Lt. Cdr. W.E.I.

Littlejohn OBE DSC MB BS RANVR

(This biography was compiled with the kind assistance of Lt. Cdr Littlejohn’s three children).
ã G.J. Mellon, February 2021

At the outbreak of World War II all new entry enlisted Australian personnel were entered through the RAN
Reserve (RANR), signing an agreement for the duration of hostilities instead of the customary 12-years
engagement. Officers and potential officers, meanwhile, were entered as members of the RANR (Sea-going)
or the RAN Volunteer Reserve (RANVR). The Royal Navy drew most of its Australian loan personnel from the
ranks of the RANVR. In June 1944, out of 500 Australians serving with the Royal Navy, more than 400 of
them were members of the RANVR. Up to September 1941, the RAN had also supplied the Royal Navy with 96
Reserve officers and 172 Reserve ratings with their initial anti-submarine qualifications gained at HMAS
Rushcutter. In all, Rushcutter trained 20 per cent of those anti-submarine personnel serving in the critical
Battle of the Atlantic. When the War ended the total RAN Reserve force numbered 2863 officers and 26,956
ratings. This represented 80% of the personnel serving in the RAN. 1

Of the 400 or so RANVR’s serving with the Royal Navy in 1944, a small number had volunteered for submarine
service. Of these, just three RANVR submarine officers were subsequently selected to undertake the Submarine
Commanding Officer’s Qualifying Course (COCQ), also known as “The Perisher”. From 31 March to 02 April
1944 (three days), Littlejohn became the temporary Commanding Officer of HMS Shakespeare, being just 23
years of age at the time and possibly the youngest officer ever placed in command of one of HM’s submarines.
Littlejohn was formally appointed in command of HMS Vox at Sydney on 10 February 1945.

Sub-Lieutenant W.E.I. Littlejohn RANVR

Image reproduced courtesy of the Shrine of Remembrance collection (Melbourne). Originally gifted by the
Littlejohn family. The photograph was taken in 1941, at the front entrance of Littlejohn’s family home in
Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn, Melbourne.

1
William Euan Ironside Littlejohn2 was born on 14 July 1920, at Ivanhoe, a suburb of
Melbourne, Victoria, the eldest of two sons born to Euan Ironside Littlejohn and Mary
Littlejohn (nee Andrews).3 Both his father and his uncle had served with distinction during the
First World War. Littlejohn’s younger brother, Gordon Brefny Littlejohn (who was always
known as ‘Brefny’), served in 12 Squadron, Royal Air Force during World War Two, and was
killed in action over Germany on 07 September 1942. Both boys were educated at Scotch
College, Melbourne, where their grandfather, Dr. W.S. Littlejohn, was the College Principal
for 30 years. Being somewhat indifferent to his studies during his earlier years, Littlejohn’s
father arranged for young William to take time off from his studies in 1935. He signed on as a
rigger in the four-masted barque C.B. Peterson 4, and then sailed in her on her final voyage
from Australia to Gothenburg, Sweden. Littlejohn returned to Australia as a greaser in the
merchant ship MV Port Bowen 5 before resuming his studies at Scotch College, where he
became the School Captain in 1939. In 1940, Littlejohn commenced his medical studies at
Melbourne University 6, where he was a resident of Ormond College and rowed in their crew
as well as playing rugby for the University. 7

Littlejohn had initially joined the Army but on 25 June 1940 he was appointed to the RANVR,
as a Sub Lieutenant (on probation) with seniority to that date. On 01 July 1940 he was posted
to HMAS Cerberus 8 (additional) for his initial training. His Next of Kin was given as his father
and he was entered on the Port Melbourne Port Division.9 On 27 July 1940, Littlejohn was
briefly posted in HMAS Penguin II 10 , until 31 July 1940. On 01 August 1940, he was posted
in HMAS Rushcutter 11 for Anti-Submarine (A/S) training, remaining there until 23 November
1940, and proceeding to sea for two short periods in HMAS Moresby 12 during his A/S training.
On 26 October 1940, Littlejohn was qualified by examination for Sub Lieutenant (A/S), in
Class “O”. 13

On 23 November 1940, Littlejohn took passage in the Shaw, Saville & Albion ocean liner TSS
Themistocles 14 for the UK, before being posted to the RAN London Depot until 16 February
1941. Thereafter he was posted in HMS Western Isles 15 (a workup base at Tobermory on the
Ilse of Mull in the Inner Hebrides, Scotland), where he served as Flag Lieutenant to Admiral
Stephenson,16 the C-in-C Training, Western Approaches. From 18 March 1941 to 10 August
1941, Littlejohn was posted in HMS Veronica,17 a corvette operating out of HMS Ferret 18 (an
RN base at Londonderry, Northern Ireland), where they were engaged on Atlantic Convoys
escort duty.

SS Themistocles, Bulimba Wharf, Brisbane Flower Class Corvette, Similar to HMS Veronica

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On 13 August 1941, Littlejohn was adjudged competent to take charge of a watch at sea as
Sub-Lieutenant and to perform efficiently the duties of that rank (in Corvettes only).19 During
his time in HMS Veronica, Littlejohn was wounded in action and it was whilst recovering from
his wound that he decided to volunteer for submarine service. 20

From 11 August to 28 November 1941, Littlejohn was posted in HMS Elfin 21 (at Blythe, the
submarine base for the 6th Submarine Flotilla and also the main submarine training base for
much of WW2, as HMS Dolphin at Portsmouth was more subject to German air raids) where
he undertook his submarine course. From 20 November 1941, until 22 December 1941, he was
posted in HMS Titania 22 (S/M depot ship for the 6th Submarine Flotilla at Holy Loch,
Scotland), additional, as a spare crew submarine officer. During this period he served in
HMS/M H34 on a war patrol in the Bay of Biscay.23 This patrol was a part of Operation ‘Iron
Ring’, a British submarine blockade of the port of Brest, on the western tip of Brittany, in an
effort to intercept German raiders which were being employed on commerce raiding forays
into the Atlantic from this occupied port.24 On completion of this war patrol, H34 returned to
training duties.

HMS H-34 (IWM Photograph) HMS Titania (IWM Photograph)

HMS Forth (IWM Photograph)

Thereafter, Littlejohn was administratively posted in HMS Forth 25 the depot ship for the 3rd
Submarine Flotilla at Holy Loch, Scotland. From 05 January 1942 26 to 19 May 1942, Littlejohn
was posted in HMS Tuna (Lt. M.B. St. John RN, Commanding Officer) as the Fourth Officer.
27
On 14 January 1942, Tuna departed Holy Loch on her 12th war patrol, in the Bay of Biscay.
On 18 January 1942, Tuna intercepted the French fishing vessel Juliette (hull number Lorient
3472), during which time the French skipper was taken onboard Tuna for interrogation and

3
some ships papers were copied or confiscated. 28 However it would seem that Tuna was also
performing a special operation during this event, as Hezlet29 states that Tuna “was busy
transferring petrol and stores to a French fishing vessel off Penmarch for the resistance before
patrolling for a few days off Bellisle”. Tuna ended her patrol at Falmouth on 21 January,
departing for Holy Loch the same day.

On 06 February 1942, Tuna departed Holy Loch for her 13th war patrol, off the Norwegian
coast, between Stattlandet and Gripholen. On 13 February 1942, Tuna grounded whilst
submerged in Fro Havet. 30 The following is a direct quotation describing the incident from
Littlejohn’s obituary: “……. soon found him posted as Torpedo Officer to H.M. Submarine
TUNA on Norwegian and Arctic patrols. Herein lies a tale. It was in TUNA, on a very stormy
sea, that they had to take refuge in a Norwegian fjord and, due to an inexcusable navigational
error, came at depth unexpectedly into the side of a lonely island named Vinga. TUNA found
itself jammed into a ridge of the island structure, unable to surface, and was faced with the
fact that oxygen was in short supply. The peril of the situation extended over 36 hours by which
time each and every member of the crew had gone to their bunks to lie still, not speak and to
conserve what little air was left. Bill told me that they had all expected the worst but was
forever touched by the calm that was maintained. At the eleventh hour, with some few minutes
to spare, the continuous changing of the tides dislodged the submarine from its trap, allowing
it to surface and the crew to survive.” 31 On 25 February 1942, Tuna returned to Lerwick,
before going on to Holy Loch on 01 March 1943.

On 09 March 1942, Tuna again departed Holy Loch for Lerwick, arriving there on 11 March.
On 16 March 1942, Tuna departed Lerwick for her 14th war patrol, to once again patrol off the
Norwegian coast, this time off the Sklinden Bank.32 Tuna arrived back at Lerwick on 03 April
1942, and again returned to Holy Loch on 05 April 1942. On 01 April 1942, Sub-Lieutenant
Littlejohn was adjudged as competent to take charge of a watch at sea as a Lieutenant and to
perform efficiently the duties of that rank. He was also recommended for accelerated promotion
to Lieutenant.33 On 07 April 1943, Tuna departed Holy Loch for refit at the Swan Hunter
Shipyard at Wallsend-on-Tyne. She was taken in hand by the shipyard on 02 May and
Littlejohn left Tuna on 19 May 1942.

HMS Tuna coming alongside HMS Forth at Holy Loch, Scotland August 1943
IWM Photograph

4
From 20 May 1942 until 07 July 1942, Littlejohn was administratively posted in HMS Dolphin
34
(RN submarine depot, Gosport, Portsmouth), from 06 December 1942 to 02 March 1943, he
was administratively posted to the RN submarine depot, HMS Dolphin, at Gosport. From 03
March to 09 October 1943, Littlejohn was administratively posted in HMS Maidstone 35 (S/M
depot Ship for the 8th Submarine Flotilla, by then based at Trincomalee, Ceylon), and from 10
October to 26 November 1943, Littlejohn was administratively posted in HMS Medway II 36
(the submarine shore base for the 1st Submarine Flotilla, at Beirut). From 27 November 1943
to 31 March 1944, Littlejohn was again administratively posted in HMS Dolphin.

In reality, from 23 May 1942 until 02 April 1944, Littlejohn was actually posted in HM
Submarine P.221, which was later re-named HMS Shakespeare (commanded by Lt. M.F.R.
Ainslie DSC RN). 37 Littlejohn had a short, eight-day interval ashore at HMS Cormorant38
(RN base, Gibraltar) during that period, he joined her whilst the submarine was still building
at Barrow-in-Furness.39 After trials and workup, P.221 made her first war patrol in the
Norwegian Sea (15 to 26 August 1942), but it was uneventful.40 Her second war patrol,
departing Lerwick on 07 September 1942, was providing cover for Murmansk Convoy
operations PQ18 (up) and QP14 (back). This patrol, which was also uneventful, took them right
around the North Cape of Norway and into Russian waters, before returning again to Lerwick
on 23 September 1942.

Thereafter, P.221 departed Home Waters for the Mediterranean and on 01 November 1942,
she departed Gibraltar for her 3rd war patrol, when she was ordered to patrol off Algiers during
Operation Torch, the Allied landings in North Africa. During the day of 04 November 1942,
P.221 made a submerged periscope reconnaissance of the landing beaches off Algiers. That
night, P.221 launched a folboat 41 to make an inshore beach reconnaissance of the Apple Beach,
for Op. Torch. 42 On both 05 and 06 November 1942, P.221 again made a daytime submerged
periscope reconnaissance of the landing beaches. After dark each night, she returned again to
the rendezvous position, hoping for the return of the folboat crew. It was to no avail however,
and it had to be assumed that the COPP 43 officers had been captured or had perished.

During the day of 07 November, P.221 made another submerged periscope reconnaissance of
the landing beaches. After dark, she launched another folboat to mark “Apple White Beach”,
which was small and not easy to find. The folboat designated to mark “Apple Green Beach”
was not launched, as this beach was easy to find. At 2135 hours, P.221 was in position to act
as an invasion convoy “beacon” vessel, and began flashing her marker beacon to seaward, as
well as transmitting a coded radio signal. An hour later, the invasion convoy came into sight
and soon thereafter, P.221’s job was done. She then proceeded with the rest of her war patrol,
attacking an enemy convoy with torpedoes on 16 November, but missing, and on 25 November
1942, she arrived back at Gibraltar.

After this patrol, P.221 had serious defects with her main motors which necessitated her return
to the UK for repairs and on 07 December 1942, she departed Gibraltar for home. After
completing the necessary repairs and a general refit at Chatham Dockyard, on 11 March 1943,
P.221 (now re-named as HMS Shakespeare)44 departed Portsmouth for Gibraltar. While en-
route she was tasked to patrol in several locations, to intercept a German blockage runner,
making this her 4th war patrol. In the event, nothing was sighted and on 24 March 1943 she
arrived back at Gibraltar. She then relocated to Algiers and on 09 April 1943, Shakespeare
departed on her 5th war patrol, off Sardinia. On 13 April, Shakespeare was attacked by an
enemy aircraft and as she went down, passing 40 feet, she heard a loud crack on her after

5
casing. This was thought to be a bomb, which fortunately did not explode. On 26 April 1943,
she arrived at Algiers.45

On 08 May 1943, Shakespeare departed Algiers on her 6th war patrol off Corsica. On 13 May,
she sank with gunfire the Italian sailing vessels Sant’ Anna M. (156 GRT) and Adelina (80
GRT) and on 20 May, she made a shore bombardment of aircraft hangars near Calvi, firing 20
rounds of 3-inch, before breaking off the engagement when shore batteries opened fire on her.
Her 7th war patrol (05 to 19 June 1943) was mostly uneventful, except for being mistakenly
attacked by Allied aircraft just as she was about to attack a German U-Boat, before returning
to Algiers later that same day.46

On 01 July 1943, Shakespeare departed Algiers on her 8th war patrol, she was ordered to
perform a special operation, acting as a beacon submarine for the Allied landings at Gela, on
the southern coast of Sicily. On 07 and 08 July 1943, Shakespeare conducted submerged
periscope reconnaissance of the landing beaches and after dark on 08 July, she also laid a buoy
at her beacon marker position. On the night of 09 July 1943, Shakespeare was in her beacon
position and by around 0100 hours on 10 July, her beacon duties were finished, and she set
course for Malta, with her escort ship, arriving there on 10 July 1943.

On 05 July 1943, Shakespeare departed Malta to perform her 9th war patrol, another special
operation, involving a beach reconnaissance of the Gulf of Gioia 47 by members of the British
Combined Operations Pilotage Party No. 5 (COPP5). 48 On 30 July 1943, at 2215 hours
Shakespeare launched a folboat manned by Lt. Kent and Leading Seaman Thomas for a beach
reconnaissance. They were recovered at 0315 hours on 01 August. On 02 Aug 1943, at 2212
hours Shakespeare again launched a folboat manned by Captain Matheson and Lt. Stanbury
for a beach reconnaissance, and they were recovered at 0434 hours on the third. On 03 August
1943, at 2123 hours Shakespeare again launched a folboat for a beach reconnaissance manned
by Lt. Kent and Able Seaman Nichols. They were recovered at 0434 hours on 04 August.
Shakespeare then proceeded with the rest of her war patrol. On 06 August 1943, Shakespeare
made a torpedo attack on an Italian light cruiser, but missed, and on 09 August 1943,
Shakespeare arrived at Algiers.

On 24 August 1943, Shakespeare departed Algiers on her 10th war patrol, to perform yet
another special operation, she was to aid in the Allied Landings on the Italian mainland at
Salerno. Shakespeare carried onboard a beach reconnaissance unit made up of Lt. R.N.
Stanbury, RN, Capt. P.D. Patterson, RE (both of COPP 5) and Capt. G.B. Courtney MBE,
Capt. E.J.A. Lunn and Sgt J. Gilmour (all from SBS). As with her previous patrol, Shakespeare
was also to act as a beacon during the actual landings. On 30 August 1943, Shakespeare entered
the Gulf of Salerno to search for mines with her recently installed Mine Detector Unit and she
was successful in locating, and thus avoiding, a minefield. Later in the day, Shakespeare also
conducted a submerged periscope reconnaissance of the beaches. Later that night, a folboat
was launched for beach reconnaissance and the party successfully returned to the submarine
after almost seven hours.

On 31 August 1943, Shakespeare again conducted a periscope reconnaissance of the beaches

in the Bay of Salerno. Later that night, a folboat was again launched for beach reconnaissance
with this party also successfully returning after 6 hours. On 02 September 1943, Shakespeare
left Salerno Bay and sent a report of her reconnaissance. She then patrolled off the Gulf of
Naples, before returning to the Salerno Bay area. On 07 September 1943, Shakespeare

6
torpedoed and sank the Italian submarine Velella south of Salerno and tragically, there were no
survivors.49

On the early afternoon of 08 September 1943, off Licosa Point, Shakespeare sighted another
Italian submarine, but did not engage it, as she was close to her beacon position and did not
wish to compromise the location. Shakespeare bottomed until 2135 hours that night, when she
surfaced and successfully contacted her escort, the USN destroyer USS Cole, and commenced
her beacon duties. At 2340 hours, she transferred her beach pilots to USS PC-624 and by 0030
hours on 09 August, with her beacon duties completed, Shakespeare set course for Algiers
escorted by USS Cole. On 12 August 1943, Shakespeare ended her 10th war patrol when she
arrived at Algiers, where she was later dry-docked. On 01 October 1943, Shakespeare departed
Algiers on her 11th war patrol but had hardly reached her billet when she was recalled to be
transferred to the Eastern Mediterranean, returning to Algiers on 07 October 1943.

On 10 October 1943, Shakespeare departed Algiers for Beirut in company with HMS Seraph
(Lt. N.L.A. Jewell, OBE, RN), making part of the passage in convoy KMS 28. On 13 October
1943, Shakespeare arrived at Malta and departed later the same day to continue her passage to
Beirut, arriving there on 18 October, where she joined the 1st Submarine Flotilla. On 21
October 1943, Shakespeare departed Beirut for her 12th war patrol, to patrol in the Aegean.
On 26 October 1943, Shakespeare surfaced and sank with gunfire the Greek sailing vessel SYR
404 / Aghios Konstantinos (22 GRT), before ending her patrol at Beirut on 12 November 1943.

On 26 November 1943, Shakespeare departed Beirut for her 13th war patrol, again to patrol in
the Aegean. On 03 December 1943, Shakespeare surfaced and engaged with gunfire, the Greek
sailing vessel Eleftheria off Kos, Greece. On 11 December 1943, Shakespeare ended her 13th
war patrol at Malta. On 12 December 1943, Shakespeare departed Malta in company with other
submarines and an escort vessel, for passage to Gibraltar, stopping there from 17 to 28
December 1943 and arriving at Plymouth on 04 January 1944, where she went to refit at
Devonport Dockyard.

On 01 November 1942, Littlejohn was promoted to Lieutenant RANVR50 and on 23 November

1943, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) for “bravery and skill in
successful patrols in one of H.M. Submarines”.51 52 The patrols mentioned in the citation, which
were not specifically disclosed in the original citation due to wartime security considerations,
were in fact the series of war patrols conducted in HMS Shakespeare, whilst Littlejohn was the
Torpedo Officer and later, the First Lieutenant. Littlejohn was granted Qualified (submarine)
Officer status effective 02 February 1944. From 31 March to 02 April 1944 (just three days),
Littlejohn became the temporary Commanding Officer of HMS Shakespeare, being just 23
years of age at the time and possibly the youngest officer ever appointed in command of one
of HM’s submarines.

7
 HMS/M Shakespeare returning to Devonport on 04 January 1944, after 19 months of operations in the
Mediterranean. On the bridge, left to right: Lt. N.D. Campbell RN of Sevenoaks (Gunnery Officer); Lt.
W.E.I. Littlejohn DSC, RANVR of Melbourne, Australia (First Lieutenant); Lt. M.F.R. Ainslie DSO DSC
RN of Ash Vale, Surrey (Commanding Officer); Sub Lt. R.G. Pearson RNVR, of Hitchin, Herts (Torpedo
Officer); Lt. L.H. Richardson RN of Jersey, Channel Islands (Navigating Officer). IWM photograph.

From 03 April to 01 August 1944, Littlejohn was posted in HMS Thrasher 53 as First Lieutenant
(Lt. M.F.R. Ainslie DSO DSC RN Commanding Officer) .54 From 02 until 30 August 1944,
Littlejohn was posted in HMS Forth (S/M depot ship, 3rd Submarine Flotilla, Holy Loch), but
in practice, both postings were in HMS Thrasher. During this period, she completed her refit
at Cammell Laird Shipyard, Birkenhead, undertook post refit trials in the Clyde area,
underwent anti-submarine training at Scapa Flow and conducted further anti-submarine
exercises (including with aircraft) off Larne (east coast of Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland). 55

8
 Lieutenant W.E.I. Littlejohn DSC RANVR circa late 1943 – Early 1944
Image provided by the Littlejohn Family

On 31 August 1944, Littlejohn joined HMS Trusty,56 and served in her until 18 November 1944
(Lt. L.E. Herrick DSO RN, was his first Commanding Officer, later Lt. E.T. Stanley DSO DSC
RN and later still Lt, J.P. Fyfe DSC RN). During this period, Trusty was operating at Lerwick
and Scapa Flow as the ‘Perisher boat’, supporting the sea phase of the submarine Commanding
Officers Qualifying Course (COQC).

From 19 November 1944 until 09 February 1945, Littlejohn was posted to HMS Dolphin at
Gosport, during which time he undertook his ‘Perisher’ (the Submarine Commanding Officer’s
Qualification Course, or COQC).57 On 10 February 1945, Littlejohn was posted in HMS
Adamant 58 (S/M depot ship for the 8th Submarine Flotilla, which was based at Fremantle, from
April to October 1945), additional, as spare crew submarine Commanding Officer. Littlejohn
was flown out to Trincomalee to join Adamant. 59 From there, Littlejohn went down to
Fremantle in HMS Rorqual (Lieutenant J.P.H. Oakley DSC* RN, Commanding Officer from
27 March 1944 to 28July 1945). 60 Presumably, Littlejohn was giving the regular Commanding
Officer a “stand-off” for that patrol, which was his job as spare crew submarine Commanding
Officer in HMS Adamant. 61

On 18 March 1945, Rorqual departed Trincomalee for her 32th war patrol (3rd in the Far East).
She was to patrol off the west coast of Sumatra, to conduct two special operations, (Operation
Meridian and Operation Caprice) before going on to Fremantle. On 24 March 1945, Rorqual
carried out the first phase of Operation 'Caprice III'. At 1730 hours, as they conducted a
submerged periscope reconnaissance of the area, Rorqual sighted four natives in a canoe off

9
the beach of Trega Island, displaying the correct identification signals. That evening, after
sunset, contact was established with the men, the stores were landed. The operation was
completed by 2015 hours and Rorqual proceeded with her war patrol. On 25 March 1945,
Rorqual attacked a 25 ton sailing vessel with gunfire, taking 60 rounds of 3-inch to sink the
tongkang.

On 27 March 1945, Rorqual attacked a small convoy off the west coast of Sumatra, south of
Bengkulu. Her four torpedoes missed their targets, so Rorqual surfaced to engage them with
her deck gun, destroying two coasters ( one 500 tons and one 350 tons) and damaged a third
(500 tons), all by gunfire.

On 28 and 29 March 1945, Rorqual conducted Operation 'Meridian'. She had been briefed to
recover a group of downed airmen at a location near the mouth of the Nasal River, but they
failed to show up at the rendezvous on both days. On 30 March 1945, Rorqual went back and
finished off the beached coaster from the action of the 27th with gunfire. On 02 April 1945,
Rorqual sank two sailing vessels (tongkangs) with demolition charges off the west coast of
Sumatra.

On 03 April 1945, Rorqual carried out the second phase of Operation 'Caprice III'. In the
afternoon, she conducted a submerged periscope reconnaissance of the contact location and
sighted the security signal (this time a white shirt hung in the palm trees). After sunset, Rorqual
surfaced and by 1951 hours, the remaining stores for the party had been unloaded and Rorqual
was clearing away to seaward. On 13 April 1945, Rorqual arrived at Fremantle, Australia,
where she was slipped for three days.

HMS Adamant at Fremantle c. 1946

From the Royal Navy History website

10
The war history for HMS Vox records Littlejohn as being onboard the submarine during ASW
exercises off Sydney on both 01 and 04 May 1945. It further shows that he formally succeeded
Lieutenant J.M. Michell RN as Commanding Officer of HMS Vox on 15 May 1945 62 thereafter
remaining in her until 14 October 1945. 63

HMS Vox, circa 1945

State Library of Victoria Image H91.250/1157

After Littlejohn took command, Vox continued to operate out of Sydney, providing ASW
training for a number of RN and RAN warships. On 17 July 1945, Vox departed Sydney for
Auckland, New Zealand, arriving there on 23 July 1945. Vox provided ASW training for ships
of the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN), operating out of Auckland, until 01 August 1945,
when she departed Auckland for Gisborne, before proceeding on to Wellington, and arriving
there on 05 August 1945. On Victory in the Pacific (VP) Day, HMS Vox was at sea off
Wellington, New Zealand, conducting anti-submarine warfare (ASW) training with ships of
the RNZN. Vox departed Wellington on 19 August 1945, returning to Sydney on 25 August
1945.64

Littlejohn was approved for demobilisation to continue his medical studies, once he was
released from his appointment as Commanding Officer of HMS Vox.65 On 15 October 1945,
Littlejohn was relieved in Vox by Acting Lieutenant Commander R.P. Fitzgerald DSC MiD
RN 66 and posted to HMAS Lonsdale (shore depot, Melbourne). On 23 October 1945, his
appointment to the RANVR was terminated, and he was demobilised. On 28 November 1946,
he was re-appointed to the RANVR, to date 24 October 1945, in the rank of Lieutenant, with
seniority to date 01 November 1942.67 Littlejohn was promoted to Lieutenant Commander
RANVR to date 31 December 1950.

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In late 1950, Littlejohn married Helen Mary Cuthbertson and in 1951, he finished his medical
studies at Melbourne University, before interning at The Alfred Hospital until 1953. Thereafter
he established his general medical practice at Ivanhoe, Melbourne, until 1979. During this time,
he and his wife raised one son and two daughters. In the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List of
01 January 1969, Littlejohn was created an Ordinary Member in the Civil Division of the Order
of the British Empire (OBE), for his services to Medicine.68

On 27 February 1950, Littlejohn was appointed an Honorary Aide de Camp (ADC) to the
Governor of Victoria for a period of three years. 69 He was also appointed as an honorary
physician to Government House from 1969 until 1994. 70 His ADC appointment was extended
for a further three years on 27 February 1953 71 and for one further three-year period on 27
February 1956. 72 On 27 February 1959, Littlejohn’s term as an ADC to the Governor of
Victoria was extended for a further three years. 73 Littlejohn’s transfer to the Retired List of
Reserve Officers was suspended until his appointment as ADC to H.E. the Governor of Victoria
expired. Littlejohn was finally placed on the Retired List of Reserve Officers on 01 July 1972.
74

Lieutenant Commander W.E.I. Littlejohn DSC RANVR performing his ADC Duties at an Investiture by
Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, at Government House, Melbourne (date unknown)
Photograph courtesy of the Littlejohn Family

12
 HMAS Oxley, Bass Strait, 20 April 1983.
Image courtesy of the staff at Government House, Melbourne

On 20 April 1983, HMAS Oxley (Lieutenant Commander A.C. Benford Royal Navy,
Commanding Officer) took the Governor of Victoria to sea for the day. His Excellency Rear
Admiral Sir Brian Murray KCMG AO RAN (Retd) was accompanied by Lady Murray, Mr
Charles Curwen AO CVO OBE (Private Secretary to the Governor), Lieutenant Commander
(later Captain) Warwick Teasdale OAM RFD RANR (Honorary Naval ADC to the Governor)
and Doctor W.E.I Littlejohn. Captain Teasdale recalls the occasion thus:

"I will never forget going to sea with him and the Murray’s in April 1983 on board HMAS
Oxley, out into Bass Strait, submerging and doing trial attacks on unsuspecting
merchantmen! The Captain of the boat was made aware of Bill’s history somehow, and
involved him in everything. Bill was at his most self-effacing best, but his eyes glistened over
when he first went into the Control space of the submarine, and remarked how alike and
familiar it was to him, as the ‘O’ boats were very similar to the last of the big WW11 boats, in
which he had command. The photo of Bill at GH was taken that day." 75

13
Throughout his life, Littlejohn served on many professional bodies and he was a lifelong
member of the University of Melbourne Medical Society (UMMS). He became a Trustee of
the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne from 1964, and was Deputy Chairman from 1984 to
1994. He served on the Nurse’s Memorial Center Committee from 1984 and was President
from 1990 to 1994. He was the School Medical Officer of Scotch College from 1964 to 1988
and was also the Chief Medical Officer of National Mutual Life from 1965 until 1990. In 2017,
his private collection of militaria was gifted to the Shrine of Remembrance by his family. 76

William Euan Ironside Littlejohn passed away at Hawthorn, Melbourne, Victoria on 24

September 1994. He was survived by his wife Helen (d. 1999), his three children and three
grandchildren. His funeral was held at the Littlejohn Memorial Chapel, Scotch College, which
had been dedicated to his grandfather, Dr. W.S. Littlejohn.77 The service was conducted by
Doctor Davis Macaughey AC 78 and his eulogy was read by his great friend, Mr Charles
Curwen AO CVO OBE. Littlejohn was cremated, and his ashes were later scattered at sea in
Bass Strait from the deck of HMAS Adelaide (FFG-01).

14
1
Taken from https://www.navy.gov.au/brief-history-royal-australian-naval-reserve
2
Some references and official records give Littlejohn’s middle Christian name to be “Evan”. This is incorrect, he
was named after his father and the correct spelling of his middle name was “Euan”.
3
See https://emhs.org.au/person/littlejohn/euan_ironside . His father Euan had been an enlisted private in the First
Australian Imperial Force (AIF) and later a Captain in the Australian Army Medical Corps during World War
One, with service in the Middle East and France, and was Mentioned in Despatches. After the first war, his father
started a medical practice in Heidelberg Road, Ivanhoe, where he practised with his brother Charles for 40 years.
His father was also the assistant to the Scotch College Medical Officer from 1927 and the Scotch College Medical
Officer, from 1934 until his retirement in 1965. His uncle, Charles W.B. Littlejohn also had a distinguished career,
at war and in medicine, see https://www.scotch.vic.edu.au/ww1/honour/littlejohnCWB.htm .
4
http://passengersinhistory.sa.gov.au/node/921942 see also https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/46045783
5
https://timespanner.blogspot.com/2011/09/port-bowen-wreck-worth-her-weight-in_26.html
6
Details provided by the Littlejohn family, from a “potted history” originally prepared by Lt. Cdr Littlejohn
himself and then added to later by the family.
7
From Littlejohn’s eulogy, which was written with input from Littlejohn himself, shortly before his death, and
then delivered by his great friend, Mr Charles Curwen AO CVO OBE, formerly of the 11th Hussars, British Army,
and more recently the Private Secretary to ten successive Governors of Victoria, under twelve State Premiers.
Copy provided to the author by Mr Curwen.
8
https://www.navy.gov.au/establishments/hmas-cerberus
9
See Littlejohn’s Service Record at the National Archives of Australian (NAA) Series A6769, Littlejohn WEI,
Barcode 5229112.
10
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMAS_Penguin
11
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMAS_Rushcutter_(naval_base)
12
https://www.navy.gov.au/hmas-moresby-i
13
Service Record.
14
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TSS_Themistocles
15
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Western_Isles
16
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilbert_Stephenson
17
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Veronica_(K37)
18
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Ferret_(shore_establishment_1940)
19
Service Record.
20
The Littlejohn family advised that he had a very large scar across his left shoulder and upper arm but when
asked about it by his son, he simply told him that he fell off his bike.
21
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Elfin_(1933)
22
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Titania
23
Littlejohn family, see also https://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/3651.html . Littlejohn finished his submarine
training and posted to HMS Titania at Holy Loch, Scotland on 20Nov41. At this time, H-34 was conducting
training exercises off Lough Foyle (Londonderry, Northern Ireland) up until 15Dec41, when she arrived at
Rothesay. On 16Dec41, H-34 departed Rothesay for her 12th war patrol, as part of the ‘Iron Ring’ in the Bay of
Biscay. On 19Dec41, H-34 aborted her war patrol at Falmouth, due to rudder problems. On 26Dec41, H-34
departed Falmouth for her 13th war patrol in the Bay of Biscay. On 01Jan42, H-34 returned to Falmouth and on
02Jan42, she departed for Rothesay, arriving there on 04Jan42, where she was dry-docked on 08Jan42. On
05Jan42 Littlejohn was posted to HMS Tuna.
24
See https://codenames.info/operation/iron-ring/
25
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Forth_(A187)
26
W.E.I. Littlejohn confidential officer reports, from NAA.
27
https://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/3495.html , see also https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Tuna_(N94)
28
https://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/3495.html
29
British and Allied Submarine Operations in World War II, by Vice Admiral Sir Arthur Hezlet KBE CB DSO*
DSC RN Retd, published 2001 (only 200 copies). Later released as a DVD by the Royal Navy Submarine
Museum, and later still, mounted to the Friends of the RNSM website,
https://www.rnsubmusfriends.org.uk/hezlet/index2.htm . See chapter XIII. Details herein taken from the author’s
own DVD copy.
30
British and Allied Submarine Operations in World War II, by Hezlet. See chapter XIII.
31
From Littlejohn’s obituary, which was written in collaboration with him, shortly before his death, and which
was read at his funeral by Mr Charles Curwen AO CVO OBE. Copy supplied by Mr Curwen to the author.
32
British and Allied Submarine Operations in World War II, by Hezlet. See chapter XIII.
33
Service Record.

15
34
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Dolphin_(shore_establishment)
35
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Maidstone_(1937)
36
https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/ship/1875.html see also https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Medway
37
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Shakespeare_(P221) see also
https://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/3439.html
38
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Cormorant
39
Some records, including his RANVR service card, list Littlejohn as serving at HMS Dolphin in HM Motor
Launch 221, this is not correct. He was serving at that time in HMS P221, the submarine that was subsequently
re-named as HMS Shakespeare.
40
The first war patrol for new building or recently refitted British submarines was usually an anti-U-boat patrol
in this area, where they could hone their newly acquired skills in an operational area, but where they were also
less likely to come to harm. See https://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/3439.html
41
A contraction of “folding boat”, this refers to the sort of collapsible canoes used by special forces such as the
Commandos, the Special Boat Service (SBS) and the Combined Operations Pilotage Parties (COPP).
42
It was manned by Lt. L.G. Lyne, RN and Lt. P.D. Thomas, RNR. Due to the worsening weather situation the
folboat crew could not be picked up and they were captured by a Vichy-French trawler, see
https://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/3439.html .
43
See https://www.coppsurvey.uk/ . See also “Stealthily By Night – Clandestine beach reconnaissance and
operations in World War II”, Trenowden, Crecy Books, 1995.
44
The Prime Minister, Sir Winston Churchill, was very much against the Royal Navy numbering submarines, on
the basis of his strongly held belief that men could not be loyal to a number. He required that all RN submarines
be given names and after initial resistance from the Royal Navy, names were found for all submarines.
45
https://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/3439.html
46
Ibid.
47
To the south of Capo Vaticano, on the west coast of the Italian Mainland, just north of Sicily.
48
See https://www.coppsurvey.uk/ . See also “Stealthily By Night”, Trenowden, 1995.
49
Velella was the last Italian submarine to be lost in action, as shortly thereafter, they would have been ordered
to surrender to Allied forces.
50
Per his service record, on 08 July 1942, Little john was administratively posted in HMS Forth for two
consecutive postings, from 08 July until 30 September 1942, and from 01 until 10 October 1942. From 12 October
to 05 December 1942, Littlejohn he was shown at the RAN’s London Depot. In practice, he remained in HMS P-
221 / Shakespeare until after she returned to Devonport from the Mediterranean, on 04 January 1944.
51
See The London Gazette of Friday 19 November 1943, Fourth Supplement, published on Tuesday 23 November
1943, for the promulgation of the award. See Commonwealth Gazette of 02 December 1943 for the Australian
promulgation. See also https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1564909 for his DSC citation.
52
Bravo Zulu – Honours and Awards to Australian Naval People, Volume 1 1900 - 1974” Ian Pfenningwerth,
Echo Books, Geelong, Victoria, 2016. Page 172.
53
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Thrasher_(N37) see also https://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/3501.html
54
From the Littlejohn family.
55
https://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/3501.html
56
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Trusty_(N45) see also https://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/3504.html
57
Email David Parry (UK PhD candidate, writing his thesis on submarine Perisher training) to the Author and
others on 21 April 2020.
58
http://www.royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk/BPF-EIF/Ships/ADAMANT.htm#.Xqp7sZpS-ik
59
From the Littlejohn family.
60
From the Littlejohn family potted history, where it states “Commanded H.M.S./M. Rorqual (Mine Layer) in
British Pacific Fleet in Sunda Straits”.
61
This “stand-off”, where-in Littlejohn had command in Rorqual must have occurred during Rorqual’s 32nd war
patrol, as the dates of departure from Ceylon and arrival at Fremantle make this possible. Rorqual’s final (33rd)
war patrol did not return to Fremantle until after Littlejohn had assumed command of HMS Vox at Sydney.
62
See https://www.uboat.net/allies/commanders/11089.html for late war service as Commanding Officer in HMS
Vox.
63
https://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/3599.html
64
Littlejohn family. See also https://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/3599.html
65
Service Record.
66
https://www.unithistories.com/officers/RN_officersF.html
67
Commonwealth Gazette 90/1947.
68
London Gazette, 01 January 1969, Supplement, page 22.
69
Service record and Commonwealth Gazette 29/1950.

16
70
Obituary, found in ‘Chiron’, The Journal of the University of Melbourne Medical Society (UMMS), Vol. 3
No.3, April 1995, p 61.
71
Service record and Commonwealth Gazette 55/1953.
72
Service record and Commonwealth Gazette 72/1956.
73
Service record and Commonwealth Gazette 18/59.
74
Service record.
75
Email communication between the author and Captain Warwick Teasdale OAM RFD RANR (Retd), Honorary
Naval ADC to seven successive Governor’s of Victoria, from 1982 until 2012.
76
Shrine of Remembrance, Melbourne, Annual Report 2017-18, p 8. Also, family discussions with author.
77
Obituary in ‘Chiron’, The Journal of the University of Melbourne Medical Society (UMMS), Vol. 3 No.3, April
1995, p 61.
78
Dr. McCaughey was a bible scholar, a Christian minister and a university administrator, who succeeded Sir
Brian Murray as the 23rd Governor of Victoria.

17