Lt-Cdr Louis Lambert, HMS Princess Victoria

            LIEUTENANT COMMANDER
LOUIS ALFRED LAMBERT
ROYAL NAVY
KILLED ON ACTIVE SERVICE
MAY 1940

Lieutenant-Commander Louis Alfred Lambert, HMS Princess Victoria, Royal Navy.
The son of G. A. and Annie Lambert.
Husband of Rachel Mary Lambert of Hove, Sussex.

The London Midland & Scottish Railway Company made history in 1939 when it ordered the Princess Victoria, the first specifically designed ferry with a stern shore ramp for cars to drive straight onto. Cattle could also be carried on forward lower deck. The ship was originally on the Stranraer to Larne ferry route.
The 2,197 gross ton Princess Victoria was built in 1939 by Wm. Denny & Bros. of Dumbarton, yard number 111. She was delivered to Stranraer on 5th. July 1939.

At the outbreak of war the Admiralty requisitioned the ship and converted her into an auxiliary minelayer, equipped with 244 mines via 2 x stern chutes, 1 x 4 inch Quick-Firing gun and 2 x 12-pounder A.A. guns. With a crew of 120 she was commissioned on 2nd. November 1939, 

She joined the 1st. Minelaying Squadron based at Scapa Flow, Scotland, and was then detached to Hull for mining in the Heligoland Bight. In January 1940, a start was made to laying a mine barrage to form the East coast mine-barrier. Princess Victoria laid the first 240 mines about 50 miles northeast of Spurn Point. She also laid more mines for this barrage, during the first week of May 1940. On 10th. May 1940, the ship and 20th. Minelaying Flotilla also laid a defensive minefield off the Dutch coast.

On Saturday 18th. May 1940, Princess Victoria struck a mine at the entrance to the River Humber which opened four compartments. She sank with the loss of 36, although the CWGC database states 37 casualties with 85 survivors.

A letter from the Ministry of Defence states that, 'On the night of 18th. May 1940 HMS Princess Victoria was returning to Immingham after laying mines in the East Coast barrier, some 40 miles east of Cromer', although in the report of the official enquiry into the loss of the ship it stated that the mines had been laid off the Dutch coast. She was being escorted by two minelaying destroyers HMS Ivanhoe and HMS Express, after 3 other escort destroyers had been 'dropped off at Harwich. At 23.15 there was a terrific explosion which appeared to come from below the ship and to the starboard side of the centre line, forward of the bridge. The ship had hit a magnetic mine, probably dropped by a German aircraft. After 20 to 30 seconds the ship was listing 45 degrees, and 70 degrees within about 2 minutes. She touched the bottom and eventually sank on an approximately even keel, leaving her mast, funnel and part of the bridge structure exposed. The ship had a car deck running the length of the ship, which contributed to the sinking happening so quickly as water pouring in through hole and filled the car deck. 

Over the next few days bodies were washed ashore at Weybourne, Salthouse, Cley, and Sheringham.

Louis was killed on active service, aged 37, on Saturday 18th. May 1940. His body was recovered from the sea off Sheringham on the 19th. June and he was buried in Section A.W. Grave 418 at Sheringham Cemetery, Norfolk.

Taken in: UK / England / North Norfolk District / Upper Sheringham (show map)

Taken on: June 15, 2025

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Camera: Canon EOS 850D, f/6.3, 1/250 sec, 34mm, ISO 100 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Canon EOS 850D
Aperture:	f/6.3
Exposure Time:	0.004 sec (1/250)
Focal Length:	34mm
ISO:	100
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	No Flash
Exposure Program:	Program AE
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	Uncalibrated
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