Desmond Kingsford

Who was Desmond Kingsford?

Desmond Glover Kingsford was a rower who competed for Great Britain at the 1936 Summer Olympics. 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 he was a member of the winning Cambridge 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 which came fourth representing Great Britain at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin. In 1937 he was runner-up in the Silver Goblets at Henley Royal Regatta competing for London Rowing Club when he partnered G M Lewis. At the 1938 British Empire Games he was a member of the English boat which won the gold medal in the eights competition.

Kingsford joined the Irish Guards and served in World War II. He was awarded the Military Cross for action on 3 August 1944 when he commanded a combat group ordered to seize the crossroads near Saint-Charles-de-Percy. They were initially held up by machine-gun and anti-tank fire but achieved their objective on the third attempt.