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Auction: 25111 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 317

The G.S.M. awarded to Private S. G. Littlejohns, Worcestershire Regiment, who was taken Prisoner of War at Tobruk

General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine (5251046 Pte. S. G. Littlejohns. Worcs. R.), contact marks, very fine

Sidney Littlejohns was born in Devon on 14 December 1921, and attested before the war, seeing service in Palestine. Littlejohns' was still serving with the Worcester Regiment on the outbreak of the Second World War, being with the 1st Battalion who were in fact still in Palestine when the war began. A Private of the Regiment, Private Darby, was the first British soldier to die during the war, having been wounded previously in Palestine. The first killed in action was Corporal Priday of the King's Shropshire Light Infantry.

They were swiftly posted to North Africa where they were stationed in Tobruk after the British defeat at the Battle of Gazala. The German and Italian army encircled the city and slowly probed the defences, driving them in from 15-20 June until they were in a position to storm the city. The assault when it came tore a hole in the British defences and, after the uncoordinated counter-attacks were brushed aside, they were on the verge of taking the port.

Littlejohns is listed as missing on this day, presumably cut off from the rest of the Battalion, he seems to have attempted to evade capture. The Battalion itself only formally surrendered on 22 June but Littlejohns managed to avoid this fate only being taken prisoner of war in the desert on 28 June. He was taken to Italy and held at Campo 53 in Macereta where he remained for a year.

The signing of the Armistice with Italy saw many prisoners attempt to escape and Littlejohns was amongst them, however he was again unable to evade capture and fell into German hands. Sent to Stalag XI-A at Altengabrow in November 1943, he joined a work camp at Hallendorf on 24 December 1943. Littlejohns returned home to Devon after the war; sold together with copied research.

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Sold for
£150

Starting price
£100