Arthur Vann

{{Infobox football biography

|name = Arthur Vann

|fullname = Arthur Harrison Allard Vann

|birth_date = 1 May 1884

|birth_place = Bugbrooke, England

|death_date = 25 September 1915 (aged 31)

|death_place = Loos-en-Gohelle, France

|position = Outside left

|youthyears1 =

|youthclubs1 =

|years1 =

|clubs1 = Northampton Town

|caps1 =

|goals1 =

|years2 = 1906

|clubs2 = Burton United

|caps2 = 2

|goals2 = 1

|years3 = 1907

|clubs3 = Derby County

|caps3 = 0

|goals3 = 0

}}

Arthur Harrison Allard Vann (1 May 1884 – 25 September 1915) was a British Army officer killed in the First World War. He had been a professional football outside left who appeared in the Football League for Burton United.{{Cite book|title=Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939|last=Joyce|first=Michael|publisher=Tony Brown|year=2012|isbn=978-1905891610|location=Nottingham|page=295}}

Personal life

Vann was born on 1 May 1884 in Bugbrooke, Northamptonshire. His parents, Alfred George Collins Vann and Hannah Elizabeth Vann were teachers and his younger brother was Bernard William Vann.{{Cite web |url=http://www.jesus.cam.ac.uk/about-jesus-college/history/first-world-war/the-roll-of-honour/vann-bernard-william/ |title=Vann – Bernard William {{!}} Jesus College Cambridge |website=Jesus College, Cambridge|access-date=28 September 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161002080259/http://www.jesus.cam.ac.uk/about-jesus-college/history/first-world-war/the-roll-of-honour/vann-bernard-william/ |archive-date=2 October 2016 |df=dmy-all }} He attended Chichele College, Higham Ferrers, where his father was headmaster.

Vann was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the 5th Battalion, The King's Own (Yorkshire Light Infantry) on 29 June 1908.{{London Gazette |issue=28180 |date=25 September 1908 |page=6952 }} This was a Territorial Force unit. He resigned his commission in August 1911.{{London Gazette |issue=28519 |date=4 August 1911 |page=5809 }}

Both Vann and his brother Bernard attended Jesus College, Cambridge. Bernard matriculated in 1907{{Cite web |url=https://www.jesus.cam.ac.uk/arthur-harrison-allard-vann-captain-and-adjutant-west-yorkshire-regiment |title=Vann – Bernard William {{!}} Jesus College Cambridge |website=www.jesus.cam.ac.uk |access-date=28 September 2016}} and Arthur in 1909, aged 25. He graduated in 1913.{{cite web |title=Arthur Harrison Allard Vann, Captain and Adjutant, West Yorkshire Regiment |url=https://www.jesus.cam.ac.uk/arthur-harrison-allard-vann-captain-and-adjutant-west-yorkshire-regiment |website=Jesus College, Cambridge |access-date=17 January 2019}}

In the First World War, Vann was again commissioned in the Army as a temporary lieutenant on 1 October 1914.{{London Gazette |issue=28969 |date=10 November 1914 |page=9135 }} He served in the 28th (County of London) Battalion of The London Regiment, (The Artists' Rifles){{cite book |last1=Stagoll Higham |first1=S. |title=Artists Rifles. Regmental Roll of Honour and War Record 1914-1919 |date=1922 |publisher=Howlett & Son}} and the West Yorkshire Regiment during the first year of the war.{{cite web|url=http://www.footballandthefirstworldwar.org/arthur-vann-service-record/|title=Arthur Harrison Allard Vann – Service Record – Football and the First World War|access-date=28 September 2016}} He held the rank of captain and was adjutant of the 12th Battalion of the West Yorkshire Regiment when he was killed at the Battle of Loos on 25 September 1915. His body was not recovered and he is commemorated on the Loos Memorial.{{cite web|url=http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/1771225/VANN,%20ARTHUR%20HARRISON%20ALLARD|title=Casualty Details|last=Manchester|first=Reading Room|access-date=28 September 2016}}

Bernard Vann also served, winning a VC and an MC and Bar, before being killed in action in France on 3 October 1918.{{cite web|url=http://www.footballandthefirstworldwar.org/bernard-vann-vc/|title=Bernard Vann VC – Football and the First World War|access-date=28 September 2016}}