Reverend Sidney E. Lambert, O.B.E.
Reverend Sidney E. Lambert, O.B.E.
First President – War Amps of Canada
Sidney Lambert was born in Devonshire England on September the 18th, 1887. He studied theology in Calgary and was a Methodist Church minister at the outbreak of World War I. He enlisted in the 50th Battalion C.E.F. on June 19th, 1915 and was assigned to the Canadian Chaplain Service with the rank of Captain. He was wounded at the Battle of Vimy Ridge and was sent back to Canada to the College Street Veterans Hospital in Toronto. While at the hospital he saw the need for assisting amputees to return to civilian life and securing them benefits. In 1920 Lambert brought this idea from dream to reality with the founding (by charter) of the “Amputee Association of the Great War” with himself as the first President.
That same year he married a heroine in her own right in the person of Irene “Pearl” Courtice of Bethany, Ontario. She had graduated from Toronto General Hospital in 1913, enlisted in the Canadian Army in April, 1915 and served overseas with the Canadian Army Medical Corps. After the War she became head of nursing at the Whitby Hospital. The couple was married at Sherbourne Street Methodist Church in Toronto.
Lambert became the Chaplain at the Christie Street Hospital for Veterans. In 1938 he led the Toronto delegation overseas to the Vimy Ridge reunion and through the course of his life was often called upon to dedicated war memorials and act as a guest speaker. In 1942 the “Toronto War Honour Roll Committee” was formed at the suggestion of Mayor Robert Saunders and Lambert was the Chairman. The committee created the “Golden Book of Remembrance” which was placed at Toronto City Hall. Contained therein are the names of over 3,000 men and 5 women from Toronto who were killed in action 1939 -1945. Over 5,000 people attended the dedication service on December the 28th, 1947.
With amputees returning after World War II the organization changed its name to the “War Amputees of Canada” more commonly known as The War Amps. Sidney Lambert left a great legacy in the War Amps a name respected and known to all Canadians. Sidney Lambert was an Orangeman whose membership resided with Sproule L.O.L.2253 in Toronto. In 1933 he served as that lodge’s Worshipful Master.
Submitted by Alec Rough – Past County Master – May. 20th, 2010
← back
