Albert E Layton, who was known as “Teddy” was born on the 6th December 1919 one of the older brothers of my late mother (Joan).

Teddy was a very popular older brother to my Mum and she recalled that the news of his death in October 1944 affected her deeply.

Alongside the rest of my Mums large family they all grew up in Winston, Co Durham.

Winston is a village and civil parish in County Durham, England. It is situated approximately 6 miles (9.7 km) east of Barnard Castle, on a crossroads between the A67 and B6274 roads.

7373105 Private Layton enlisted into the Royal Army Medical Corps and posted to 193rd Field Ambulance on the 05th March 1940 when he was 20, until that time he was listed as a Farm labourer.

After 193rd he was posted to 132nd Field Ambulance on the 27th May 1942, he continued to serve with them across North Africa and into Italy as part of the 8th Army.

He was killed in Action on the 20th October 1944 at the age of 24.

His service record confirms that he was awarded 1939-45 Star, Africa Star with 8th Army Clasp, Italy Star and the War Medal 1939-45.

He is buried at Faenza Military Cemetery, Italy situated 50 kilometres (31 miles) southeast of Bolonga.

This area in Northern Italy was heavily contested in autumn and Winter 1944 as the Allies slowly pushed north around the German defensive Gothic Line.

The family rumour is that he was killed alongside two others members of RAMC who also died on the same day while rescuing a senior British officer from the front line.

While I have no direct evidence of this he is buried alongside two other RAMC privates that all fell on the same day, while the War Diary states that all three were killed by EA (Enemy Action) at 0745hrs.

I understand that they were supporting 66 Inf Bn in their advance.

His Company “B” Company were deployed at an Advanced Dressing Station at Castagno with Section Posts in the vicinity of the front line at Badia and Sfiralo (all to the South West of Faenza on the Allies approach route).

Over Summer 2018 I visited the area with my young family and we had an emotional and reflective day at his grave location, laid wreaths and crosses from the immediate family and on behalf of my late mother.

After that we drove some of the routes that he may have advanced down before he was killed.

As far as I know I was the first close relative to be able to visit and pay our respects to this brave young man who died so young.

He was not commemorated back in his home village alongside the six others from the parish that died in WW2 until the year 2000, when a plaque was unveiled at St Andrews Church Winston on 12th November (Remembrance Sunday) after careful research by a local historian.