Captain Richard Wallace AnnandVC, ERD, DL was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
In 1933, Annand joined the Tyne Division of the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve as a midshipman. He was promoted to Sub-Lieutenant in 1936 and completed both a navigation and a gunnery course. In 1937 he applied for a commission in the Royal Navy but was refused because of his age. Annand was commissioned into the Supplementary Reserve of Officers as a Second Lieutenant of the Durham Light Infantry on 29 January 1938. He was promoted to Captain on 28 January 1948. He relinquished his commission due to disability on 29 December 1948 but retained the rank of Captain.
For most conspicuous gallantry on the 15th–16th May 1940, when the platoon under his command was on the south side of the River Dyle, astride a blown bridge. During the night a strong attack was beaten off, but about 11 a.m. the enemy again launched a violent attack and pushed forward a bridging party into the sunken bottom of the river. Second Lieutenant Annand attacked this party, but when ammunition ran out he went forward himself over open ground, with total disregard for enemy mortar and machine-gun fire. Reaching the top of the bridge, he drove out the party below, inflicting over twenty casualties with hand grenades. Having been wounded he rejoined his platoon, had his wound dressed, and then carried on in command. Richard Annand's platoon sergeant said later "Mr Annand came to me at platoon headquarters and asked for a box of grenades as they could hear Jerry trying to repair the bridge. Off he went and he sure must have given them a lovely time because it wasn't a great while before he was back for more. During the evening another attack was launched and again Second 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, but learning on the way back that his batman was wounded and had been left behind, he returned at once to the former position and brought him back in a wheelbarrow, before losing consciousness as the result of wounds.
Later life
On 11 February 1956, Annand became a Deputy Lieutenant for the County of Durham. Upon retirement from the military, and because of the injuries he sustained during World War II, Annand became involved in helping disabled people. He was a founder member of the British Association for the Hard of Hearing, which became Hearing Concern in 1963, and was also involved in the founding of the Durham County Association for the Disabled. Richard Annand died at Durham shortly after his 90th birthday on 24 December 2004. His service uniform and his Victoria Cross are on display in the Durham Light Infantry Museum.
Awards and decorations
Medal entitlement of Captain Richard Annand – 2nd Bn, Durham Light Infantry
