77942, Flying Officer (Air Gunner), John LAMBTON
Aged 31

..?


202 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Died on Active Duty on Monday 11th August 1941


Semper Vigilate - Be always vigilant


Born in Newmarket on 31st July 1909 to Hon George and Cicely Margaret LAMBTON (née HORNER) of Mesnil Warren, Bury Road, Newmarket. Grandson of the 2nd Earl of Durham.

1911 census...Aged 1, he was at Mesnil Warren, Bury Road, Newmarket with his father Hon. George Lambton [50] racehorse trainer, born London and his mother Cicely Margaret [27], born London, and 6 servants.
He had 2 sisters, Ann Katherine Swynford [1912-2008] and Sybil Frances Mary Diadem [1919-1961] and brother Edward George [1918-1983]

On 15th March 1934, in London, he married Ethel Ruth NICHOLSON, a qualified pilot.

In the 1939 register, an unemployed journalist/RAF Officers Reserve, he was with his wife Ethel R [5-6-1913] (welding engineering researcher/Civil Air Guard)) at Upper part of 42 South Audley Street, Westminster. His parents, Hon. George [21-11-1860] racehorse trainer, and Cicely Margaret [19-11-1883] were at Mesnil Warren, Bury Road, Newmarket.

His widow apparently married Edwin BALLARD in Maidenhead in 1942 although the index does have her as Edith, not Ethel. In the 1939 register Ballard is written in against her name.



He had previously been a 2nd Lt in the Coldstream Guards. His uncle Francis was killed in 1914.. see here



His son Peter has stated that his father's service records show:
9.3.1940 No. 1. AA School (believed to have been at RAF Manby)
23.3.1940 Cent. Gunnery School (RAF Warmwell, Dorest)
22.4.1940 613 Squadron ( RAF Odiham)
22.11.1940 309 Squadron ( 309 was a Polish squadron based at Renfrew)
21.4.1941 268 Squadron (Snailwell-West Raynham-Barton Bendish-Weston Zoyland)
7.7.1941 202 Squadron [Gibraltar]

F/O Lambton had been a Gunnery Officer for No.268 Sqdn ACC,when they transferred to Tomahawks the majority of the observers and air gunners were posted. John Lambton is recorded as posted overseas in July 1941.

Flying in Catalina Mk 1, W8425, c/s AX-?. Piloted by F/Lt J Whitton, they took off from Gibraltar at 11.30 hrs 10th August 1941 to escort convoy OG.70, bounced on landing at 00:10 hours and dived into the sea. Three killed P/O R G Scott, F/O J Lambton and Sgt J G Summers.


John on his wedding day 15th March 1934




a photograph of a Catalina 1 (28-5ME) from the same batch as John's aircraft


John is buried in Gibraltar (North Front) Cemetery, Ref- plot 2.Row A Joint Grave 1
and also commemorated on the family memorial in Newmarket cemetery


click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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