service During the Second World War, Litchfield served on on the Russian Convoys and aided the Allied landings in North Africa. Later in the war he moved to headquarters, planning for D-Day; he was awarded the OBE for his work. He became deputy director of Naval Intelligence from 1949 to 1950 and commanded HMS Vanguard, the Navy's last battleship from 21 December 1951 until 18 January 1953. The ship was due to take the King and Queen to South Africa in 1952 but the King's death forced the cancellation of the trip. Leaving the Navy Litchfield was struck down by polyneuritis that year and took six months' sick leave to recover. He ended his naval career as Director of Operations for the Admiralty in 1953–1954, and retired with the rank of captain in 1955. On leaving he had already decided to go into politics with the Conservative Party and was elected to Kent County Council in 1955, serving for a single three-year term. Parliament Having determined to try to enter Parliament, Litchfield was disappointed at Maidstone (Margaret Thatcher was a fellow candidate). However he was selected for Chelsea for the 1959 general election (where he followed another Navy man, Allan Noble). Chelsea was a very safe seat and his selection was controversial because Litchfield was in his fifties and not likely to become a long-standing member. Nicholas Ridley was the choice of the minority, but Litchfield won many around by his sincerity. He was comfortably elected. During the Profumo affair, Litchfield was among a small group of Conservative MPs who felt that Harold Macmillan had been mistaken in keeping Profumo in the government following his denial of any impropriety. However, Litchfield liked Profumo personally. During a Parliamentary trip to NATO headquarters, Litchfield found that all the seats in the limousines were taken, and was forced to travel sitting on Harold Wilson's lap. Retirement As suspected by the Chelsea selectorate, Litchfield would not have a long Parliamentary career, retiring in 1966. He continued making films, and was pleased to loan one of his films on the Russian convoys to Captain Jack Broome who used it to win a libel action against author David Irving. He was also a raconteur who used his store of stories of his naval career to entertain audiences. References Obituary, The Times, 5 June 1993 M. Stenton and S. Lees, "Who's Who of British MPs" Vol. IV