Edward Allister LAMB

LAMB, Edward Allister

Service Numbers: Not yet discovered
Enlisted: Not yet discovered
Last Rank: Lieutenant
Last Unit: 2nd New South Wales Mounted Rifles
Born: Paddington, Sydney, New South Wales, 1871
Home Town: Sydney, City of Sydney, New South Wales
Schooling: Sydney Grammar School, New South Wales, Australia
Occupation: Solictor
Died: Killed in Action, South Africa, 10 May 1901
Cemetery: Ottosdal Garden of Remembrance. North-West, South Africa.
Memorials: Sydney St. James Anglican Church 2nd Regiment Mounted Rifles Boer War Memorial Window and Plaque
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Boer War Service

1 Oct 1899: Involvement Lieutenant, 2nd New South Wales Mounted Rifles
15 Mar 1901: Embarked Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Lieutenant, 2nd New South Wales Mounted Rifles
10 May 1901: Discharged Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Lieutenant, 2nd New South Wales Mounted Rifles, Killed in Action.

Help us honour Edward Allister Lamb's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography contributed by Faithe Jones

It will be remembered (says The Sydney Daily Telegraph) that Lieut. E. A. Lamb, a young officer of a recent New South Wales mounted contingent, was killed in his first  engagement shortly after landing in South Africa. Recently it has transpired that the Boer commandant in charge of the body of men with which Lamb's party was in conflict was  shot, and on his body Lamb's field glasses were found. Capt. Sprigg, a son of the Cape Premier, recovered the glasses, with a view of forwarding  them to the relatives of the  deceased of ficer. The account received of Lieut. Lamb's death shows that his regiment had come across a commando in force, and after an exchange of shots the Boers retreated  precipitately, followed by the Australians. Lieut. Lamb's company pursued three or four miles in advance of the regiment, and was drawn into a cul de sac in the ranges surrounded  on all sides by Boers. Lieut. Lamb's horse was shot under him, and just as he jumped on another horse a second shot killed him.

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Biography contributed by Maurice Kissane

Edward Allister Lamb was born in Sydney in 1871. His father too was Sydney born in 1833. John de Villiers Lamb (1833-1900). His mother, Henrietta Octavia Smith (1837-1914), was the daughter of a Pastor.

He had four siblings and was well educated. Plus had strong Christian values. He would have seen his war service as his duty to HM The Queen and Her Empire.

He was a good horsemen as evidenced by his Mounted Service. For when his horse was shot out from under him, he did not remain dismounted. He was shot when he tried to to remount a second riderless horse. (The  Sydney Dailey Telegraph).

The Boers however, shot horses to dismount and immoblize Troopers. The horses were large targets. Hence it was easier for Commando mausers to hit horses. This tactic was used against other contigents.   

2LT Edward Allister Lamb was KIA in his first action.

 

Lest We Forget.      

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