LITTLEJOHN, Robert James
| Service Numbers: | 1208, 519 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Lance Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 2nd Field Company Engineers |
| Born: | Brunswick, Victoria, Australia, 1892 |
| Home Town: | Brunswick, Moreland, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Bricklayer |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Belgium, 22 September 1917 |
| Cemetery: |
Menin Road South Military Cemetery I. L. 32. |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, City of Brunswick Honour Roll, Frankston Avenue of Honour Memorial, Kew War Memorial, West Brunswick State School Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 28 Jun 1915: | Involvement Driver, 1208, 2nd Field Company Engineers, Third Ypres, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '5' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Berrima embarkation_ship_number: A35 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 28 Jun 1915: | Embarked Driver, 1208, 2nd Field Company Engineers, HMAT Berrima, Melbourne | |
| 11 Aug 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1208, 2nd Field Company Engineers, ANZAC / Gallipoli, Between 15-20 December, 1915, Australian troops evacuated Gallipoli. On 27 December, 1915, Robert Littlejohn disembarked ex "Caledonia" in Alexandria, Egypt | |
| 17 Sep 1917: | Honoured Military Medal, Third Ypres, 'For gallantry and great devotion to duty under enemy fire. On 12th September, 1917, whilst this N.C.O. was leading his party back over exposed ground, from Engineer work near CLAPHAM JUNCTION. N.E. of HOOGE, the party came under heavy enemy shell fire, two of the party were wounded and one killed. Lance Corporal LITTLEJOHN dressed the wounded, still under very heavy fire, procured stretchers, sent the wounded to the Dressing Station and got the rest of his party into safety. He then went back, found the body of the Sapper killed, and brought in his papers and particulars. He set a splendid example or courage and devotion.' Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 31 Date: 7 March 1918 | |
| 22 Sep 1917: | Involvement Lance Corporal, 519, 2nd Field Company Engineers, Third Ypres, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 519 awm_unit: 2nd Field Company, Australian Engineers awm_rank: Lance Corporal awm_died_date: 1917-09-22 |
Help us honour Robert James Littlejohn's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Linda Neate
In 1891, Robert was one of 11 children born to David Alexander Littlejohn and his wife Elizabeth nee Wadsworth, of Brunswick.
Working as a labourer and bricklayer, Robert married Elsie May Salisbury in 1912. In 1914, they resided at 82 Lyle Street, Brunswick, before moving to 5 Charles Street, Brunswick, with their two daughters Dorothy & Elsie.
Robert joined up very early in the piece, signing the Enlistment papers on 30 September, 1914. Was the offer of 6 shillings a day for an adventure that would be over by Christmas too enticing to refuse?
A son Robert James Littlejohn was born on 26 May, 1915. Hopefully, Robert Senior was able to enjoy the birth of his little son prior to embarking for overseas.
Robert was posted to the Gallipoli Peninsula by 16 August, 1915. Following the December 1915 evacuation to Alexandria, Egypt, Robert disembarked at Marseilles 30 March, 1916 in preparation for service in the north of France.
Involved in action on 17 September, 1917, Robert got his party to safety, attended to the two who had been wounded, and went back to retrieve the effects of another who was killed. For this action, he was recommended for a Military Medal, the details appearing in the London Gazette of 19 November, 1917.
The Red Cross Missing Persons Bureau (1914-1918) collected a number of witness accounts of Robert's death, which occurred on 22 September, 1917. Between the mayhem, dust, noise and later recollections of comrades in arms, a few consistent features come to light - killed outright in a trench near Polygon Wood, well built with reddish hair, properly buried with a padre present and a cross.
Robert's widow Elsie received his effects, a pension for herself and her three children, and Robert's medals - the Star, British War & Victory Medals, as well as his Military Medal for "splendid example of courage and devotion to duty in rescue work". How poignant are the tribute notices from family members - from Elsie the "loving daddy" of their three children, a sister "One of God's bravest and best", and returned soldier Corporal A. Reilly "In fond memory of my old comrade". "Old comrade" - Robert was only 26 when he died.
Elsie remarried in 1926, to Henry John Fuller.
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