On the Basra War Memorial, Iraq is the name of 1959 2nd Lieutenant Allan Young Annand, serving with ‘D’ Company, 1st Battalion, (71st Foot) The Highland Light Infantry who died 11/01/1917.

Allan Young Annand, was born the 27th November 1890, at 9 Challoner Terrace, South Shields, the youngest and fifth son to Richard Cumming Annand, (born 24th June 1852, baptised 16th July 1852, died 27th March 1921), and Margaret Annand (nee Young), born 2nd September 1854, died 17th November 1944, of ‘Harton Lea’, South Shields. His father was Managing Director of the Northern Press and Engineering Co. Ltd who died at Ealing, aged 69. He was described in the “Gazette” as a native of Nether Kinmund in the parish of Longside, six miles inland from Peterhead. They were married on the 29th October 1878.
The other children were-

• James Bruce Annand, born on 22nd November 1883, died 9th September 1967, [27003 Sergeant later promoted to Lieutenant, Canadian Highlanders gassed at Ypres], he married a Katherine Symington, on the 7th July 1914, at Camlachie, Lambton, Canada.
• Robert Comyn Annand, born 1882, died 5th December 1938, [married a Beatrice Emmeline Evans on the 28th August 1915].
• William Fraser Annand, born 20th September 1879.
• Wallace Moir Annand born 23rd August 1887, died 4th June 1915.
• Margaret Sara Annand, born 16th February 1889, died 4th February 1972, cremated 10th February, she left £22485 effects. She was residing at Inglewood Green Lane, Crowborough Sussex when she passed away.

The father Richard Cumming Annand was a successful Managing Director and an inventor of printing machines, he had joined the Shields Gazette in 1882 with his brother James Bruce Annand. The family were residing at Challoner Terrace West, but by 1901, Richard bought a large property in Harton village and called it ‘Harton Lea’. Moving in in 1901.
Also in 1901, two sons Robert Comyn Annand and William Fraser Annand were visiting their grand parents in Jersey, a John and Margaret Fraser at St Aubin, at Mount Cambiune La Valetta.

Allan was educated at the South Shields High School, joining 13th September 1899, leaving in July 1905 to attend Merchiston Castle, a boarding School in Edinburgh. In 1891 he was residing at 9 Challoner Terrace West, before moving to ‘Harton Lea’, Harton, South Shields. He served his articles as a Solicitor with Messrs Hannay and Hannay, South Shields. Allan passed his first examination of the Incorporated Law Society, and then the final examinations with Honours in June 1913, after which he was appointed to a post in the office of the Official Trustee.

Allan joined the 28th Battalion, County of London Regiment (Artist’s Rifles) on the 1st September 1914 at Dukes Road, Euston, London, as a private, after the outbreak of War. He embarked on the 29th December 1914 from Southampton, and joined his Battalion on the 12th January 1915 in the field. He served with the British Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from December 1914 to the 10th June 1915. He was 6 feet 1 and a half inches tall. His residence address was 45 Callcott Road. London NW.

Allan embarked at Marseilles on the 12th December 1915 and arrived at Basrah [sic] on the 11th January 1916.

Allan then was gazetted a 2nd Lieutenant in the 1st Battalion Highland Light Infantry on the 11th June 1916. He served with the India Expeditionary Force from December. He was wounded severely in the right shoulder at Es Sinn-a-Gat in Iraq, on the 8th March 1916. He was taken to the 19th Casualty Clearing Station then on to the 3A Base Stationery Hospital at Basra.

He re-joins his regiment on the 9th April and was now acting temporary Captain from the 18th May 1916, for about eight months, until he relinquished the rank on the 26th November 1916. He was sent on a Machine gun course on the 2nd July 1916 at Amara, which he completed by the 27th July. Allan returns to his battalion and re-joins them in the field on the 5th August. He is then posted into the Machine gun company. He was killed in action at Kut-el-Amara on the night 10/11th January 1917, while leading his men in a bombing attack.

‘He went out with half a company of men. They passed along the trench driving out the Turks until they came to a cross wire entanglement which impeded their progress and apparently put a stop to further advance. Allan was shot at this point, the rest of the party fell back, the Turks then counter attacked’.

Also his personnel officers kit was missing, it was lost on board SS Polam Hall, [sic] (not listed) due to enemy action in the Mediterranean. His personal identity disc was returned, this had been found on a Turkish prisoner.

His Company Commander wrote:- “If anyone deserves praise it was 2nd Lieutenant Annand, who not only led his men with great gallantry, but kept a firm grip of them in a rather difficult situation. He had been with the battalion longer than the most of us and was very much liked by us all. His hearty laugh and good-tempered cheerfulness will be very much missed, as will also be, especially at this time, his experience and sound common sense, and his Captain The Regiment has lost a loyal and brave officer, we his brothers officer a splendid comrade, and the world a very gallant gentleman”.

A brother officer also wrote:- For many months past I have been in constant friendship with your boy, and can truly say he was beloved by us all, officers and men alike. How greatly we deplore and grieve his death I find it too difficult to tell you, but it is a consolation to know how bravely and noble he met his death, at the head of his men, leading them forward on a bombing affray. I know he would have wished no finer death.

Allan was unmarried. Richard Cumming Annand his father had moved to Inglewood, Coventry by March 1917.

His probate records disclose that his father Robert Cumming Annand, gentleman, collected his effects to the value of £248 12s 1d.

His brothers James Bruce Annand [1883-1967], and Wallace Moir Annand also fought in the First World War. James Bruce survived the war but his brother Wallace did not. Wallace left behind a wife and 7 month old son, Richard Wallace Chapman Annand. Richard was also to go to War as a Captain in the Durham Light Infantry, and in 1940 was the first soldier of the British Army to receive the Victoria Cross in the Second World War.

Source: De Ruvigny Roll of Honour; Mike Todd; Peter Hoy; South Shields Local History; The Bugle; The British Newspaper Archive.

Allan Young Annand is not remembered on a North East War Memorial.