Born the son of Sir Henry Edward Francis Lambert, 6th Baronet, and his wife, Eliza Catherine Hervey, Cecil Lambert joined the Royal Navy as a Naval Cadet in 1877.

[5] In 1917 he was appointed commodore, first class, in command of the 2nd Light Cruiser Squadron in the Grand Fleet,[6] with his flag in HMS Birmingham, being promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral in April 1917.

[4][7] In the same year he was awarded the Japanese Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star (the second highest of eight classes associated with the Order), notice of the King's permission to accept and wear this honour being duly published in the London Gazette.

[8] From February – September 1918 he served as Rear-Admiral Commanding the Aegean Squadron.

[7] In 1919 Lambert was seconded to the recently established Royal Air Force where he served as Director of Personnel.