Unclued lights (three of two words; ignore one apostrophe) may be grouped to form a related triad.
 

Across

 
1    Old wife to claim freebie from party (8, two words)
5    Arrest of secret police (6)
11    King’s job reduced: that hurt part of the fleet (10)
16    From lack of energy Roman general loses a navy (5)
17    Cudgels seen abandoned on mountain (7)
20    Special toy for child with which to paint (8)
25    From poet, a conceit for 28 Feb? (4)
26    Electronic signal about work for shepherdess (6, hyphened)
28    Pay back cleric in time (6)
29    With difficulty, breathe air quietly (4)
31    Such a successful man feels bad about rejected parent (8, hyphened)
36    Facilities in Formula 1 available in yellow compound (7)
41    Branch office is more than a rude hut (6)
42    Shielded from blame somehow, area died (10)
43    A new sailing vessel? Very much so (6, two words)
44    Strike with speed on wing (8)
 

Down

 
1    One fretted as soldier and sailor stay united (6)
2    An atomic nucleus more than covered by good book (8)
3    Hill conceals lake for fish (6)
6    These Scots almost winning bronze (4)
7    Shelf life? (11)
8    I study computer symbol (4)
9    Thus, computer lacking some power, I get top-level cover (8, two words)
10    Producing a combination of liquids, big bird lives strangely (8)
14    Still, number’s not small initially (4)
15    Determined to see the sights of Biblical city (4)
16    Put to master program with cost frozen (11)
19    Produce whip (4)
21    Green fruit a challenge to pick up (4)
22    Money off wall-covering range (4)
23    Drug that relieves knee regularly: write article (8)
24    In front of checkout, fellow with a cloak (8)
25    Old school alphabet (4)
27    Pastor always drinks a French wine: it works on the pulse (8, hyphened)
30    Team prepared tea (4)
31    Since a long time ago, reason is never-ending (4)
32    Knowing perch — this helps fisherman (6, two words)
35    In hospital raised fine water plants (5)
37    River enters brown lake (4)
38    Restrictive order laid down in Strasbourg (4)
 
A first prize of £30 for the first correct solution opened on 19 October. There are two runners-up prizes of £20. (UK solvers can choose to receive the latest edition of the Chambers Dictionary instead of cash— circle the word ‘Dictionary’.) Entries to: Crossword 2231, The Spectator, 22 Old Queen Street, London SW1H 9HP. Please allow six weeks for prize delivery.