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The only known image of Bernard Vann VC, here in his military uniform rather than his Derby County strip

LIEUTENANT COLONEL THE REV. BERNARD WILLIAM VANN was awarded the Victoria Cross in World War One but did not live to wear the medal. He was killed in action near the village of Ramicourt, France, on October 3, 1918, aged 31.

In common with the handful of other Victoria Cross recipients with Derbyshire links, Bernard Vann's story is a heroic one. Yet additional curiosity attaches itself to Vann by way of his ability as a footballer. A schoolmaster by profession, he was teaching at Ashby Grammar School when he made three appearances as an amateur for Derby County towards the end of the 1906-07 season. As such he is unique in the club's history - the only VC to play for the Rams. He was a centre-forward, but failed to find the net in any of his three games.

Bernard Vann was born at Rushden, Northamptonshire, on July 9, 1887. After graduating from Jesus College, Cambridge, he was ordained as a minister and became a schoolmaster. As a centre-forward he assisted Northampton Town and in 1906 played 12 games for Burton United (who were then a League club) before making his three League appearances for Derby County in 1906-07. From 1913-15 he was chaplain and history master at Wellingborough School, and in December 1917 he married Doris Victoria Beck, born in Ontario, Canada.

Instead of going to war as a padre, he cast off clerical dress, donned khaki, and went to the front with the Sherwood Foresters. His VC was won on September 29, 1918 at Bellenglise and Lehaucourt, France, when Lieutenant Colonel Vann led his battalion across the Canal du Nord through a thick fog and under heavy fire. When the advance was held up, he led the line forward to attack a battery of field guns, himself capturing three by shooting the artillerymen. The annals of the 6th battalion record that ‘two German gunners were severely maimed by his riding crop’.

He was killed four days later by a sniper’s bullet and was awarded his VC posthumously. During the course of the war he also won the Military Cross and Bar and, from the French, the Croix de Guerre with Palm Leaves.

As such Bernard Vann is the most decorated man to play for a professional football club, but because he assisted Derby County for no remuneration he cannot be categorised as 'a professional footballer who won the VC'. That singular honour falls to only one man - Donald Simpson Bell of Bradford Park Avenue - who like Bernard Vann won his Victoria Cross in World War One but died in the conflict.

Chronology suggests that Vann effected a productive liaison with his wife a matter of weeks in advance of his heroic deeds, for their son Bernard Geoffrey Vann was born on June 2, 1919. The father he never saw is buried in France at Bellicourt British Cemetery.

Vann has been regularly overlooked in previous articles honouring 'Victoria Cross heroes with Derbyshire links' - he may only have been 'passing through', but to have appeared for Derby County is surely qualification enough for an honorary citizenship - Bernard Vann VC we salute you!

• Vann, Bernard - Rams player won Victoria Cross

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County:  Derbyshire

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