The Great War ‘Armoured Trains’ Group of 7 awarded to Commander Astle Scott Littlejohns, C.M.G., Royal Australian Navy, late Royal Navy, who served in WWI as Captain of the armoured train H.M.A.T. Jellicoe in France and Flanders, for which he was awarded the C.M.G. He also commanded this and two other armoured trains at Antwerp, where he was wounded in action by high-explosive shell during a sortie, comprising: 1914 Star with Bar (Act. Commdr A. S. Littlejohns, CMG., R.N. Armd. Trains.); British War and Victory Medals (Commr. A. S. Littlejohns. R.N.), the latter with M.i.D.; Belgium, Order of Leopold, Knight’s breast badge with swords and silver palm upon ribbon; Belgium, Military Decoration, 1st Class, in bronze-gilt, with Distinguished Service type ribbon; Belgium, Croix de Guerre; and Thailand, Order of the White Elephant, Officer’s breast badge, in silver and silver-gilt with rosette, the group swing-mounted on bar (lacking reverse pin) for wear, toned, good very fine, an extremely rare (and possibly unique) combination of awards (7) NOTE: M.i.D.: London Gazette, 14 January 1915: ‘for gallant and distinguished service in the field’; C.M.G.: London Gazette, 22 December 1915: ‘in recognition of distinguished service in command of armoured trains in Flanders’; Order of Leopold: London Gazette, 28 April 1916: ‘in recognition of his services which connected with armoured trains in Belgium’; Belgian Croix de Guerre: London Gazette, 14 September 1918. Astle Scott Littlejohns was born on the 13th of June 1873, the son of W J Littlejohns, R.N. of Greenwich Park, and entered the Royal Navy for service on the 15th of January 1886. He served aboard various ships, reaching the rank of Lieutenant Commander despite some rather average reports from his superior officers. Consequently, he resigned at his own request in February 1902. Despite attending one or two retired officer courses, it was not until the outbreak of the Great War that he served with any real success, when he was placed as an officer with the Royal Naval Armoured trains in France and Flanders. Here, commanding 3 armoured trains, he finally distinguished himself as an officer. He appears to have played a role in the defence of Antwerp, and was slightly wounded during a sortie from this city by high explosive shell. The three armoured trains under his command: H.M.A.T. Jellicoe, H.M.A.T. Deguise, and H.M.A.T. Churchill, covered the withdrawal of the Royal Naval Division from Antwerp, and then supported the French, Belgian and British forces during the Battles of Ypres, Givenchy, La Bassée, and Neuve Chapelle. The Jellicoe itself was was armed with three 4.7-inch guns and, a handful of R.N. and R.M. personnel aside, was manned by around 70 Belgian volunteers. For this service he was presented the C.M.G. at Buckingham Palace on the 15th of April 1916, but late on in the Great War, and possibly from his wounds and other ailments, he was given a less demanding administrative position as Naval Representative for the Commonwealth of Australia from the 28th of February 1918, in which position he remained for over 3 years. It is believed that his Thai award might relate to his work in this role, as suggested by his service papers, which also show that he died on the 3rd of December, 1939. Offered with copied service papers.
