Richard Wallace Annand (5 November 1914 – 24 December 2004) 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. November 5 is the 309th day of the year (310th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 56 days remaining. ... 1914 is a common year starting on Thursday. ... December 24 is the 358th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (359th in leap years). ... 2004 is a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Royal motto: Dieu et mon droit (French: God and my right) Englands location within the UK Official language English de facto Capital London de facto Largest city London Area  - Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 km² Population  - Total (2001)  - Density Ranked 1st UK 49,138,831 377/km² Religion... Victoria Cross, Source: Veterans Affairs Canada The Victoria Cross (official post-nominal letters VC) is the highest award for valour that can be awarded to members of the British and Commonwealth armed forces of any rank in any service and civilians under military command. ... Flag of the Commonwealth of Nations The Commonwealth of Nations is an association of independent sovereign states, most of which are former colonies once governed by the United Kingdom as part of the British Empire. ...

Details

"Dickie" Annand was 25 years old, and a Second Lieutenant in the 2nd Bn., The Durham Light Infantry, British Army during the Second World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC. Second Lieutenant is the lowest commissioned rank in many armed forces. ... The British Army is the land armed forces branch of the British military. ... Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km into the air. ...

On 15 May 1940, near the River Dyle, Belgium, Second Lieutenant Annand inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy with hand grenades. He was wounded, but after having his wound dressed, he made another attack on the enemy the same evening. Later, when the position became hopeless and the platoon was ordered to withdraw, Lieutenant Annand discovered that his batman was wounded and missing. He returned at once to the former position and brought him back in a wheelbarrow before fainting from loss of blood.

This was the first Victoria Cross won by the British Army in the Second World War. May 15 is the 135th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (136th in leap years). ... 1940 was a leap year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... A batman is a soldier assigned to a commissioned officer as a personal servant. ...

He later achieved the rank of Captain. Richard Annand died on December 24, 2004. Captain is both a nautical term and a military rank. ... December 24 is the 358th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (359th in leap years). ... 2004 is a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

References

• British VCs of World War 2 (John Laffin, 1997)
• Monuments To Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
• The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
• Victoria Cross Society (Victoria Cross Society, 2004)

The link leads to a list of all Victoria Crosses awarded since it was instituted in 1856. ... Monuments To Courage is a book by David Harvey, published in 1999. ... The Register of the Victoria Cross A list of all 1350 Victoria Crosses with details of each recipient ISBN 0906324033 Publisher: Cheltenham: This England Books; 1981 Size: 8vo - over 7 3/4 - 9 3/4 Pagination: 303 + 4. ...

External links

• Second Lieutenant R.W. Annand (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/theartofwar/valgal/valour/INF3_0410.htm) in The Art of War exhibition at the UK National Archives
• Richard Annand (http://www.magicnet.net/~westham/vc04.html)
• Victoria Cross Society (http://www.victoriacrosssociety.com/news.htm)
• Burial location of Richard Annand (http://www.victoriacross.org.uk/codurham.htm) "Co Durham"

This page has been migrated from the Victoria Cross Reference (http://www.victoriacross.net) with permission. The National Archives is a British Governmental organisation created in April 2003. ...