Flight
Lieutenant Charles Alfred Lambert
Royal
Canadian Air Force
was
the son of William Frank Lambert and Rachel (Bean) who
immigrated to Canada from England around 1911 or 1912. Charles had
seven siblings: Doris, William F. Jr., Hilda, John D.(Jack), Harold A.
(Sandy), Rachel and Gladys . All are now deceased.
John and Sandy served in the Royal Canadian Navy and lived to tell
about it , but never did. William Jr. was in the Queen's Own
Rifles Militia (or Reserve?) but did not see action.
Charles was married to
Nursing Sister Hilda Muriel Logan, of the RCAF, at Lachine, Quebec
since Jan 1944.
F/L
Lambert died
on 15-Dec-1944 at the age of 24 while based at Melsbroek, Holland, on an weather recce
into Germany.
The
following entry is from 439's War Operations Record Book (Form 540): One
weather recce and two operations comprised the day's flying activity. J.7827
F/L C.A. Lambert failed to return from the weather recce. This
officer who hails from Ingersell, Ontario, Canada, was a very popular
figure in the daily life of the Squadron. He has 13 operational
sorties and 14:00 operational hours and a total of 1431:25 flying
hours to his credit.
The
following entry is from 439's War Operations Record Book (Form 541): The bombs were
close and damage the train though not close enough to claim a break in
the railway. They made a strafing attack on the train and left the
engine steaming badly with passengers making a hurried exit. After
climbing up S/L Crosby resumed an easterly course, crossing the
railway north of Haltern.
They met a heavy barrage of heavy flak. Red Four (J/7827 F/L C.A.
Lambert) received a direct hit and with his engine out, he attempted
to belly land. Picking out a large field, he overshot slightly and
went through a clump of trees, tearing a wing off and flipping on his
back in the process at map reference A.5556.
Smoke was seen emanating from the aircraft but no fire. No word on the
R/T was heard and it is not known whether he is safe or not.
(It was learned
later that F/L Lambert did not survive the landing.)
Following
entry is from The
Canadian Virtual War Memorial website courtesy of
the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
J/7827
F/L C.A. Lambert is
buried at REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY, Germany Grave Reference: 13.
F. 6.
Location:
The REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY is located 5 km south west of Kleve.
From Kleve the cemetery is located, using the Hoffmannallee from the
Town Centre, which becomes the Materbornerallee. This road enters
Reichswald Forest and becomes the Grunewaldstrasse. Follow direction
Gennep, entering Reichswald Forest the cemetery is situated 500 meters
on the left.
Photo and background genealogical information courtesy of John Charles Lambert
(nephew) of Ontario. Used with permission.
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