THE VICTORIA CROSS, MILITARY MEDAL AND CROIX DE GUERRE AWARDED TO LIEUTENANT COLONEL BERNARD VANN, THE SHERWOOD FORESTERS, HAVE NOW BEEN REUNITED WITH HIS FIRST WORLD WAR CAMPAIGN MEDALS. |
---|
10 July 2020 |
The Victoria Cross, Military Cross and Croix de Guerre awarded to Lieutenant Colonel Bernard Vann, 8th Bn, Sherwood Foresters, were acquired privately by the Lord Ashcroft Victoria Cross Collection in May 2011. At the time Bernard Vann's First World War trio of 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal were not included in the acquisition. However, this has now been rectified by the VC Collection recently acquiring the WWI campaign medals privately from the Vann family ensuring that the Bernard Vann Victoria Cross medal group is now complete. |
For the award of the Victoria Cross [ London Gazette, 14 December 1918 ], Canal du Nord, France, 29 September 1918, Captain ( Acting Lieutenant Colonel ) Bernard William Vann, 1 / 8th Bn, The Sherwood Foresters ( Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment ), Commanding 1 / 6th Bn, Sherwood Foresters ( T.F.)
For most conspicuous bravery, devotion to duty and fine leadership during the attack at Bellenglise and Lehaucourt on September 29th 1918.
![]()
For the award of the Military Cross ( MC )
[ London Gazette, 15 September 1915 ], Second Lieutenant Bernard William Vann, Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment.
At Ypres on 31 July 1915, and subsequent days, he ably assisted another officer to hold the left trench of the line, setting a fine example to those around him. On various occasions he has led patrols up to the enemy's trenches and obtained valuable information.
![]()
For the award of a Bar to the Military Cross ( MC )
[ London Gazette, 14 November 1916 ], Lieutenant ( Temporary Captain ) Bernard William Vann, MC, Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment
Bernard Vann was killed by a sniper on 3 October 1918 at Rammicourt, and is buried in the Bellicourt British Cemetery, 12 miles East of Peronne. |
Iain Stewart, 10 July 2020