Thread by @VoicesofWW2

🧵Today, let’s remember Michael Allmand, a young British officer whose courage in World War 2 earned him the Victoria Cross, the UK’s highest award for gallantry.

His story is remarkable—and tragically brief 👇

1/ Michael Allmand was born on 16 February 1923 in Surrey, England. Educated at Stonyhurst College, he was known for his intelligence, determination, and a quiet sense of duty from a young age.

2/ At the end of 1942, amidst the backdrop of World War II, Allmand left university and joined the British Indian Army. He was commissioned into the Indian Armoured Corps, and assigned to the 6th Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers.

Allmand was sent to India where, following a call from GHQ India, he volunteered for service with the Chindits during Operation Thursday and was subsequently attached to the 3rd Battalion, 6th Gurkha Rifles (3/6 GR).

3/ Beginning on 6 June, the 77th Brigade advanced the final 10 miles (16 km) to Mogaung with the intent of capturing it.

Between monsoonal rains and heavy casualties from the fighting as well as tropical diseases, the advance took a heavy toll on the Chindits. They were facing over 4,000 Japanese, and by the end of the first week the brigade, having started with over 2,000 men, was down to just 550 and each battalion was at company strength.

4/ Initially, Allmand was given command of a platoon.

On 11 June, two days after 3/6 GR had reached the outskirts of the town, Allmand's platoon was tasked with capturing a road bridge about 0.25 miles (0.40 km) away from the central railway station, close to where the Japanese had established their headquarters in a building dubbed the "Red House".

During the assault, his platoon took heavy fire and the attack stalled; leading from the front, Allmand went ahead, rallying his troops as he attacked the defenders with grenades and his kukri.

Later he was promoted to acting captain and took over command of a company following the loss of its commander. He was again in the thick of the fighting on 13 June, when he led an assault to secure some high ground by singlehandedly destroying several machine-gun positions.

5/ On 23 June, during the final stages of the advance on Mogaung, Allmand's company was tasked with capturing Natyigon village and securing the railway bridge that spanned the Mogaung River.

Attacking to the left of the "Red House", Allmand's company was held up by machine-gun fire from an embankment near the bridge, Allmand went forward again. His movement was hampered by severe trench foot due to the poor conditions that the Chindits had faced. He nevertheless fought his way "through deep mud and shell-holes" and knocked out the machine-gun with grenades before being wounded.

A short time later, another member of 3/6 GR, Tul Bahadur Pun, charged the bridge singlehandedly, killing the remaining Japanese defenders and securing it for the Gurkhas. Both Tul Bahadur and Allmand were later nominated for the Victoria Cross.

6/ It was largely due to Allmand's bravery that Mogaung was captured.

Although he was pulled out of the line of fire by another Gurkha – Sergeant Tilbir Gurung, who received the Military Medal for his act – Allmand subsequently died of his wounds early on 24 June. At the time he was just two months short of his twenty-first birthday.

His Victoria Cross was awarded posthumously and was presented to his family by King George VI at Buckingham Palace on 17 July 1945, having been announced in the London Gazette on 26 October 1944.

7/ Allmand also received the following other decorations: the 1939–1945 Star, the Burma Star and the War Medal 1939–1945.

Allmand's body is interred at the Taukkyan War Cemetery, in Burma.

8/ The citation in the London Gazette which announced Allmand's award reads:

"Captain Allmand was commanding the leading platoon of a Company of the 6th Gurkha Rifles in Burma on 11th June, 1944, when the Battalion was ordered to attack the Pin Hmi Road Bridge. The enemy had already succeeded in holding up our advance at this point for twenty four hours. The approach to the Bridge was very narrow as the road was banked up and the low-lying land on either side was swampy and densely covered in jungle. The Japanese who were dug in along the banks of the road and in the jungle with machine guns and small arms, were putting up the most desperate resistance. As the platoon come within twenty yards of the Bridge, the enemy opened heavy and accurate fire, inflicting severe casualties and forcing the men to seek cover. Captain Allmand, however, with the utmost gallantry charged on by himself, hurling grenades into the enemy gun positions and killing three Japanese himself with his kukrie.

Inspired by the splendid example of their platoon commander the surviving men followed him and captured their objective. Two days later Captain Allmand, owing to casualties among the officers, took over command of the Company and, dashing thirty yards ahead of it through long grass and marshy ground, swept by machine gun fire, personally killed a number of enemy machine gunners and successfully led his men onto the ridge of high ground that they had been ordered to seize. Once again on June 23rd in the final attack on the Railway Bridge at Mogaung, Captain Allmand, although suffering from trench-foot, which made it difficult for him to walk, moved forward alone through deep mud and shell-holes and charged a Japanese machine gun nest single-handed, but he was mortally wounded and died shortly afterwards.

The superb gallantry, outstanding leadership and protracted heroism of this very brave officer were a wonderful example to the whole Battalion and in the highest traditions of his regiment."

9/ Today, we honor Michael Allmand, not just as a soldier, but as a young man who embodied extraordinary heroism. His legacy reminds us of the sacrifices made in the jungles of Burma during WWII.

Let’s never forget the bravery of people like Michael Allmand—ordinary young men performing extraordinary acts in the face of unimaginable danger.