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Auction: 25113 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 665

The L.S. & G.C. awarded to Engine Room Artificer Class I C. A. W. Benfield, Royal Navy, who served with Belfast in the Arctic when she participated in the destruction of the Scharnhorst

Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R. (MX. 47556 C. A. W. Benfield. E.R.A.A. 1. H.M.S. Belfast.), note additional 'A' to rank, minor pitting very fine

Clifford Albert Walter Benfield was born at Devonport, Devon on 23 March 1907, the son of Albert and Kate Benfield. Attesting at Victory II on 5 November 1928 with the rank of Engine Room Artificer Class IV Benfield was still in service on the outbreak of the Second World War.

Benfield's L.S. & G.C. was issued to him aboard Belfast on 15 October 1943 when she was operating in the Arctic, North of Norway. Just two months later she was involved in the Battle of North Cape on 26 December 1943 in which Belfast served as one of the pursuing vessels, forcing Scharnhorst into Admiral Fraser's trap. As the only warship not to suffer engine trouble she was the only one able to keep up with the German vessel and as such played a key role in maintaining British control of the situation.

She later went on to act as part of the covering force during Operation Tungsten, one of the attempts to sink Tirpitz, and saw action during Operation Overlord. Finally, Belfast was ordered to the Far East where she ended the war, preparing for the planned invasion of Japan. It is unknown when Benfield left the Royal Navy however he died at Portsmouth in October 1974; sold together with copied research.

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Estimate

Starting price
£40