Captain Richard Annand, V.C.
On May 15th 1940, during the Wehrmacht’s advance in Belgium on the River Dyle, Richard Annand, then a Platoon Commander, won the British Army’s first Victoria Cross while serving with 2nd Battalion, Durham Light Infantry.
Annand was awarded the VC for his courageous actions during a fierce attack, going on foot over open ground three times to enemy lines to launch hand grenades and also rescuing his wounded batman, Private Joseph Hunter. Annand realised that Hunter was missing and on finding him wounded, used a wheelbarrow to take him to safety.
Captain Annand later said “Every man who was with me deserves a medal”.
Richard Annand was born in South Shields, the son of Wallace Moir Annand a Naval Lieutenant. He later went on to train young soldiers, members of the Home Guard and Commandos.
A campaign, led by the DLI, appealed to local business and partners to raise the funding for the statues of the two local heroes now installed in the Town Hall.”
Richard Annand is remembered at Durham on D47.071, D47.096, D47.117, D47.140 and in South Shields on S86.164
