Desmond Glover Kingsford (24 July 1914 - 10 Aug 1944) was a rower

Rowing (sport)

Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...

  who competed for Great Britain at the 1936 Summer Olympics

1936 Summer Olympics

The 1936 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was held in 1936 in Berlin, Germany. Berlin won the bid to host the Games over Barcelona, Spain on April 26, 1931, at the 29th IOC Session in Barcelona...

. He was killed in action during the Second World War.

Kingsford was the son of Douglas Hollingshead Kingsford of Calgary, Canada, and his wife Margaret. He was educated at Cambridge University. In 1935, with his brother Annesley Kingsford

Annesley Kingsford

Annesley Douglas Kingsford was a Canadian rower who competed for Great Britain at the 1936 Summer Olympics.Kingsford was born in Dublin, the son of Douglas Hollingshead Kingsford of Calgary, Canada, and his wife Margaret. He was educated at Uppingham School and Pembroke College, Cambridge...

  he was a member of the winning Cambridge

Cambridge University Boat Club

The Cambridge University Boat Club is the rowing club of the University of Cambridge, England, located on the River Cam at Cambridge, although training primarily takes place on the River Great Ouse at Ely. The club was founded in 1828...

 boat in the Boat Race. He was in the winning crew again in 1936. He was also a member of the crew of the eight

Eight (rowing)

An Eight is a rowing boat used in the sport of competitive rowing. It is designed for eight rowers, who propel the boat with sweep oars, and is steered by a coxswain, or cox....

 which came fourth representing Great Britain at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin

Berlin

Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...

. In 1937 he was runner-up in the Silver Goblets at Henley Royal Regatta

Henley Royal Regatta

Henley Royal Regatta is a rowing event held every year on the River Thames by the town of Henley-on-Thames, England. The Royal Regatta is sometimes referred to as Henley Regatta, its original name pre-dating Royal patronage...

 competing for London Rowing Club

London Rowing Club

London Rowing Club is one of the oldest rowing clubs on the River Thames in London, United Kingdom.It is regarded as one of the most exclusive and successful rowing clubs in Britain. and its Patron is HRH Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh....

 when he partnered G M Lewis. At the 1938 British Empire Games

1938 British Empire Games

The 1938 British Empire Games was the third British Empire Games, the Commonwealth Games being the modern-day equivalent. Held in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia from February 5–12, 1938, they were timed to coincide with Sydney's sesqui-centenary...

 he was a member of the English boat which won the gold medal in the eights competition.

Kingsford joined the Irish Guards

Irish Guards

The Irish Guards , part of the Guards Division, is a Foot Guards regiment of the British Army.Along with the Royal Irish Regiment, it is one of the two Irish regiments remaining in the British Army. The Irish Guards recruit in Northern Ireland and the Irish neighbourhoods of major British cities...

 and served in World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

. He was awarded the Military Cross

Military Cross

The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....

  for action on 3 August 1944 when he commanded a combat group ordered to seize the crossroads near Saint-Charles-de-Percy

Saint-Charles-de-Percy

Saint-Charles-de-Percy is a commune in the Calvados department in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France.-Population:-References:*...

. They were initially held up by machine-gun and anti-tank fire but achieved their objective on the third attempt. His medal citation noted "He handled his group with great skill and daring. Had Captain Kingsford not persisted in his efforts to overcome this opposition, great delay would have been imposed in the execution of the Divisional plan.” A week later he was killed in action at Tilly-sur-Seulles

Tilly-sur-Seulles

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