115 The Royal Canadian Legion MANITOBA & NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO COMMAND www.mbnwo.ca April 29, 1945 - Unable to take off with A/C. Ice had formed on wings and tail plane. All hands turn out to remove same. At time 0900 hrs. Goose Bay reports not to attempt flight here. Weather bad, visibility zero. Advises to fly to Lake Morhiban Station which is only 36 miles from Herr Lake. Time 1100 hrs.Warren goes for hunt, shoots porcupine. Lambert skins same. Cooked porcupine in boiling water. Tasted good with jack pine flavour. At 1800 hrs. Goose Bay reports American helicopter will arrive there in one hour. Todd breaks swede saw blade. Sharpened cross-cut saw at 1815 hrs. Bud Herr takes. Norseman 787 off and headed for Lake Morhiban. April 30, 1945- M.O. Dr. Smith gives narration on Eskimos after drinking off “Old Plaid” at 2130 hrs. Sikorski helicopter dropped in and began evacuating the men to Lake Morhiban escorted by Canso A/C. (This helicopter was brought to Goose Bay in parts from New York, USA, re-assembled at Goose Bay and put into service to rescue us from the desolate wastes of Labrador.) May 1, 1945- at 1130 hrs. Canso A/C dropped message that helicopter was repairing motor. Oil pressure was low. At 1625 hrs. helicopter arrives. Brought back Mike Slater, a reporter with cameras. This was his last entry in his short diary. They were all evacuated to Morhiban Lake station, one at a time, as this was only a small helicopter. From Lake Morhiban they were flown by a Norseman A/C to RCAF Station, Goose Bay, the last of them landing there on May 8, 1945. Bert Lahey and Bill Bagget were flown to hospital for burn treatment and Evert lost touch with them. Off and on over the years he has wondered what became of them. Imagine their surprise at learning Victory in Europe (VE Day) had been declared! After a few days of celebrating, they were given survivors’ leave. Dakota transport flew them to Moncton, NB and Evert went on to spend the next month with Drew at Lingle, Wyoming where their second son, Daniel was born on June 5, 1945.Within an hour after being rescued from the wilds of Labrador, where he was marooned for thirteen days following the crash of a Canso amphibian, F/O E.W. Evert purchased a Victory Bond. Evert then returned to Winnipeg where he was offered a position of Wireless Instructor if he remained in the service. However, Evert was still leery of flying and wanted, most of all, to be with my family. On June 30, 1945, he was struck off strength from the RCAF by reason of retirement upon completion of a term of voluntary service during an emergency and was transferred to Class “E” of the General Section of the Reserve. Evert received the Wireless Air Gunner’s Badge, the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Clasp, the 1939-1945 Star, the War Medal 1939-1945, the Pacific Star and the Atlantic Star. In 1946, Evert purchased land through the Department of Veterans Land Act and farmed until 1973 when he sold out. From 1973 until 1982, he was in the carpentry and construction trade. He retired and lived with Drew in the town of Fisher Branch. In August 1946, he joined The Royal Canadian Legion Fisherton Branch 158. Later in 1957, he transferred to Hodgson. Comrade James Cosens was President at the time. Evert was elected President in 1958 and served as Secretary Treasurer in 1960. From 1960 to 1964 inclusively, he was Immediate Past President. In 1976 and 1977, he was President again and from 1978 to 1981 inclusively, he was Immediate Past President. He was Legion Club Steward for 1965-1966 and elected Secretary for the year 1986. The Certificate of Merit from The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 158 was awarded to him in 1980 and he received the Life Membership Award in 1985. LAMBERT, Evert Walter(continued) He is shown here signing his application form while S/L C.J. McKenzie, chairman of the RCAF Eighth Victory Loan Committee at Goose Bay, looks on. F/O Lambert was one of seven crewmen who spent two weeks on the bleak Labrador wastes before being flown to safety in a helicopter which was flown up by special transport from New York in order to save the men. (RCAF Photo)
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