Ernest Henry Lambourne

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Able Seaman ss/3389 Ernest Henry Lambourne
HMS 'Lynx' Royal Navy

Local Information:

Able Seaman Lambourne was born in Botley, Hampshire on the 30th August 1892 and was the adopted son of William and Helen Lambourne, of 'Ivy Nook' Church Street, Hungerford. His original occupation was shown as a baker enlisting into the Royal Navy on the 10th October 1910. He was described as 5' 5" tall, chest 36 inches, brown hair, grey eyes, fresh complexion. Throughout his service he was described as 'Very good' He was killed in action on Monday 9th August 1915 when his ship HMS LYNX was sunk by enemy action. He was aged 23 and is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial.

Photo Gallery:

1st world war 72 ernie lambourne

Ernie Lambourne [Kindly sent by Vicky Hummell].

Naval Information:

The ship's log book for the period of March to April 1915 indicated that the ship was deployed in the waters near Aberdeen, Glasgow and Scapa Flow.

HMS LYNX3

HMS Lynx

SHIPS SERVED IN BY AB LAMBOURNE 1910 - 1915

HMS Victory: 10.10.1910 – 25.11.1910 - Ordinary Seaman

HMS Illustrious: 26.11.1910 – 15.2.1911 – Ordinary Seaman

HMS Good Hope: 16.2.1911 – 23.12.1912 – Ordinary Seaman

HMS Fishguard: 24.12.1912 – 1.2.1914 – Able Seaman

HMS Lynx: 2.2.1914 – 9.8.1915 (When sunk)

(The following log book was lost with the ship).

The Lynx was a Motor Torpedo Boat acting as a destroyer. HMS Lynx was one of the Grand Fleet destroyers on patrol in the Moray Firth on the night of 8-9 August 1915. An enemy minefield was known to exist, but its exact extent was not accurately known.

At 10.40pm on 8th August, Lynx received a message that was sent to all of the destroyers on outer patrol in the Moray Firth, ordering them to keep at least five miles to the eastward of the N-R line (Noss Head to Rossheart), and well clear of the minefield.

At 0610 hours on 9th August her Captain, Commander J. Cole was lost with 73 of his crew. There were only 26 survivors. At the time Lynx was blown up there was no information that the minefield extended north of latitude 58 degrees. She was sunk in Latitude 5808N. The explosion apparently occurred in front of No 1 boiler room, wrecking and severing the fore part of the ship, as far as, No 1 boiler room. A second violent explosion also occurred in the vicinity of No 1 boiler room, between 5 and 10 minutes after the first explosion. The Court of enquiry was of the opinion that this was caused by the after part of the ship drifting against a second mine. The mines had been laid by the German raider Meteor, which was later sunk off the Moray Firth.

Vicky Hummell kindly contacted the Virtual Museum (Aug 2014) saying: "I am the great granddaughter of Helen and William Lambourne who lived at "Ivy Nook", Church Street. I was delighted to see your page about Ernie Lambourne who was killed on the Lynx in 1915. I have a photo of him and a letter he sent to his Mother, Helen Lambourne.

The photo attached is of William Lambourne son of Helen and William, who was in WW1 in the Irish Hussars, he was a RSM. He was a regular soldier and I think he spent the war in India.

My Mother, who died in February, spent some time in Hungerford with her grandparents so I have some photos and letters. My Mother was the daughter of Helen Pitman, nee Lambourne. We are also related by marriage to the Tubbs.

My paternal great grand father was Inspector Randall who lived at the police station in Hungerford for some time. His daughter, my grandmother, Annie Randall, taught in the local school and was a member of the tennis club."

See also:

- Letter dated 5 May 1914 from Ernie Lambourne to his mother

- 8 Church Street (previously "Ivy Nook")