Capt. Robert Arnold Vansittart, FRCS, MBE

Robert Arnold Vansittart was born on 21st Oct 1851 and lived at Foots Cray Place, a Palladian style mansion, in Kent. He was attached to the Lanarkshire (southern Scotland) Yeomanry until 1st Oct 1886, and then served with the 7th Dragoon Guards in the Boer War. In later life he was the recruiting officer for the Ministry of National Service. He was invested by the Royal College of Surgeons (FRCS) and awarded the MBE. He died at the age of 86 on 8th Jan 1938 and was buried at St James's Church, North Cray.

He had 3 sons and 3 daughters including the famous Robert Gilbert Vansittart (see below) who was born in 1881 and became a senior diplomat and private secretary to the Prime Minister from 1928-30. He was very critical of Germany, warning of German aggression between the wars and advocated the total re-education of the German people. He was also a poet and playwright and became Lord Vansittart of Bexley. The other sons were Arnold Bexley Vansittart and Guy Nicholas Vasittart. -- British Cavalry units

Siblings, from MyHeritage:

1. Catherine Caroline Vansittart m. Campbell 1846 - 1918
2. Fanny Vansittart m. Long 1848 - 1932
3. Bertha Vansittart ~1849 - 1932
4. Edith Vansittart m. Wethered 1850 - ?
5. Robert Arnold 1851-1938
6. Mary Emily Vansittart 1855 - 1928
7. Martha Louisa Charlotte? Vansittart m. Cox 1856 - 1889
8. Constance Mary Vansittart m. Long 1858 - ?
9. Evelyn Jane Vansittart m. Neave 1862 - 1934

Children, from MyHeritage:

1. Sibell Alice Vansittart 1879 - 1981
2. Robert Gilbert Vansittart b. 1881-d. 1957
3. Honoria Edith Vansittart 1883 - 1962
4. Arnold Bexley Vansittart 1890 - 1915
5. Marjorie Marie Vansittart 1888 - 1982
6. Guy Nicholas Vansittart 1893 - 1989
7. Audrey Bexley Vansittart 1896 - 1897

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Robert Arnold Vansittart was born on 21 October 1851. He was the son of Colonel Robert Vansittart (1811-1872) and Elizabeth Harriet Fleming. He married Susan Alice Blane, daughter of G. J. Blane, on 30 July 1878. He died on 8 January 1938 at age 86 {New York Times obituary}.

He gained the rank of Captain in the 7th Dragoon Guards. He was appointed Fellow, Royal College of Surgeons (F.R.C.S.) He was appointed Member, Order of the British Empire (M.B.E.)1 He lived at Foots Cray Place, Kent, England. -- The Peerage.

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Son Robert Gilbert Vansittart, 1st Baron Vansittart GCB GCMG MVO PC (25 June 1881 – 14 February 1957), known as Sir Robert Vansittart between 1929 and 1941, was a senior British diplomat in the period before and during the Second World War. He was Principal Private Secretary to the Prime Minister from 1928 to 1930 and Permanent Under-Secretary at the Foreign Office from 1930 to 1938 and later served as Chief Diplomatic Adviser to the British Government. He is best remembered for his opposition to appeasement and his strong stance against Germany during and after the Second World War. Vansittart was also a published poet, novelist and playwright.