Search for family of 14617934 Evan Hayton, 6 durham light infantry

The following appeal to trace the family of Pte Evan Hayton was printed in my local paper this week, with regards to a new memorial that will be installed later this year:

Search for family of tragic soldier
by Danielle Thompson

AN appeal has been launched to trace the family of a young West Lancashire solider executed by the Germans in World War Two.

Evan Hayton, a private with the 6th Durham Light Infantry, was just 20 years of age when, along with fellow private William Barlow, 21, he was captured by the Germans on June 8, 1944 during the preliminary attacks following the D-Day invasion.

In accordance with the Geneva Convention the two young privates should have been taken prisoner and held in a prisoner of war camp.

However, along with more than 20 Canadian troops, they were shot by German SS officers.

They are buried at the Bény-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery in Reviers, France.

Now the Durham Light Infantry Association (DLI) aims to honour the memory of the tragic pair with a commemorative plaque to be unveiled in Normandy in June to mark the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings.

And they are seeking to trace relatives of Private Hayton whose parents, James and Marjorie Hayton came from Bescar.

Dr Grenville Holland from the DLI Association said: “In June members of the association are visiting Normandy to commemorate the D-Day landings 70 years ago.

”During that visit we will be installing a bronze plaque to pay homage to two young soldiers of 6 DLI who were murdered on June 8th 1944 by elements of an SS reconnaissance battalion.

“There is a detailed account of what happened. Later on the report notes that ‘the families of those two soldiers were told by the army that they had been killed in action. They did not tell the families that the men had been murdered in cold blood.'

”The families did not learn the truth about the executions until 1994 – 50 years later when the relevant war files were opened.

“So far we have not been able to contact any members of the Hayton family but would like to do so in order to let them know about this commemorative bronze plaque which will provide a permanent record of the loss of this young soldier.

”We would grateful if any of your readers could let us have any contact details of the Hayton family.“

The plaque will read: ‘The Durham Light Infantry.

4987501 Pte. William Henry Barlow 6 DLI - Age 21 14617934 Pte. Evan Hayton 6 DLI - AGE 20

Murdered by the 12th Reconnaissance Battalion in the grounds of Chateau D’Audrieu 8th June 1944.

Remembered by the Durham Light Infantry Association.

Faithful'


From the CWGC:

HAYTON, EVAN
Rank:Private
Service No: 14617934
Date of Death: 08/06/1944
Age: 20
Regiment/Service: Durham Light Infantry 6th Bn.
Grave Reference: IV. G. 9.
Cemetery: BENY-SUR-MER CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY, REVIERS
Additional Information: Son of James and Marjorie Hayton, of Bescar, Lancashire, England.

 

I do hope they find this soldiers relatives but nit picking as I often do `they` are not at Beny sur Mere Evan is but William is at Hottot.
Casualty
The story was investigated by The Evening Chronicle in 1994 as part of the D =Day 50th Anniversary not `when the files were opened` .Best of luck to them anyway. Evan was born in 1923 mother died in Southport in 1930 his father sold Farm produce,


Clifford

 

Didn't take long, he still has a brother living locally:

Family of murdered soldier is found

It's good that the family will be able to attend the ceremony. The online edition of the paper has a photo of the soldier on the front page:

http://issuu.com/championnewspapers/docs/w0814?e=8170351/6787901