Archaeologists discovered the remains of Pte. John Lambert in a Belgian farmer’s wheat field in 2016, almost 100 years after his death. But it wasn’t until years later that Lambert, who fought with the Royal Newfoundland Regiment, was identified in an investigation that became one of the most complex cases ever solved by a Canadian team with the Department of National Defence. Lambert, 17, was also the youngest soldier to date identified by forensic anthropologist Sarah Lockyer. “He looks like a kid in his picture,” said Lockyer, the casualty identification coordinator for the team. “When I opened that file… that was incredibly impressive to me.” Pte. John Lambert of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment lied about his age and enlisted at 16 to fight in the First World War. His family is grateful that a Canadian team helped identify his remains nearly 100 years after his death. (Submitted by family)
Generations of questions
The family had shared a black-and-white photo with Lockyer that showed Lambert in his oversized uniform. The same picture has hung on the walls of their family homes for generations. But all they knew was that Lambert lied about his age to enlist at 16 and then died serving his country in 1917, according to a handwritten letter the Army sent to Lambert’s father. Lambert’s niece, Elizabeth Willard, never believed he would be found. “It was hard to believe,” he said. “Hard to get out of your head, it’s been over 100 years.” This week, more than a dozen Lambert relatives from Newfoundland descended on the small town of Ypres, Belgium, for answers they’ve been waiting a lifetime to hear. Forensic anthropologist Sarah Lockyer, the victim identification co-ordinator with the Ministry of National Defence, stands among headstones at a cemetery in Belgium, which houses several items found with the remains of Lambert and three other soldiers, including regimental identifiers. (Ashley Burke/CBC News)
Tracing the last days of a soldier
Under a sea of umbrellas to protect them from the torrential rain on Thursday, the team headed to the field where Lambert’s remains were found to trace his final days. Archaeologists led Lambert’s niece, Anne Smith, to the exact spot where they discovered his remains on a similarly rainy day six years ago. A Belgian company was surveying land to lay underground pipes when it discovered a former battlefield filled with the remains of more than 60 people, including Lambert. “It’s surreal,” Smith said while standing on the field. “It’s a weird feeling. It’s just like it’s awesome in a way and kind of sad.” Archaeologists show Anne Smith at the site in a Belgian field Thursday where her uncle’s remains were found in 2016. It took the team three years to identify his remains. (Ashley Burke/CBC News) Lockyer’s team, made up of about five people with Canada’s casualty identification program, works to identify soldiers by studying remains uncovered on old European battlefields by archaeologists, farmers or construction workers. The program started in 2007 and has investigated the cases of more than 35 unknown soldiers. More than 27,000 Canadian servicemen with no known grave are still missing from previous wars. Through their research, the team learned that Lambert’s regiment was part of a British offensive known as the Battle of Langemarck. The attack was aimed at German positions to push the enemy towards the Passchendaele Ridge. Only slight gains were made as the troops battled through mud, rain and counter-attacks. In just three hours, 27 men lost their lives as the British battalion advanced 1,000 yards. Lambert was one of the soldiers injured during the attack, who later died. Efforts to identify Lambert have been complicated: His remains were mixed with three other British soldiers who died in battle. A metal tag from Lambert’s uniform was discovered with his remains in the field in 2016. It was a key piece that helped identify who he was. (Ashley Burke/CBC News)
A decay of metal
Lambert’s regimental name turned out to be the key to the puzzle in 2019 to confirm his identity, Lockyer said. A damaged piece of metal inscribed NFLD linked Lambert to the Newfoundland Regiment which later became the only colonial regiment to receive the prefix “Royal” during the First World War. “That was the only thing that really gave us an indication that we were dealing with someone from Newfoundland,” Lockyer said. Only 16 Newfoundlanders who fought in that battle are missing, which helped narrow down the list. A DNA sample from Lambert’s oldest living niece, military records and biological data — confirmed his identity and stunned Lambert’s family. Lambert was laid to rest Thursday at the New Irish Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery, near where he died, in a formal Canadian military ceremony attended by members of the regiment and his family. The Canadian Armed Forces laid Lambert to rest Thursday at the New Ireland Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery in Belgium. He was buried next to the three British soldiers with whom he died on the battlefield in 1917. (Ashley Burke/CBC News )
“I feel peace now”
Lambert’s family members placed forget-me-not pins on his grave. The blue flower is a symbol worn by many in the Nfld. on Canada Day in memory of soldiers from the Royal Newfoundland Regiment who died in the First World War. Smith brought dirt from Lambert’s parents’ grave to sprinkle over his final resting place so he wouldn’t be alone. Lambert was buried with the three British soldiers who died with him. “I feel peace now,” Smith said. After more than a century of not knowing Lambert’s ultimate fate, his family is happy that his identity has been revealed and his remains are resting, this time under a tombstone bearing his name. “It’s beautiful,” said Lambert’s niece, Phyllis Smith. “He melts my heart. He really does. He makes me happy, he deserved this.” Lambert’s nieces Elizabeth Willar, left, and Phyllis Smith, right, traveled from St. John’s in Ypres, Belgium, for the special military burial. (Ashley Burke/CBC News)
