Dedicated paratrooper Colour Sergeant James Lambie, of 2nd Battalion the Parachute Regiment (2 PARA),is being recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours with an MBE for his compassion and support to injured recruits undergoing rehabilitation.
CSgt Lambie has enthusiastically supported and motivated injured recruits as the Platoon Sergeant at the Parachute Regiment Training Company where he was in charge of the rehabilitation platoon. His support helped recruits to get fit enough to join in training.
“Because someone saw something in me and put themselves forward and took me on at risk. I just wanted to do the same. I was fortunate to have an excellent platoon sergeant, Sgt Jason Whitworth. I can’t take all the credit.”
As someone who went through rehabilitation as a recruit, he has a particularly compassionate understanding of the importance of the role, centred on returning fit and motivated recruits back into mainstream training.” CSgt Lambie's citation
CSgt Lambie, Company Quartermaster Sergeant (CQMS) for B Company, 2 PARA, who hails from Baildon, Bradford, joined the Parachute Regiment 18-and-a-half-years ago with his three best friends. They wanted to serve their country due to the Iraq war.
“I was an injured recruit back in 2003,” he said. “So, I fully understand how it is being injured and being told you’re not going to be a paratrooper due to your injury. Luckily for me, I had a platoon sergeant who saw something in me and decided to invest in me and manage me properly. Due to that, I passed out as a paratrooper. So, for me, I wanted to give something back, to return the favour.”
CSgt Lambie, now aged 36, volunteered to be platoon commander of Falklands Platoon at ITC, the same platoon he trained with, due to the fact he wanted to pay back the debt he felt he owed to other young injured recruits. He said: “Maybe they weren’t robust enough physically; the Paras may have not been for them, but I wanted to make sure I could find a job for every single one of them.”
Lieutenant Colonel David Middleton, CSgt Lambie’s Commanding Officer, said: “Unsurprisingly I am thrilled that CSgt Lambie has been recognised for his unrelenting commitment and dedication whilst at the Infantry Training Centre (ITC). His work with the Rehabilitation Platoon has disproportionately benefited the junior soldiers, the Parachute Regiment and the wider Army.”
CSgt Lambie lives in Leeds with his wife and two young sons. He has returned to Para Training Company at ITC Catterick, having just posted from Colchester. He has served operational tours in Northern Ireland, Africa and Afghanistan.
The highlight of CSgt Lambie’s career, he says, is young privates coming up to him in battalion and saying ‘thank you’ for keeping invested in them when they wanted to give up and transfer, and giving them the self-confidence that they can pass the course.
“Seeing them in the battalion as paratroopers is a brilliant feeling,” he said.
CSgt Lambie’s citation says: “As someone who went through rehabilitation as a recruit, he has a particularly compassionate understanding of the importance of the role, centred on returning fit and motivated recruits back into mainstream training.”