Private Philllip John Lambert

Born on 8 August 1892 in Morden, Phillip was the youngest son of Sarah Ann and Alfred Joseph Lambert. His parents and two of his older brothers were born in Norfolk. Father Alfred was a Carter by trade, working with horses on farms. By the time of the 1901 Census, the family were living at 1 Bishop’s Cottages, Lower Morden, and Alfred’ s occupation was described as a Carter on a Horse Farm. There were three farms in the Lower Morden area, Peacock Farm, Hobarts Farm and Morden Farm, so he was probably working for one of those. Phillip’s siblings were elder brothers Alfred, Walter and Edward. His younger siblings were Annie, Ernest, Minnie and Sarah who were all born in Morden. Also living with the family was Benjamin Springhall who was Sarah’s brother, and was also employed as a Carter.

By 1911, the family was still living at Bishop’s Cottages, and the family had grown to include four year old Ellen May. Sadly it seems that three of Sarah’s thirteen children had died in infancy. The two older brothers, Alfred and Walter had moved into lodgings next door, sharing a single room. Phillip was now eighteen, and was employed at a Firework Factory, most probably Pain’s Factory in Mitcham.

In 1914, Phillip enlisted in Wimbledon as a Private with the East Surrey Regiment, initially with the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion stationed at Kingston-on-Thames, then with the 9th Battalion. The Battalion was mobilised for war on 1 September 1915, landing at Boulogne, and were engaged in various actions on the Western Front. They took part in the Battle of Loos in 1915, the Battle of Delville Wood, The Battle of Guillemont, and were involved in the German gas attack at Wulverghem in 1916. In 1917, the battles included Vimy Ridge in April, Messines in June, and The Battle of Pilkelm Ridge, Belgium, (31 July – 2 August) which was the opening attack of the main part of the Third Battle of Ypres.

Shortly after on 5 August, Phillip’s Battalion as part of the 24th Division, were stationed in the Klein Zillibeke Sector. The Battalion’s War Diary for that day records the following:

“At 6am on 5th inst, two of our forward posts were attacked by a strong enemy party of 25-30 men. Owing to a thick mist they were not seen by own men until 8 yards away, when our posts were immediately shot at and bombed. 2nd Lt S.W Taylor was in charge of these posts and put up a stout fight against tremendous odds. After killing 5 and wounding several more, our posts withdrew a short distance on to another post just behind the original front position, but it is feared that 14 of our own men were left behind, either killed or wounded.”

It is likely that Phillip Lambert was one of those left behind. He has no known grave, and the CWGC register records only fourteen men who were killed in action on that day, 5 August 1917.

The Register of Soldiers’ Effects records that Phillip’s father Alfred received the sum of £11.08.10 from his final pay, and an additional £12.10 War Gratuity. He would also have received his son’s British War and Victory Medals. His parents address was recorded with the War Office as 2 Beverley Cottages, Lower Morden.
As Phillips body was never recovered, he is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, which bears the names of more than 54,000 soldiers who died before 16 August 1917 and have no known grave. He is also commemorated locally on the Morden War Memorial Lychgate at St. Lawrence's Church, and in the Morden Primary School Assembly Hall.