World War II Victoria Cross Recipient. Born in South Shields, England, he served as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 2nd Battalion, Durham Light Infantry, British Army. On May 15, 1940, 2nd Lieutenant Annand was in command of a platoon in advance at the River Dyle, Belgium. During the night a strong German attack was beaten off, the enemy again launched a violent attack and pushed forward a bridging party. 2nd Lieutenant Annand attacked this party, but when ammunition ran out he went forward himself over open ground. Reaching the top of the bridge, he drove out the party below, inflicting over twenty casualties with hand grenades and was wounded. He rejoined his platoon, had his wound dressed and then carried on in command. During the next day another attack was launched and again 2nd Lieutenant Annand went forward with hand grenades and inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy. When the order to withdraw was received, he withdrew his platoon, then went back to retrieve a wounded and brought him back to a safe position before losing consciousness as the result of his own wounds. For most conspicuous gallantry, he was the Army's first person awarded the Victoria Cross in World War II on August 20, 1940 and later achieved the rank of Captain. After the war, he was a founder member of the British Association for the Hard of Hearing and involved in the founding of the Durham County Association for the Disabled. He died at age 90 in Whitesmocks, England.
World War II Victoria Cross Recipient. Born in South Shields, England, he served as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 2nd Battalion, Durham Light Infantry, British Army. On May 15, 1940, 2nd Lieutenant Annand was in command of a platoon in advance at the River Dyle, Belgium. During the night a strong German attack was beaten off, the enemy again launched a violent attack and pushed forward a bridging party. 2nd Lieutenant Annand attacked this party, but when ammunition ran out he went forward himself over open ground. Reaching the top of the bridge, he drove out the party below, inflicting over twenty casualties with hand grenades and was wounded. He rejoined his platoon, had his wound dressed and then carried on in command. During the next day another attack was launched and again 2nd Lieutenant Annand went forward with hand grenades and inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy. When the order to withdraw was received, he withdrew his platoon, then went back to retrieve a wounded and brought him back to a safe position before losing consciousness as the result of his own wounds. For most conspicuous gallantry, he was the Army's first person awarded the Victoria Cross in World War II on August 20, 1940 and later achieved the rank of Captain. After the war, he was a founder member of the British Association for the Hard of Hearing and involved in the founding of the Durham County Association for the Disabled. He died at age 90 in Whitesmocks, England.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
Family Members
Advertisement
See more Annand memorials in:
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
