In Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery, Souchez, France is the Commonwealth War Grave of Captain John Mounsey Lambert, serving with the 3rd Battalion (Reserve), attached to the 1st Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, who died 28/10/1914.
He was the only son of Isabella Lambert, of Bolton Hall, Alnwick, Northumberland, and the late Maj. Gen. G.C. Lambert.
John Mounsey Lambert was born at Beamish House, Alnwick, Northumberland, on the 21st December 1883, the only son of the late Major-General George Craster Lambert, of Bolton Hall, Alnwick, late 101st Royal Bengal Fusiliers, (now Munster Fusiliers) and his wife Isabella, the third daughter of Major Alexader Browne, of Doxford Hall, Chathill.
John was educated at Mister Moore’s School at Alnmouth and Wellington College.
John Mounsey Lambert was a Land Agent to Mr Hopbarton of Stapleton, Yorkshire. He was also a keen sportsman and a very good shot, winning the Officers’ Regimental Cup several times. John was a regular follower of the Badsworth Hounds.
He had enlisted in the Northumberland Militia, now the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion of the Northumberland Fusiliers on the 4th March 1903, was 2nd Lieutenant, in the 5th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers on the 3rd July 1905, then promoted on the 1st November 1906 to Lieutenant.
John became captain on the 29th August 1914. He was sent to France on the 30th August 1914 while attached to the 1st Battalion.
He arrived at the Battalion front line with 103 other ranks on the 19th September 1914, (Lieutenant in the War Diary), from the (3rd) Special Reserve Battalion.
He was killed in action by a sniper, at Neuve Chapelle on the 27th October 1914. Age 30.
He was unmarried.
Source: De Ruvigny Roll of Honour
David Thompson has submitted the following:-
John Mounsey Lambert was born on 21 December 1883 at Breamish House, the only son of Major General George Craster Lambert, late Colonel 101st Bengal (now Munster) Fusiliers, and his wife, Isabella (née Browne; born at Alnwick in 1849, daughter of Major Alexander Browne of Doxford Hall, Chathill).
He was educated at Mr. Moor’s School, Alnmouth and Wellington College.
In 1911 Lambert was living at Wentbridge Lodge, near Pontefract, Yorkshire, with two domestic servants. He worked as a Land Agent to Mr. Hope Barton, of Stapleton, Yorkshire. He was a keen sportsman and a very good shot – he won the Officers’ Regimental Cup several times. He was a regular follower of the Badsworth Hounds.
He was unmarried.
Lambert had three older sisters: Helena (b.1878); Mary (b.1880); and Livinia (maybe, Lavinia; b. 1882); and one younger sister, Dulcie (b.1886). Their father, a career soldier, was born at Alnwick in 1826. He died in 1898, aged 72.
In 1891 Lambert’s parents were living at Breamish Hall, Powburn, Northumberland, with their four daughters. In 1901 Isabella, now widowed, lived at Bolton Hall, Alnwick with her daughters. She was still there in 1911, aged 62, with her youngest daughter, Dulcie.
Lambert joined the Northumberland Militia, which later became the Northumberland Fusiliers’ 3rd (Reserve) Battalion, in 1903. He was promoted as Lieutenant on 1 November 1906.
Lambert re-joined the Army at the start of the war in 1914 and was part of the original British Expeditionary Force. He was promoted to Captain on 29 August 1914, and left for France the following day, attached to the Fusiliers’ 1st Battalion.
He was killed in action at Neuve Chapelle, on 27 October 1914, and is buried near where he fell.
He was a friend of Major William Burrell.
John Mounsey Lambert is remembered at Alnwick in A11.43, page 6 and at Bolton on B46.01.
