Killed in action aged 34
Buried at St Sever Cemetery near Rouen
Henry Cecil was the first son, and heir apparent of Henry de Vere (Vane) 9th Baron Barnard of Raby Castle, County Durham, and Lady Catherine Sarah Cecil.
His maternal grandparents were William Alleyne Cecil 3rd Marquess of Exeter and Lady Georgina Sophia Packenham, second daughter of Thomas Packenham,
2nd Earl of Longford.
Following family tradition he was educated Eton, and graduated BA from Christ Church in 1900.
When he left University he began his career in the service of 4th Battalion Durham Light Infantry in which he held a captain’s commission. Three years after his graduation, in 1903, he became aide-de-Camp to Oliver Russell, 2nd Baron Ampthill, twice Governor of Madras, who was, like Vane‘s father, a member of the Royal Alpha Lodge. In his capacity as aide-de-camp he subsequently acted for James Thompson and Sir Gabriel Stokes. He left this position in 1907.
On 25 August 1914 he married the Lady Enid Victoria Rachel Fane, daughter of Anthony Mildmay Julian Fane, 13th Earl of Westmoreland and Sybil Fane, Countess of Westmoreland. They had no children.
Vane was a keen huntsman and Master of the Foxhounds for the Zetland Hunt from 1909 until his premature death, renowned as a ‘gallant officer’ and gentleman.
He was a member of the Marlborough gentleman’s club, and the Yorkshire Club.
He went into active service on 23 November 1914 and in the service of the Yorkshire Hussars Yeomanry he gained the rank of Captain and then Major serving in France and Belgium. He was injured in the conflict in October 1917, and died of his wounds in hospital later that month.
A memorial plaque to Henry is in the local Church, Staindrop.
TO THE MEMORY OF
HENRY CECIL VANE,
CAPTAIN R.F.A.(T)
BORN SEPT. 19TH 1882
WHO DIED IN HOSPITAL AT ROUEN,
OCT. 9TH 1917.
OF ILLNESS CONTRACTED ON SERVICE
AND IS BURIED IN THE ST. SEVER CEMETARY.