John Lambert’s career in diplomacy formally began after the Second World War, but his entrée into that world arguably came earlier. While serving in the North Africa campaign, he was responsible in 1943 for negotiating the taking into custody of the ruler of Tunis. With pleasing symmetry, in what was his last posting Lambert returned to the city 34 years later as Britain’s ambassador.
His first glimpse of Tunis came as the Afrika Korps were being driven back towards the Mediterranean. Lambert was then a lieutenant and the intelligence officer of the 3rd Battalion of the Grenadier Guards. When the regiment forced its way into the coastal town of Hamman Lif, he was sent ahead to the palace there to seize the bey as a