Commemorated: | |||
Awards & Titles: | Companion of The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael & St. George Officer, The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire Military Cross 1914-15 Star British War Medal Victory Medal Territorial Decoration | ||
Early Life :
The Honourable Christopher William Vane CMG OBE MC TD (Later 10th Baron Barnard).Christopher was born 1888 to Henry de Vere (9th Baron Barnard) and Lady Catharine Sarah Cecil. He had two brothers, Henry Cecil (b.1882-d.1917) and Ralph Frederick (b.1891-d.1928). As the first heir, Henry Cecil, died during the Great War it left Christopher as the heir apparent. He was educated at Eton and then at Trinity College, Cambridge.
Family :
He married Sylvia Mary Straker at St Agatha's, Gilling West on 14th October, 1920, and later had three children: The Hon. Rosemary Myra Vane (b.1921–d.1999), Harry John Neville Vane, 11th Baron Barnard (b.1923) and The Hon. Gerald Raby Vane (b.1926).Service Life:
Campaigns:
- The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.
| Unit / Ship / Est.: Cumberland & Westmorland Yeomanry |
| Action : War Survivor |
Although many perished in times of national conflict and in the service of their country, many more survived including those interned as Prisoners of War. Stories of those who did survive are included as part of this site, especially those with high gallantry awards, those included against an external rolls of honour and those who had a distinguished career in wartime and military leaderhip.
Detail :
Christopher was serving with the Westmoreland and Cumberland Yeomanry and in the trenches when he was awarded the Military Cross for "conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. His company was the last of the battalion to evacuate the trenches. He remained behind until all his men were clear, and assisted in giving covering fire with the last platoon, although badly wounded. He set a fine example and cheered his men on, quite regardless of his own safety." LG Issue 30813 dated 23/07/1918. He was twice badly wounded during the war, severely in the hip.
For his service he was awarded the 1914-1915 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. For his services to the Territorials, he was awarded the Territorial Decoration.
Following the war, he served with the 6th (Territorial) Battalion, Durham Light Infantry as a Major and was later granted an Honorary Colonel.
He died on the Royal Victoria Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne. He is commemorated on the Staindrop Roll of Honour.
Masonic :
| Type | Lodge Name and No. | Province/District : |
|---|---|---|
| Mother : | Isaac Newton University No. 859 E.C. | Cambridgeshire |
| Joined : | Rose of Raby No. 1650 E.C. | Durham |
| Joined : | Lambton No. 375 E.C. | Durham |
Initiated | Passed | Raised |
26th October 1909 | 30th November 1909 | 1st February 1909 |
He was one of nine initiated into the Isaac Newton University Lodge No. 859 on the same day in 1909, but his subscriptions stopped after 1910 with no reason given, although he appears to have moved on by joining Lambton Lodge on 10th November 1911 where he maintained his dues up to 1921 at least. He was recorded as a student at Trinity College, Cambridge. He became a joining member of Rose of Raby listed as BARNARD, 27th February 1912. His father, the Hon Henry de Vere Vane, was a member of these two latter lodges, with other members of his family patronising the Craft.
His father Henry, was the Provincial Grand Master for Durham (1900-????).
His son, Henry John Neville also joined Freemasonry via Agricola Lodge, going on to become the Provincial Grand Master of Durham from 1969 to 1998 (over 28 years).
See also: Freemasonry Matters.
Source :
The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:
- The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
- The (UK) National Archives
- Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
- ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry
Additional Source:
- Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
- Researcher : Bruce Littley