An interesting Second World War Campaign group awarded to Engineer Lieutenant F.J.H. Lightfoot, D.S.C., Royal Navy, who was twice decorated for his services aboard the the destroyer H.M.S Rockingham and the frigate H.M.S Duckworth on anti-submarine and convoy escort duties during 1943 to 1945.
Group of 4: 1939-1945 Star; Atlantic Star with France and Germany Clasp; Italy Star; War Medal with Mention in Despatches Oakleaf; these together with Admiralty Award Slip, confirming entitlement to ‘6’ awards – four medals and two emblems, and housed in their Director of Navy Accounts box of issue, this addressed to: ‘Mr. F.J.H. Lightfoot DSC, RN, 29 Okehampton Road, St Thomas, Exeter, Devon’.
Condition: Good Very Fine or better.
Frederick John Henry Lightfoot served during the Second World War as a Temporary Warrant Engineer later a commissioned Engineer Lieutenant with the Royal Navy on service in the Atlantic and Mediterranean.
As a Temporary Warrant Engineer aboard the destroyer H.M.S Rockingham, Lightfoot was Mentioned in Despatches for gallant and distinguished service in the London Gazette for 1st January 1943. Rockingham was assigned to Escort Group B-1 of the Mid-Ocean Escort Force for convoys ON-96, SC-105, SC-119, ON-171, HX-230 and HX-236 during the winter of 1942-43.
Commissioned, Lightfoot was then awarded the Distinguished Service Cross in the London Gazette for 1st January 1945, this being for his services aboard the convoy escort and anti-submarine warfare frigate H.M.S Duckworth as a part of the 3rd Escort Group.
On 13 February 1944 while on patrol Duckworth was attacked by U-445, which fired a torpedo at her and missed. Duckworth counter attacked, damaging U-445 which was forced to return to base. On 15 June off Cap de la Hague 3EG was attacked by U-764, which torpedoed Blackwood. Duckworth and Domett counter-attacked, damaging U-764 which escaped to Brest. On 29 June the group followed up an attack by an RAF Liberator on a U-boat in the Channel west of Guernsey. A search by Duckworth and the group found and destroyed U-988, their first success. On 14 August joined an attack by an RAF Liberator on U-618 in the Bay of Biscay, west of St. Nazaire. Duckworth and Essington carried out a series of attacks which destroyed U-618. In October 1944 3EG were assigned to Arctic convoys JW 61 and JW 61A, with several other Western Approaches groups. Though JW 61 came under attack by group Panther it suffered no hits and no losses; all ships arrived safely. On the return 3EG assisted the passage of RA 61 by sweeping the Kola inlet ahead of the convoy; during this operation Mounsey of 15EG was torpedoed, she survived but was later declared a constructive total loss. Both RA 61 and RA 61A returned without interference.
