Bernard Vann
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant Colonel Bernard William Vann VC
MC & Bar
) (9 July 1887 - 3 October 1918) was an English
recipient of the Victoria Cross
, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British
and Commonwealth
forces.
, Northamptonshire
and graduated from Jesus College, Cambridge
. He was ordained as a minister and became Chaplain at Wellingborough School
(1913–15). He was a footballer who as a centre-forward assisted Northampton Town and in 1906 played 12 games for Burton United F.C.
(who were then a League club) before making his three League appearances for Derby County
in 1906-07.
in the 1/8th Battalion, The Sherwood Foresters (The Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment), British Army
, comd. 1/6th Battalion during the First World War
.
He was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions on 29 September 1918 at Bellenglise
and Lehaucourt
, France
, where he led his battalion across the Canal du Nord through thick fog and under heavy fire. He secured his troops' advance by rushing up to the firing line and leading the line forward himself.
, shot by a sniper
at Ramicourt
, France
, on 3 October 1918.
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
MC & Bar
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
) (9 July 1887 - 3 October 1918) was an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
recipient of the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
forces.
Early life
Vann was born in RushdenRushden
Rushden is a town and civil parish in the county of Northamptonshire, England.The parish of Rushden covers an area of some and is part of the district of East Northamptonshire. The population of Rushden was estimated at around 28,368, making it the fifth largest town in the county...
, Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire is a landlocked county in the English East Midlands, with a population of 629,676 as at the 2001 census. It has boundaries with the ceremonial counties of Warwickshire to the west, Leicestershire and Rutland to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Bedfordshire to the south-east,...
and graduated from Jesus College, Cambridge
Jesus College, Cambridge
Jesus College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The College was founded in 1496 on the site of a Benedictine nunnery by John Alcock, then Bishop of Ely...
. He was ordained as a minister and became Chaplain at Wellingborough School
Wellingborough School
Wellingborough School is an independent fee-paying day school in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, England. It was established in 1595 and is one of the oldest schools in the country.-History:...
(1913–15). He was a footballer who as a centre-forward assisted Northampton Town and in 1906 played 12 games for Burton United F.C.
Burton United F.C.
Burton United Football Club was an English football club from Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire that played in The Football League between 1901 and 1907, before folding in 1910.-History:...
(who were then a League club) before making his three League appearances for Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
in 1906-07.
VC action
He was 31 years old, and an Acting Lieutenant ColonelLieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
in the 1/8th Battalion, The Sherwood Foresters (The Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment), British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
, comd. 1/6th Battalion during the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
He was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions on 29 September 1918 at Bellenglise
Bellenglise
Bellenglise is a commune in the department of Aisne in Picardy in northern France.-Geography:The village lies close to the N44, in a loop of the St Quentin Canal, nine kilometres north of St. Quentin.-History:...
and Lehaucourt
Lehaucourt
Lehaucourt is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France....
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, where he led his battalion across the Canal du Nord through thick fog and under heavy fire. He secured his troops' advance by rushing up to the firing line and leading the line forward himself.
Citation
He was killed in actionKilled in action
Killed in action is a casualty classification generally used by militaries to describe the deaths of their own forces at the hands of hostile forces. The United States Department of Defense, for example, says that those declared KIA need not have fired their weapons but have been killed due to...
, shot by a sniper
Sniper
A sniper is a marksman who shoots targets from concealed positions or distances exceeding the capabilities of regular personnel. Snipers typically have specialized training and distinct high-precision rifles....
at Ramicourt
Ramicourt
Ramicourt is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France....
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, on 3 October 1918.