Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted

Plot 979 James Aikin Littlejohns (1859-1950)

James was born 4 June 1859 Portsea, Hampshire to James Littlejohns, a corporal of Marines, and Eliza (née Phillips). He was baptised in St Matthew’s, Gosport.

In 1861 the family were living at Mill Lane, Alverstoke, Gosport, almost opposite the Royal Dockyards.

Young James got into trouble – perhaps with his father away at sea youthful high spirits went unchecked – and in 1871, aged 12, was in the Hampshire Reformatory School in Netley Marsh.

The school had opened in 1855 with the aim of reforming young offenders. The regime appears to have been constructive and enlightened and James, like the other inmates was described in the census as “scholar”. Boys were employed in agricultural work, including looking after livestock; carpentry; tailoring and woodwork.

They made their own clothes and shoes and were taught to bake. Apparently “graduates” of the school did well in the armed forces.

James became a shop boy, then enlisted in the Navy 8 June 1877, aged 18. His service record describes him as five foot 3 inches tall with hazel eyes and auburn brown hair. He had a tattoo of one spot on his right hand.

James served in the Navy as an able seaman until 8 September 1892. His records shows that his conduct was “exemplary” or “good” throughout his career, so clearly his time in the reformatory helped him.

He served on baord HMS Shah during her action with the Peruvian warship Huascar at the battle of Pacocha. Although neither ship suffered significant damage, the engagement was notable for the first use of torpodoes by the Royal Navy, or indeed any Navy.

He also served with the Naval Brigade in Zululand and was present at the battle of Gingindlovu and the relief of Eshowe.

(Arthur Smith-Dorrien, a Sub-Lieutenant who later become an admiral, also served on HMS Shah and took part in the Zulu War is also buried in Rectory Lane Cemetery)

In the last year, on HMS Invincible, he was a coastguard. He left the Navy with a pension and

married Caroline Saltmarsh in Berkhamsted 1892. The couple were not to have any children.

In the 1901 to 1921 censuses he was the resident caretaker in Tottenham Court House and Polytechnic.

By the time that Catherine died in 1936 the couple had retired to “St Kitts”, West Road, Berkhamsted where James remained for the rest of his life.

He died 20 February 1950.