Gilbert Lescombe Farnfield DSO, DSC, RN
| Born | 15 Nov 1905 | Broadstairs in Kent, UK | |
| Died | 11 Nov 1961 | (55) | Bridge of Weir, Renfrewshire, Scotland |
| Ranks
Retired: 7 Jul 1959 Decorations
|
Warship Commands listed for Gilbert Lescombe Farnfield, RN
| Ship | Rank | Type | From | To |
| HMS Defender (H 07) | Lt.Cdr. | Destroyer | 30 Oct 1940 | 11 Jul 1941 |
| HMS Quality (G 62) | Lt.Cdr. | Destroyer | 15 Jun 1942 | Jun 1944 |
Career information
He was educated at the Thames Nautical Training College HMS Worcester circa 1918 – 1922. Cadet and then Junior Officer in the Peninsular & Orient Line (P&O) Merchant Service
Entered service in the Royal Navy 15 November 1931 (26th Birthday). Retired in the rank of Captain
Married Lucy Edith Turner on 28 April 1934 in Sydney New South Wales, Australia. They had a son; Richard Hugh Farnfield born 4th December 1937 (Also Captain RN).
Events related to this officer
Destroyer HMS Defender (H 07)
11 Jul 1941
At 1300hrs of 11 July 1941 HMS Defender (Lt.Cdr. G.L. Farnfield, RN) sailed from Tobruk for Alexandria in company with HMAS Vendetta (Lt.Cdr. R. Rhoades, RAN). Besides her complement she had on board the crew of the sunken Waterhen.
Within a few hours, taking advantage of a clear and moolit night, a single Ju-88s of I/LG.1 (Lt. Gerd Stamp), on a reconaissance flight aliong the coast, attacked the destroyers: at 0518 hrs a heavy caliber bomb near-missed Defender, detonating beneath the machinery spaces. The heavy mining effect deformed the stern and flooded the engine rooms and one boiler room.
Despite determined attempts at towing, Vendetta was unable to make much headway. It appears Defender's back was broken, and as she was deep in the water from flooding, the tow caused much strain on Vendetta's old (1917 vintage) engines. The decision was then made to scuttle the crippled destroyer, carried out by a torpedo at 1145 hrs, barely 7 nautical miles north of Sidi el-Barrani. There was no loss of life in the sinking, all 271 aboard Defender transferred safely to Vendetta and arrived Alexandria unscathed.