For the first part of 1918, Vann spent periods in hospital or on leave. In June 1918, Vann took over command of &lt;a href="High%20Peak%20Rifles"&gt;1/6th Battalion Sherwood Foresters&lt;/a&gt;. On 29 September 1918, during the Battle of St Quentin Canal, he led his battalion across the canal through thick fog and under heavy fire. He secured his troops' advance by rushing up to the firing line and leading the advance forward himself. Of his battalion, nearly 30 men were killed and over a hundred others were wounded in this engagement. A few days later, on 3 October 1918, he was again leading his battalion, this time across the Beaurevoir-Bonsomme Line, near Ramicourt, when he was killed in action by a sniper.