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Historically Important WW2 American M1 Helmet Belonging to Major General Robert McGowan Littlejohn,
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Description
Historically Important WW2 American M1 Helmet Belonging to Major General Robert McGowan Littlejohn, Chief Quartermaster for the European Theatre of Operations (E.T.O), Hugely Responsible for the Equipment of the US Troops During the D-Day Landings and the Normandy Campaign, fine example of a fixed bale M1 steel combat helmet shell with split to the front seam. Helmet has a rough textured green paint finish to the exterior and fitted with two Generals rank stars which have been screwed into the shell with small bolt fittings to the reverse. Helmet is complete with the original webbing two piece chinstrap which has his name inked to the underside. Remains in very good overall condition. Major General Robert McGowan Littlejohn was born on 23rd October 1890 in Jonesville, South Carolina. He attended the United States Military Academy at West Point on 2nd March 1908. He graduated from West Point on 12th June 1912. His first post was to the American 8th Cavalry regiment in the Philippines. He returned with his regiment to the USA and was involved in the Pancho Villa Expedition. He later moved to the 17th Cavalry regiment where he was placed in charge of the Machine Gun Unit. On 11th June 1918, he assumed command of the 332nd Machine Gun battalion of 86th Division. The unit moved to the Western Front in September 1918, but did not see active service until after the armistice was signed. They took part in the occupation of the Rhineland in 1919. Between the wars, Littlejohn continued to serve in the US Army, mostly in the USA, rising up through the ranks in many of the staff and logistical departments. In January 1938, he was sent for his second tour of duty in the Philippines, he ended his tour as the Quartermaster of the Philippine Department. He returned to the USA in June 1940. From June 1940 to May 1942, Littlejohn commanded the Clothing and Equipage Branch in the Office of the Quartermaster General. The division was primarily concerned with procurement, but was accustomed to working closely with the Standardisation Branch, which was responsible for design and development. He was promoted to Colonel on 16 November 1940 and Brigadier General on 30 January 1942. In May 1942, Littlejohn was appointed Quartermaster General of the European Theatre of Operations (ETO) by the new CG-SOS-ETO Lt. Gen. John C. H. Lee, a position he held for the rest of the war, with the rank of Major General from 3 November 1943. For his services as Quartermaster General, Littlejohn was awarded the Army Distinguished Service Medal with a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal, and foreign awards that included the British Order of the Bath, French Croix de Guerre and Dutch Order of Orange Nassau. His first Distinguished Service Medal citation read, in part:“General Littlejohn displayed marked aggressiveness, exceptional organizing ability, and a superior quality of leadership in rapidly establishing a quartermaster service throughout the theatre which met and solved the many unexpected and seemingly insurmountable problems of supply. By his broad experience, foresight and splendid ability which was largely instrumental under his leadership in solving many complex questions in organization and supply of the African Task Force. His untiring efforts and devotion to duty in this connection contributed markedly to the successful landing of this force in North Africa on November 8, 1942.” His later Oak Leaf Cluster citation noted that he "not only maintained anticipated requirements, but exceeded them". However Littlejohn was severely criticised when winter clothing was not delivered in a timely manner, resulting in thousands of cases of trench foot and frostbite.He was made Major General just before the D-Day landings in June 1944. He was responsible for the complex and difficult task of supplying the allied troops for the invasion of mainland Europe. The US Army Quartermaster Foundation gives the following details, “After a successful landing on D-Day, a stalled drive inland and failure to capture port facilities right away meant that Quartermaster supply soldiers had to continue bringing material in over the beach: sort, store and distribute it along a fairly narrow and dangerous front. If Littlejohn felt good about the initial landing, he was none the less surprised by the effects of strenuous fighting in the Normandy hedgerows. In a matter of weeks, U.S. troops slugging it out in the mud consumed roughly 2 1/2 times the amount of clothing and other Quartermaster items of equipment that he and his staff had planned for. “The capture of each hedgerow meant a life and death race,” he noted afterwards; and in trimming down to meet that race, the American soldier “frequently left behind his overcoat, overshoes, blanket and shelter.” As a result, Littlejohn had to completely re-equip the better part of a million soldiers while still in the early stages of the campaign. The breakout and pursuit that followed only intensified pressure on the Chief Quartermaster, who saw the overall supply picture go from feast to famine. The situation in late summer and early Autumn 1944 illustrated the old adage that a stationary front is the Quartermaster’s dream come true, while a war of unchecked manoeuvre poses as the ultimate nightmare. By September the Allies were required to deliver to forward areas no less than 20,000 tons of supplies daily. As the lines stretched further and further from Cherbourg, the inevitable shortages began to be felt-with crippling effect. Whether it could have been otherwise is debatable. Letters from Littlejohn to a colleague in mid-September give some indication of the trials faced during this period of “frantic resupply:” “It is very difficult,” he wrote, “to sit here and determine current requirements on clothing and equipage. We know that the Maintenance Factors on many items are entirely too low. We also hope that the war will come to an end before many weeks and it will not be necessary to ship troops as originally planned. Somewhere in the field I must make an educated guess.”Littlejohn was discharged from the army in 1946. President Truman appointed him head of War Assets Administration with the responsibility of approximately 34 billion dollars of surplus government property. He died on the 6th May 1982 and is buried at Arlington Military Cemetery. This helmet was gifted to the current vendor back in the 1950’s by a family friend, who had worked as a secretary in Major General Littlejohn’s office. She took the helmet shell from the office as it was left behind when Littlejohn moved. She was using the helmet to store knitting material in. The helmet has never been offered on the collecting market before.
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Historically Important WW2 American M1 Helmet Belonging to Major General Robert McGowan Littlejohn, Chief Quartermaster for the European Theatre of Operations (E.T.O), Hugely Responsible for the Equipment of the US Troops During the D-Day Landings and the Normandy Campaign, fine example of a fixed bale M1 steel combat helmet shell with split to the front seam. Helmet has a rough textured green paint finish to the exterior and fitted with two Generals rank stars which have been screwed into the shell with small bolt fittings to the reverse. Helmet is complete with the original webbing two piece chinstrap which has his name inked to the underside. Remains in very good overall condition. Major General Robert McGowan Littlejohn was born on 23rd October 1890 in Jonesville, South Carolina. He attended the United States Military Academy at West Point on 2nd March 1908. He graduated from West Point on 12th June 1912. His first post was to the American 8th Cavalry regiment in the Philippines. He returned with his regiment to the USA and was involved in the Pancho Villa Expedition. He later moved to the 17th Cavalry regiment where he was placed in charge of the Machine Gun Unit. On 11th June 1918, he assumed command of the 332nd Machine Gun battalion of 86th Division. The unit moved to the Western Front in September 1918, but did not see active service until after the armistice was signed. They took part in the occupation of the Rhineland in 1919. Between the wars, Littlejohn continued to serve in the US Army, mostly in the USA, rising up through the ranks in many of the staff and logistical departments. In January 1938, he was sent for his second tour of duty in the Philippines, he ended his tour as the Quartermaster of the Philippine Department. He returned to the USA in June 1940. From June 1940 to May 1942, Littlejohn commanded the Clothing and Equipage Branch in the Office of the Quartermaster General. The division was primarily concerned with procurement, but was accustomed to working closely with the Standardisation Branch, which was responsible for design and development. He was promoted to Colonel on 16 November 1940 and Brigadier General on 30 January 1942. In May 1942, Littlejohn was appointed Quartermaster General of the European Theatre of Operations (ETO) by the new CG-SOS-ETO Lt. Gen. John C. H. Lee, a position he held for the rest of the war, with the rank of Major General from 3 November 1943. For his services as Quartermaster General, Littlejohn was awarded the Army Distinguished Service Medal with a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal, and foreign awards that included the British Order of the Bath, French Croix de Guerre and Dutch Order of Orange Nassau. His first Distinguished Service Medal citation read, in part:“General Littlejohn displayed marked aggressiveness, exceptional organizing ability, and a superior quality of leadership in rapidly establishing a quartermaster service throughout the theatre which met and solved the many unexpected and seemingly insurmountable problems of supply. By his broad experience, foresight and splendid ability which was largely instrumental under his leadership in solving many complex questions in organization and supply of the African Task Force. His untiring efforts and devotion to duty in this connection contributed markedly to the successful landing of this force in North Africa on November 8, 1942.” His later Oak Leaf Cluster citation noted that he "not only maintained anticipated requirements, but exceeded them". However Littlejohn was severely criticised when winter clothing was not delivered in a timely manner, resulting in thousands of cases of trench foot and frostbite.He was made Major General just before the D-Day landings in June 1944. He was responsible for the complex and difficult task of supplying the allied troops for the invasion of mainland Europe. The US Army Quartermaster Foundation gives the following details, “After a successful landing on D-Day, a stalled drive inland and failure to capture port facilities right away meant that Quartermaster supply soldiers had to continue bringing material in over the beach: sort, store and distribute it along a fairly narrow and dangerous front. If Littlejohn felt good about the initial landing, he was none the less surprised by the effects of strenuous fighting in the Normandy hedgerows. In a matter of weeks, U.S. troops slugging it out in the mud consumed roughly 2 1/2 times the amount of clothing and other Quartermaster items of equipment that he and his staff had planned for. “The capture of each hedgerow meant a life and death race,” he noted afterwards; and in trimming down to meet that race, the American soldier “frequently left behind his overcoat, overshoes, blanket and shelter.” As a result, Littlejohn had to completely re-equip the better part of a million soldiers while still in the early stages of the campaign. The breakout and pursuit that followed only intensified pressure on the Chief Quartermaster, who saw the overall supply picture go from feast to famine. The situation in late summer and early Autumn 1944 illustrated the old adage that a stationary front is the Quartermaster’s dream come true, while a war of unchecked manoeuvre poses as the ultimate nightmare. By September the Allies were required to deliver to forward areas no less than 20,000 tons of supplies daily. As the lines stretched further and further from Cherbourg, the inevitable shortages began to be felt-with crippling effect. Whether it could have been otherwise is debatable. Letters from Littlejohn to a colleague in mid-September give some indication of the trials faced during this period of “frantic resupply:” “It is very difficult,” he wrote, “to sit here and determine current requirements on clothing and equipage. We know that the Maintenance Factors on many items are entirely too low. We also hope that the war will come to an end before many weeks and it will not be necessary to ship troops as originally planned. Somewhere in the field I must make an educated guess.”Littlejohn was discharged from the army in 1946. President Truman appointed him head of War Assets Administration with the responsibility of approximately 34 billion dollars of surplus government property. He died on the 6th May 1982 and is buried at Arlington Military Cemetery. This helmet was gifted to the current vendor back in the 1950’s by a family friend, who had worked as a secretary in Major General Littlejohn’s office. She took the helmet shell from the office as it was left behind when Littlejohn moved. She was using the helmet to store knitting material in. The helmet has never been offered on the collecting market before.
Three Day Fine Arms, Armour & Militaria Auction
Sale Date(s)
Lots: 1-531
Lots: 532 - 1012
Lots: 1013 - 1641
Venue Address
Unit 4 High House Business Park
High House Lane
Kenardington
Kent
TN26 2LF
United Kingdom
- C&T Auctioneers and Valuers Ltd offer an in house post and packing service for most auctions unless advertised.
- Sorry We Do Not offer In House Post our Packing for our specialist Toy Soldiers and Figures Actions, we can recommend Mailboxes Tunbridge Wells or Jentel Packing.
- We are not able to offer in house post and packing on invoice totals over £3,000 or very fragile, large or heavy items. These items will also need to be shipped by specialist shippers.
- POST BREXIT NOTICE FOR EU BUYERS SHIPPING PURCHASED LOTS OUTSIDE THE UK:From the 1st of January 2021 all sales from the UK to EU customers will be treated as exports. These can be zero rated for UK VAT purposes, as currently applied for non-EU countries. But, items depending on their value and nature, may become liable to import VAT (and customs duty where applicable) when entering the EU (This is the responsibility of the buyer).
-
This auction includes lots which are housed in our USA based storage centre. These items will be shipped directly from the USA to the winning bidders. Please note that these lots may be subject to import duty when arriving at your destination if you are outside of the USA. Buyers in the USA may be subject to state taxes. Items stored in the USA are clearly marked with a map of the USA in the corner of the first picture and stated in the description.
- Swords and Bayonets can only be sold to persons over the age of 18. Before a sword or bayonet can be shipped we must have photographic identification which proves you are over 18 years of age. All swords and bayonets have to be sent to a registered business address. We are now no longer able to send to a residential address, due to changes in the law and regulations of the shipping companies. Items can be collected in person from our office or at an exhibition we are attending, proof of age will still need to be provided.
Please contact our office 01233 510050 for further information.
- PLEASE NOTE DUE TO NEW RESTRICTIONS, ALL PURCHASERS OF ANY EDGED WEAPON WILL NEED TO PROVIDE US WITH PROOF OF AGE (OVER 18) BEFORE THE ITEM CAN BE SHIPPED.
- ALL LOTS WITH ^ PREFIX CONTAIN IVORY OR ANOTHER PROPERTY THAT WILL REQUIRE CITES LICENSE BEFORE BEING SHIPPED OUTSIDE OF THE EU. PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU CAN LEGALLY IMPORT INTO YOUR COUNTRY OF RESIDENCE ANY ITEM BEFORE BIDDING IN THE AUCTION.
- ANTIQUE FIRE ARMS CAN NOT BE SHIPPED OUTSIDE OF THE UK
C&T Auctioneers and Valuers are not responsible for any damage caused when items are in transit with postal or courier firms. We are also not responsible for any package sent either by ourselves or any third party company which is lost in transit.
For lots we are not able to offer in house shipping;
We can recommend the following companies for shipping, who will be happy to quote and pick up:
MailBoxes TunbridgeWells
t: 01892510155
Email:greg@mbetunbridgewells.co.uk
Jentel Packing
t: 01268 776777
Email: enquiries@jentelpacking.co.uk
Collections
Coronavirus (COVID-19)
• After the auction lot(s) can only be collected from our office, by appointment only and must be paid for in full, prior to your arrival, with social distancing consideration in place
C & T Auctioneers and Valuers Ltd
Unit 4 High House Business Park
Kenardington
Nr Ashford Kent TN26 2LF.
Tel: 01233510050
PLEASE READ OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS BEFORE BIDDING THANK YOU.
Important Information
Tuesday 26th July - Day 1:
Lots 1 - 531
Wednesday 27th July - Day 2:
Lots 532 - 1012
Thursday 28th July - Day 3:
Lots 1013 - 1641
This auction is a online only auction with no in room bidding available.
This auction includes lots which are housed in our USA based storage centre. These items will be shipped directly from the USA to the winning bidders. Please note that shipping charges apply and lots may be subject to import duty when arriving at your destination if you are outside of the USA. Buyers in the USA may be subject to state taxes. Items stored in the USA are clearly marked with a map of the USA in the corner of the first picture and stated in the description.
Swords and Bayonets can only be sold to persons over the age of 18. Before a sword or bayonet can be shipped we must have photographic identification which proves you are over 18 years of age. All swords and bayonets have to be sent to a registered business address. We are now no longer able to send to a residential address, due to changes in the law and regulations of the shipping companies. Items can be collected in person from our office or at an exhibition we are attending, proof of age will still need to be provided.
Terms & Conditions
Buyers Premium: Winning bidders agree to pay the winning bid plus the buyers premium charged by the auction house, this is currently 22% + VAT (26.4% total). Buyers purchasing via an online live bidding platform the-saleroom.com will be charged an additional 4.95% + VAT on the hammer price.
If you are successful in an auction with an absentee, telephone or internet bid, you will be invoiced, normally within 48 hours of the auction taking place. This invoice will normally include a shipping quote. These invoices are sent via email and have an attachment. Once you have had this invoice we require full payment within 7 days, unless another arrangement has been made with the auction house. Items must be collected from C&T Auctioneers and Valuers within 7 days of payment being made, unless agreement is in place with C&T Auctioneers and Valuers.
Shipping
C&T Auctioneers and Valuers offer an in house postal service for this auction, unless stated. However if an item(s) are too large or need specialist shipping methods, this will be conducted by a third party firm.This also relates to lots of a certain value.
C&T Auctioneers and Valuers are not responsible for any damage caused when items are in transit with postal or courier firms. We are also not responsible for any package sent either by ourselves or any third party company which is lost in transit.
PLEASE READ OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS BELOW BEFORE BIDDING THANK YOU
Terms & Conditions
When participating in an auction conducted by C&T Auctioneers and Valuers you are bound by these conditions without exception. All public auctions held by C&T Auctioneers and Valuers are exempt from the Sale of Goods Act. Please make sure that you agree and understand these conditions.
BUYER
1: C&T Auctioneers and Valuers at no point are the legal owners of the lots offered in our auctions. We act solely as an agent between the Vendor and the Buyer.
2: The highest bidder of any lot will not become the legal owner of the lot until all associated fees have been paid to the Auction House, this includes any fees charged by the auction house.
3: Winning bidders agree to pay the winning bid plus the buyers premium charged by the auction house, this is currently 22% + VAT (26.4% total). Buyers purchasing via the-saleroom.com online live bidding platform will be charged an additional 4.95% + VAT on the hammer price.
4: When registering for our auctions you may be required to provide proof of identity and address. If registering for absentee or telephone bids a form of payment method must be left with the auctioneers.
5: It is the responsibility of the bidder to insure that all absentee bids are left with the auction house at least 24 hours before an auction takes place. No bids will be accepted on the day of the auction, unless you are known to the auction house or have an agreement with the auctioneer. C&T Auctioneers and Valuers are not responsible for any errors on a bidding sheet. C&T Auctioneers make every effort to insure all bids left are placed on the auctioneers book, however we cannot accept reliability for any failure to receive or place any bids.
6: If two identical bids are left on one lot, the bid received first will take preference.
7: Telephone bids will only be accepted for lots with a bottom pre sale estimate of £200 or more. Telephone bids will only be accepted for lots with a pre sale estimate of under £200 if you are bidding on multiple lots which equal over £100 or are known to the auction house and have an agreement in place. International bidders we will only accept telephone bids on lots with a pre sale estimate of £500 or more.
8: Bids are accepted solely at the auctioneers discretion. The auctioneer has the legal right to re-open any lot in the auction, even if the hammer has come down. Any bids left via a third party, including a online bidding platform, are not classed as absentee bids and are taken as if a room bid. This may mean that the maximum bid you have left will fall on the bidder in the room, C&T Auctioneers and Valuers are not liable or responsible for any failure for your bid to be executed. C&T Auctioneers and Valuers are also not responsible for any error or problem with any bidding platform software used in the room or at the bidders location.
9: Conditions stated of items are the opinion of the cataloguer for the auction house. It is advised that interested bidders should view items in person or ask for condition reports of any defects. Condition will not be accepted for a reason to return a lot.
10: Some items may be referred to as “gold grade”, this does not mean that the item is made of gold, please make sure you check with us before bidding.
11: Originality of items offered for sale in C&T Auctioneers and Valuers are the opinion of the specialist employed by the auction house. All bidders should make sure that they are happy with the originality of any item they intend to bid on.
12: Any statement made in the description of a lot is the opinion of the specialist cataloguer and will be either from evidence he or she has at the time of writing the description, this may also be information provided by the vendor of the lot. We advise all bidders to confirm this information before the auction takes place.
13: If bidders and buyers who are not experts in the lots they are interested in, we would recommend that they seek independent advice on the lots and the value before bidding.
14: All successful buyers in the auction room, must pay and collect their items on the day of the sale unless an agreement is in place with the auction house.
15: If you are successful in an auction with an absentee, telephone or internet bid, you will be invoiced, normally within 48 hours of the auction taking place. This invoice will normally include a shipping quote. These invoices are sent via email and have an attachment. Once you have had this invoice we require full payment within 7 days, unless another arrangement has been made with the auction house. Items must be collected from C&T Auctioneers and Valuers within 7 days of payment being made, unless agreement is in place with C&T Auctioneers and Valuers.
16: C&T Auctioneers and Valuers do offer an in house postal service for most items in our auctions, unless stated. However if an item(s) are too large or need specialist shipping methods, this will be conducted by a third party firm. Details of the firm we recommend will be passed onto buyers in this case. This also relates to lots of a certain value. PLEASE NOTE C&T AUCTIONEERS AND VALUERS ARE NOT A SHIPPING COMPANY, WE WOULD ASK ALL BUYERS TO BE PATIENT AND ITEMS ARE DEALT WITH ON A FIRST COME FIRST SERVE BASIS.
17: C&T Auctioneers and Valuers are not responsible for any damage caused when items are in transit with postal / courier firms. We are also not responsible for any package sent either by ourselves or any third party company which is lost in transit.
18: C&T Auctioneers and Valuers declare the full value of any lot sent to international buyers. We are not responsible for any customs import charges of the country of destination. It is the buyers responsibility to make sure they can legally import the item into their country. We advise international buyers if they are not sure of any import issue, to obtain independent advice.
19: C&T Auctioneers and Valuers accept the following methods of payment, Cash in UK pounds sterling up to £3,000, Personal Cheques (must clear before goods are dispatched), Debit cards, Credit cards (2% surcharge will be added if paying with a credit card from clients outside the EU only), Bank Transfers (Please note that if paying by this method the amount received after the deduction of any bank fees or currency conversion of payment to UK pound sterling must not be less than the sterling amount payable as set out on the invoice).
Credit card payments where the card holder is not present will only be accepted for transactions up to £500.
20: If you purchase an item and you are not happy with the originality of an item you must contact the auction house within 7 days of receiving the lot(s), it is then solely up to the auctioneers discretion to issue a refund. Proof of error in description may be required, this is the responsibility of the purchaser to obtain this information and any fees associated with this are not refundable by C&T Auctioneers and Valuers. We will only accept information by a professional in the chosen field, we will not accept any information from a private individual or internet collectors forum. Any payment fees or postage fees associated with any lot can not be refunded.
21: If originality of an item is accepted proven after the vendor has been paid for a lot, it is up to the vendor, if they are willing to issue a refund. C&T Auctioneers and Valuers are unable to offer a refund without having an agreement from the vendor. Refunds will only be issued to the purchaser of the item and not if the item has been given or sold to a third party.
23: Items purchased must be posted, collected and removed from our premises within two weeks following the sale. Thereafter a daily storage charge of £2 per lot + VAT at prevailing rate. Continued failure to collect or arrange shipping will result in the goods being sold without further notice and without reserve to recover the costs for storage unless agreement has been made in writing with us.
24: All items sold are sold as collectors items, recommended for display use only and we do not advise or take any responsibility if used for the purpose for which they were designed for.
25: Any lots with the following symbol ^, will indicate that a CITES license will be required before the lot can be shipped outside of the EU.
26. Sales to other EC member states
Sales made under the Auctioneers’ Scheme to other member states are treated in the same way as sales within the UK. The sales are liable to VAT in the UK.
