2 describes a pair of unclued lights (three words altogether), which in turn include the others.
 

Across

12    Single by pop group: ‘Go for violent crime’ (8)
13    Beast’s sardonic-sounding refusal (5)
14    Wing and tail feathers missing one month (8)
16    Book I inscribed for myself? (4)
20    Will’s to resurrect a year’s work (6)
21    Dealer’s only rule: concealing clubs (6)
22    A positive plan backfires, that’s plain (5)
24    Not long before one pleasure of paradise? (5)
26    Most merciful end, laid out in coffin (7)
27    Manages to secure suitable instruction for Christian society (7)
28    Security organisation seizes Catholic roughly (5)
32    Maintain unity, staying constant (5)
34    Nelson, for example, travelled round to secure what’s needed (6)
36    Swept-back peak: it’s a hairstyle (6)
41    Snug? I am, in cloth (5)
42    Big noose prepared for beggar (8)
43    Governor’s office for instance fitted with bunker (7)
44    One held to get on with army (7)
 

Down

3    London pride rather looked down on by sailor’s girl (11, hyphened)
4    Tax heartwood, from this? (9, two words)
5    No time for funeral ceremony? That’s charming (3)
6    Striking miner acting against property (5, two words)
7    Stab light red and yellow chaffinch (4)
8    Sap in cherry, say, short on nurseryman’s last check (6)
10    Slight suspicion sanitary fitting needs engineers in (6)
15    Flatten and dry piece of plant, one for the scrapbook? (12, two words)
18    Have not gone out, keeping active forcefully (5)
19    In trouble, prophesy about church’s response (11)
25    Navy fuss over deck (5)
26    Fried dough hard to settle — thrown up (5)
29    Unnamed woman’s fizzing energy once amazing (6)
31    Composer’s short scarf (6)
35    In to rabbit, take mate (5)
37    No amateur accepted in boat (4)
40    Low emotional state never-ending (3)
 
A first prize of £30 for the first correct solution opened on 24 September. There are two runners-up prizes of £20. (UK solvers can choose to receive the latest edition of the Chambers dictionary instead of cash — ring the word ‘dictionary’.) Entries to: Crossword 2375, The Spectator, 22 Old Queen Street, London SW1H 9HP. Please allow six weeks for prize delivery.