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Astle Scott Littlejohns
Article highlights
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The career of a Naval Captain who served ashore during World War One
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The Naval Armoured Train Division
The Naval Armoured Train Division
Photograph of Littlejohns, on left, and British Army Officer (RNM)
Littlejohns served as a Captain in the Naval Armoured Train Division in the early stages of World War One. He became involved in gun running operations to Antwerp in Belgium during September 1914. He also assisted with the evacuation of naval guns at the fall of Antwerp during the following month.
The advance of German troops across north western Europe in 1914 posed a clear threat to the ports of France and Belgium. Antwerp was the first port to be threatened but the British wanted it held at all costs. The Naval Brigade and the Royal Marines arrived to defend this key port.
British troops discovered on reaching Antwerp that the Belgians had only prepared shallow trenches for them. This offered no protection from German siege guns. Winston Churchill therefore ordered the sending of naval guns and servicemen to Belgium.
The mixed British and Belgian crews of the armoured trains used these naval guns to attack the Germans. Belgium's close-knit railway network allowed the armoured trains ample scope for hit and run raids on enemy concentrations. Antwerp was unfortunately lost to the Germans.
The Belgian town of Malines was another key centre that fell to the Germans. The town's cathedral tower was used by the Germans as an artillery observation post. Malines was luckily at the centre of Belgium's railway network, allowing the naval armoured trains to easily reach the town and attack the tower.
Captain Littlejohns commanded the division that attacked the tower. The train had to charge within range, knock out the observation post and return to its base before the Germans cut off the rail line behind. The mission was successful, at the expense of only four shells.
King Albert I of Belgium was impressed with this feat of daring. He had the four shell cases mounted as dinner gongs. King Albert kept one, Winston Churchill and Captain Littlejohns each received one as well. Lieutenant Jim Potter, who had overseen the attack, received the fourth shell.
