layton’s legacy in Australia consists of seven surviving grandchildren, thirteen great grandchildren, and seventeen great, great grandchildren. One of Willie’s great granddaughters, Alyssa Clark, toured England to play futsal for Australia in 2013. She still plays football in Sydney for Premier League women and for the Royal Australian Navy teams. Narelle (Alyssa’s Mum and one of Willie’s granddaughters) also came to the UK, attended a game at Sheffield Wednesday, and met with many of Willie’s UK descendants through the wonderful hospitality of Bill Layton, another of Willie’s great grandsons in the UK. Instrumental in this coming together of the two Layton families was John Brodie, the Sheffield Wednesday historian, to whom we also owe a debt of gratitude. The uniting of the two families from either side of the world, in such extraordinary circumstances, was a truly memorable moment.

Willie appears to have been an enigma – a man who lived a paradoxical life. Both the English and Australian families have speculated at length as to why Willie suddenly up and left. Survivor guilt perhaps? Inability to handle fame? Fleeing from debt? Unhappy marriage? Perhaps he had already met Margaret before he left England? Clearly the reason was Willie’s alone.

The Australian families were delighted to see a plaque recently being unveiled in Blackwell Colliery to honour him,

RIP Willie Layton – deservedly honoured but the enigma lives on.

Written by two of his granddaughters, on behalf of the extended Australian Layton family.