Description
Military Cross, GV, British War and Victory Medal Pair, Italian War Merit Cross (Confirmed), Major Armistead Littlejohn Feild, 1/5th Cyclists Bn Essex Regt, who then joined the Machine Gun Corps to act as Machine Gun Officer attached to his unit the Essex Regiment.
Military Cross, unnamed as issued
WW1 Pair officially impressed: “MAJOR A.L. FEILD”
Italian “Croce al Merito di Guerra”, unnamed as issued.
All on their original silk ribbons, now frayed.
With the recipients Sterling Silver presentation cigarette case, hallmarked JC Ltd “N” date mark, for 1912 Birmingham production, tastefully engraved to read: “Lieut A. L. Feild from Machine Gun Section 1/8 Batt Cyclists Essex Regt”.
Well made weighing 84 grams, about 2.5 ounces of pure silver.
Major Feild also earned the 1914-15 Star having entered into France on 20th November 1915.
Military Cross Announced in the London Gazette, with published citation in the Supplement to the London Gazette, 18th July 1917 to read;
“Lieutenant (Temporary Captain) Armistead Littlejohn Feild, Machine Gun Corps, Formerly Essex Regiment.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He handled his Machine Gun company with the greatest coolness and determination. His personal supervision, although exposed to heavy fire, set a splendid example to his men.”
Italian Croce al Merito di Guerra announced in the London Gazette, 11th March 1919:
“ITALIAN CROCE DI GUERRA, Captain (Acting Major) Armistead Littlejohn Feild M.C. Machine Gun Corps.”
MAJOR ARMISTEAD LITTLEJOHN FEILD MC, 1891 – 1937
Personal Life and family
Major Armistead Littlejohn Feild was born on 21st February 1891 in Kensington, London, the son of 2 Americans, Thomas Littlejohn Feild and Meeta Armistead Feild, his name being a combination of the two family names passed down.
His father Thomas was an American Born Shipbroker and his wife Meeta, also American, had married in Raleigh, North Carolina, during 1891 before coming to London where they raised their son Armistead, they would go back and forth due to the Shipping association with London.
His mother Meeta was described, the only daughter of a North Carolina Planter Meeta Armistead Capehart as “One of the most noted Belles and Beauties of North Carolina… she is petite with delicately carved features, absolutely perfect in contour, dark eyes heavily fringed and a complexion of creamy fairness”.
Meeta’s Father was Captain Baldy Capehart, who fought as an Officer with the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War.
The Major would go on to have 3 marriages and a number of children, his last being Violet Esme “Mouse” Hakwesworth (formerly Feild, Hassall, Bury & Bentley), who had remarried after Armistead’s early death to Rear Admiral Richard Arthur Hawkesworth.
During the war his first marriage was announced in 1917, “The engagement is announced between Capt Armistead Littlejohn Feidl MC, Essex Regt and MGC, and Lillian Mary Latina Spencer, the only child of the late Lieutenant Colonel J Trevor Spencer, Essex Regt.”
The most notable of his Children might be Richard Timothy Feild, aka “Reshad Feild”, who became an English Mystic, Author, Spiritual Teacher and also important Pop Musician, being a founding member of the Folk-Pop Group The Springfields, alongside the famous singer Mary Isobel Catherine Bernadette O’Brien OBE aka “Dusty Springfield” and Tom Springfield.
Another son joined the Army and was awarded the Military Cross in Kenya during the “Mau Mau” period.
Also the Major’s Grandson, is John Joseph Feild, better known as “JJ Feild” the popular British American Film, Television and Theatre Actor.
Leading up to the war, in 1911 Armistead was working as a Bank Clerk, whilst his younger brother Robin Durant Feild was an art student and later became a lifetime Painter and Artist (His brother also fought in WW1 and then went on to Julian in Paris to study Art). In later life after the war Armistead became a Publisher and Exchange Broker.
WORLD WAR 1 AND MILITARY SERVICE
We have a digital copy of his Officer’s Service file from the National Archives, recording his enlistment into the Inns of Court OTC one day after the war began.
List No 83, GHQ in France, dated 20th May 1916 notes:
“Second Lieutenant Temporary Lieutenant A.L. Feild, 8th Battalion Essex Regiment, is appointed as Second in Command of 144th Brigade Machine Gun Company, and to retain his temporary rank, dated 24th Feb 1916.”
On the 4th of August 1914, Britain declared War and so World War 1 began.
The very next day, on the 5th August, Armistead presented himself for service with the Inns of Court Officer Training Corps willing to sign on for 4 years with the Territorial Force.
He was 22 years old and had 4 years with the Harrow Officer Training Corps, and 2 with the Inns of Court Officer Training Corps.
He was officially embodied for service on 25th August 1914, and joined the Essex Regiment.
He landed in France with the Essex Regiment on 20th November 1915.
Supplement to the London Gazette, 9th September 1918 notes: “MACHINE GUN CORPS (INFANTRY), Captain A.L. Feild, M.C., (Essex Regiment Territorial Force) to be Acting Major whilst Commanding a Company, dated 23rd March 1918”
During 1918 he served in the Italy Campaign, following which he was awarded the Italian War Merit Cross.
Supplement to the LG, 16th Dec 1921:
“The under-mentioned officers relinquished their commissions, 30th Sept 1921, and retain their rank:-
8th Bn Essex Regt – Captain A.L. Feild, M.C., and is granted the rank of Major.”
