Michael Allmand

Michael Allmand (22 August 1923 – 24 June 1944) was an English-French Second World War 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.

Born into a Catholic family in London in 1923, Allmand attended Ampleforth College before studying history at Oxford University in 1941. He joined the British Indian Army in 1942 and was commissioned into the Indian Armoured Corps for service in the Far East.

He later volunteered to serve with the Chindits and in 1944 saw action against the Japanese during the Battle of Mogaung, during which he was killed in action at the age of 20.

Early life

Michael Allmand was born in Golders Green, London, to Professor Arthur John MC and Marguerite Marie Allmand on 22 August 1923. Allmand's father, son of Frank (1858-1948) and Mary Allmand, née Thomas (1861-1918), was a professor of chemistry at King's College London and later dean of the faculty who came from a flour milling family in Wrexham, England (later Wales). The Allmands originated in the Malpas area of Cheshire. Allmand's mother Marguerite hailed from a family of Normans from the Saint-Lô district who were small landowners and professionals. Allmand grew up in a bilingual home, speaking both English and French.

Allmand had a brother, the medieval historian Christopher Allmand (1936–2022), and a sister Marguerite Allmand (1921–2009), later Marguerite Murphy, who was a member of the Auxiliary Territorial Service and worked as a code breaker at Bletchley Park during the Second World War.

thumb|No 5 North Square, Allmands Childhood Home

Allmands childhood home was at No 5 North Square, Hampstead Garden Suburb.

Allmand was educated at Ampleforth College, in North Yorkshire, England, before attending Oriel College, Oxford in 1941 where he began to study history. While at Oxford, Allmand served as the founding editor of a literary review journal called The Wind and the Rain, and began writing a biography of Edmund Burke.

Military career

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.

For the operation, 3/6 GR were assigned to the 77th Brigade, under the command of Brigadier Mike Calvert, and divided into two columns. They were flown in by glider to landing zone BROADWAY in the northern Kaukwe valley on 5 March 1944. Despite heavy casualties and the destruction of a large number of gliders, a stronghold was established and from there columns were sent out to the north and south. The 3/6 GR were sent north towards Mawlu and Hopin where they probed Japanese defences. They were later sent north to another stronghold dubbed "Blackpool" where they were tasked with supporting Chinese forces around Mogaung and Myitkyina under US General Joseph Stilwell, who re-roled them as conventional infantry. Beginning on 6 June, the 77th Brigade advanced the final 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,

Initially, Allmand was given command of a platoon. 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. 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's body is interred at the Taukkyan War Cemetery, in Burma.

Victoria Cross citation

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

Legacy

thumb|Allmands name listed on the memorial pavilion, on the [[Green Park side of Constitution Hill. ]]

The Victoria Cross medal remained in Allmand's family's possession until 1991, when it was presented to the Regimental Trust in Hong Kong. He is also commemorated in John Bunting's Scotch Corners Chapel, a chapel on the edge of the North Yorkshire Moores dedicated to the War dead of Ampleforth College.

thumb|Captain M Allmand VC name tag, apparently added to the book of remembrance after it was installed on the Golders Green War Memorial.

The Michael Allmand Trophy is presented by the Combined Cadet Force contingent at Ampleforth College to the Cadet who scores the highest in their leadership competition. Allmand is also commemorated in the Library of Ampleforth where a painted portrait of him hangs. Allmand's name was added to the Golders Green War Memorial by fixing his name on to the bronze book that commemorates the World War II victims.

References

Notes

External links

Burial location of Michael Allmand
Location of Michael Allmand's Victoria Cross