On 1 June 1916, the Harwich Force sortied to reinforce the Grand Fleet following the Battle of Jutland. "Lawford" was one of eight destroyers detached to screen the damaged battleship , which had been torpedoed during the battle, helping to escort the battleship to the Humber for temporary repair. The destroyers of the Harwich Force were regularly detached to the Channel to strengthen the defences of the Dover Patrol against potential attack by German surface forces, and in late October 1916, "Lawford" led a division of four destroyers that was taking its turn reinforcing the Dover Patrol. On the night of 26/27 October 1916, "Lawford"s division was patrolling off The Downs, while four more L-class destroyers were on passage to Dunkirk, and six more destroyers waited at Dover. On that night the Germans launched an attack against the Dover Barrage and shipping in the Straits. One group of German torpedo boats attacked British drifters on the Barrage, and when the old destroyer went to investigate, sank "Flirt". As a response, six s from Dover and "Laforey"s division of four destroyers from Dunkirk were ordered to sortie out in an attempt to intercept the German ships. In a confused action, the Tribal-class destroyer was torpedoed and badly damaged, having her bow blown off, while and were damaged by German gunfire, with the German ships escaping with little damage. "Lawford"s commanding officer misinterpreted his orders, and on hearing reports of the German attacks, took his division of destroyers south east to investigate, leaving the Downs unguarded. A subsequent order to return to base was instead sent to "Laforey", which abandoned her pursuit of the German warships. "Lawford"s division encountered "Nubian" which was disabled and firing distress flares, and "Lark" took "Nubian" under a stern-first tow. Bad weather caused the tow line to break, however, and "Nubian" ran aground under the South Foreland.