Photo: James Pasby
TR5/65918 L. Cpl.
W. Laybourn
Durham Light Infantry
14th July 1918 Age 19
Son of Mr. W. Laybourn, of 22, Axwell Terrace, Swalwell.
Jackie Cooper has supplied the following:
William was the son of William Laybourn, a labourer in an iron works, and Mary Jane Watson who had married early in 1898 in the Gateshead area. By the end of the year Mary Jane gave birth to their first child, William who, like his parents, was born in Swalwell. The following year a daughter was born, and by the time the 1901 census was taken the family was living at Brewery Bank in Swalwell.
The family grew over the following years, and when the census was taken again in 1901, there were five surviving children at home in Brewery Bank. William senior was working underground in the local coal mine. Twelve year old William was still at school, but would soon be old enough to leave school and go to work at the colliery like his father.
The family moved to 22 Axwell Terrace, Swalwell, where they were still living when in October 1916. Just a few weeks before his 18th birthday, William went to the recruiting office in Blaydon on Tyne and enlisted in the army. He was posted to the army reserve until he was mobilised in Newcastle on 16 February 1917, being sent to 86th Training Battalion (later 52nd (Graduated) Battalion Durham Light Infantry.) in Hornsea the following day. This would be where William would undergo basic training before being posted to an active service unit. His service records show that he was 5’2” tall, weighing 113lbs. He was issued with the service number TR5/65918 and on 6 June 1918 was appointed acting Lance Corporal.
Whilst still training, William became ill, and was admitted to the Cliffden Military Hospital (the VAD hospital) in Saltburn on 8 July suffering from influenza and pneumonia. He was in hospital for a week, during which time he showed no sign of improvement; his breathing became more laboured, and during his last day was delirious most of the time and eventually collapsed. His service records say that ‘He probably died during (this) crisis.’ It seems uncertain at what time William died during the night of 14-15 July. He was nineteen years old.
As a single man, William’s accrued pay of £3 15s 9d and War Gratuity payment of £4 5s 0d were sent to his father.
William Laybourn is remembered in Swalwell on S85.01, in Whickham on W86.10 and in the D.L.I. Book of Remembrance page 182
