Educated at Bedales School, an independent boarding school in Petersfield, Peter aged 18, applied for a Commission in the British Army, upon the outbreak of the First World War. After training, Peter was sent to France as a Second Lieutenant in the Suffolk Regiment. Peter arrived on the Western Front in January 1916, but was badly wounded while in command of a trench mortar. He returned to England to recover and spent two years in hospital.

The young Lieutenant arrived back at a turning point on the Western Front in June 1918 and soon took part in the Battle of Amiens in August, the first of many battles that would eventually lead to the Armistice. Peter then fought at Albert.

On the final day of fighting at Albert, Peter was in action near the French Village of Gommecourt. During the carnage, Peter bravely ran out to help a wounded German soldier. While binding the wounds of the soldier, Peter was shot and killed at 22 years old.

Peter was laid to rest in the CWGC Douchy-Les-Ayette British Cemetery. Upon his headstone are inscribed the words “Son of George Somes Layard, Enamored of Life, He went laughing, into the arms of death”. When the war ended, Peter’s sergeant wrote to Peter’s parents and said “No better soldier or gentleman ever wore the King’s Uniform”.