13 Facts About Geoffrey Layton

Geoffrey Layton joined the Royal Navy as a naval cadet on 15 May 1899 on HMS Britannia.

Geoffrey Layton took his lieutenant's course and was promoted to that rank on 30 November 1905.

Geoffrey Layton was promoted to captain on 31 December 1922 and held the post of Chief of Staff to the Rear Admiral Submarines.

Geoffrey Layton commanded the Royal Naval Base at Portsmouth from 1934 to 1936, when he became Director of Personnel Services at the Admiralty.

Geoffrey Layton was then appointed second-in-command of the Mediterranean Fleet, firstly under Admiral Sir Dudley Pound and later under Admiral Sir Andrew Cunningham.

Geoffrey Layton took command of the China Station in September 1940.

Geoffrey Layton was appointed Commander-in-Chief, Ceylon and temporary rank of Admiral in March 1942, with wide-ranging powers that subordinated the civilian authorities.

Geoffrey Layton immediately set about improvements to radar, civil defence and Colombo's air raid system.

Time was against Geoffrey Layton as were the current appreciations of Japanese capabilities.

The early warning system set up by Geoffrey Layton was a shambles: the aircraft at Ratmalana were still on the ground when the Japanese aircraft flew overhead.

Geoffrey Layton received the Dutch Order of Orange-Nassau and the French Legion of Honour.

Sir Geoffrey Layton died at Portsmouth on 4 September 1964 at the age of 80.

Geoffrey Layton was the father of three daughters, the youngest being Suzanne Kyrle-Pope, the traveller and author.