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Douglas Lambert,
more commonly known as ‘Daniel’ or ‘Danny’ to his friends and family was
born in
Cranbrook
on October 14th 1883. Educated at St Edwards, Oxford and more
latterly at Eastbourne College the young Lambert started his sporting career as
an inside right in association football until his school changed it’s
allegiance to Rugby Union in 1900. Lambert, although given little choice,
followed suit playing in most positions on the pitch at one time or another as
well as showing a precocious talent for place kicking.
Leaving school
Lambert joined Harlequins, where he initially played in the ‘A’ team as a
forward. His elevation to the first fifteen came in 1905 when during a trial
match he outpaced Adrian Stoop, bundling him into touch as he was about to
score. Stoop saw the potential that Lambert offered. A big man he was both
strong in defense as well as fleet of foot. He also continued to be an accurate
kicker of goals. It all added up to a package that Stoop could use as he moved
him from the pack in the ‘A’s to wing three-quarter in the firsts.
Others were also
soon to appreciate Lambert’s strengths. He was selected for the Barbarian’s
traditional Easter tour to
Wales
in 1906, although a poor run of Barbarian form saw him on the losing side the
three times that he played against Penarth,
Cardiff
and
Plymouth
. Lambert’s debut cap came the following year in 1907 against the first French
fifteen to travel to
England
. Played at
Richmond
on January 5th Lambert was a late inclusion in the side as the
originally selected wing was forced to drop out. Seizing the opportunity, as the
Times put it “D. Lambert did the actual
scoring with almost unerring accuracy.” His tally of five tries during a
match where the French were totally outclassed by forty one points to thirteen
equaled the world record set by George Lindsay for
Scotland
against
Wales
in 1887 and would not be bettered until the 1995 World Cup when All Black Marc
Ellis scored six tries against
Japan
. Despite this achievement Lambert was dropped by the
England
selector’s for both the next match and the remainder of the international
season.
Although this
must have been a biter pill to swallow after such a dazzling debut, Lambert
continued to play for his club Harlequins. He also joined the Barbarian’s
Easter tour to
Wales
for a second consecutive year and again playing three matches. This time he had
better fortune playing on the winning side against Penarth and Devonport whilst
losing to
Cardiff
. The 1908 season saw Lambert back in favor with the mercurial
England
selector’s playing three matches. He scored a further try against
France
in the away win at
Colombes
on January 1st followed by a home defeat against
Wales
on January 18th held at Ashton Gate,
Bristol
. His final match for
England
that season was a further defeat away from home against
Scotland
at Inverleith on March 21st where he scored two conversions. The end
of the season again found Lambert back in the international wilderness, but
there was plenty of rugby to keep him occupied. He played the touring
Australians for the
London
division losing by a try to nil at
Richmond
on October 24th 1908. He also took part in the landmark first match
played the following year at the new Twickenham Stadium on October 2nd
1909, as ever taking the field for is beloved Harlequins against their
neighboring
Richmond
. Lambert was in fine form for this encounter, and as noted in the Sportsman “….
The Harlequins soon added another try, the ball coming down the line to Lambert
who sprinted away from everyone.” Lambert also added a conversion to this
try during the Harlequins fourteen points to ten victory. The following Easter
Lambert again made the trip to Wales with the Barbarians, playing a further
three matches bringing his tally to nine Barbarian appearances with in a draw
with Penarth, a win against Cardiff whilst losing to Swansea.
1911 again saw
Lambert in favor with the national selectors gaining a further three caps that
brought his total to seven. His international season opened on January 21st
with an away loss to
Wales
at
Swansea
. Lambert scored a conversion during the match and as the Times put it “….
Did not have many real chances, but did everything that he possibly could.”
This was followed by the only international that Lambert was to play for his
country at its new home in Twickenham. Played
on January 28th against France, for whom Lambert was becoming
something of a nemesis,
England
recorded a thirty seven points to nil victory. During the encounter Lambert
scored two tries, five conversions and two penalties, a grand total of twenty
two points. This was to remain an English record for points scored in one match
until 1990 when Simon Hodgkinson scored twenty three in a fifty one point to nil
victory over
Argentina
. Despite his unprecedented success in this match it was not all plain sailing.
The Times recorded “But on one occasion
D. Lambert was guilty of an inexcusable display of bad temper, which was not
unnoticed by the spectator’s.” Lambert’s final international was a
three points to nil away defeat to
Ireland
at
Dublin
. Lambert had a poor match and overall the result was deemed fair.
On the domestic
front 1911 saw Lambert appointed as treasurer at his own club Harlequins.
Whatever his other attributes accountancy does not appear to have been one of
them, at one point sending a cheque for fourteen pounds and eight shillings to
his fellow Harlequin HBT Wakelam the second time that he had applied for
expenses of fourteen shillings and eight pence! Needless to say the following
season he was rapidly replaced by Holly Ward who no doubt had an uphill struggle
correcting the club’s finances. With the weight of the clubs accounts now off
his shoulders Lambert was able to turn his attention to the 1912 touring South
African’s. Although his international career was over Lambert was selected for
a London Division side that eventually lost by twelve points to eight, despite
coming back from an eight points to nil deficit a half time.
With the outbreak
of war Lambert followed the call to arms joining the Sixth Battalion of the
Royal East Kent Regiment (the Buffs) as a Lieutenant. After marrying his
childhood sweetheart Joyce at West Brompton on December 17th 1914 he
eventually travelled to
France
with his unit. The 6th Buffs were destined to take part in the
Battle of Loos, a major offensive commencing on September 25th 1915.
The battle was notable as the first time that the British forces had used gas as
an offensive weapon in the field, albeit with varying results. Despite some
early success including the capture of Loos itself it was impossible for the
British to capitalize upon this due essentially to communication and supply
problems as well as a pronounced lack of artillery ammunition. This led
inevitably to an ineffective barrage prior to the push that was tactically
essential in this kind of attack. The troops found the German wire still intact
as they crossed open land into the fire of German machine guns. The casualties
were appalling, with sixty one thousand being killed or wounded by the end of
the battle. By September 28th the British had been forced to retreat
to their starting positions with the Germans counter attacking and facing an
equally high casualty rate. On the final day of the battle, October 13th,
the day before Lambert’s birthday, the British forces attempted a final
offensive. The 6th Battalion of the Buffs went over the top only to
be met by devastating fire from a previously unseen and therefore unshelled
German trench. The battalion lost four hundred men in just a few minutes,
advancing just one hundred yards before being forced to halt. Lieutenant Douglas
Lambert was killed in action leading his men. He has no known grave. His son was
born just two months after his death.
Sources
"Harlequin
Story", HBT Wakelam, Phoenix House Ltd 1954
"Immortal
Harlequin", Ian Cooper, Tempus, 2004
"England
the Official RFU History", Virgin, 1999
"The
Complete Who's Who of England Rugby Union Internationals", R Maule,
Breedon 1992
The
Times Online Digital Archive
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The
Rugby History Society