20 Facts About Michael Allmand

Michael Allmand was an English 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.

Michael Allmand joined the British Indian Army in 1942 and was commissioned into the Indian Armoured Corps for service in the Far East.

Michael Allmand 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.

Michael Allmand was born in Golders Green, London, to Professor Arthur John MC and Marguerite Marie Allmand on 22 August 1923.

Michael Allmand's father, son of Frank and Mary Michael Allmand, nee Thomas, 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.

Michael Allmand grew up in a bilingual home speaking both English and French.

Michael Allmand was raised in a Roman Catholic family, with his father being a convert to the faith and later a Knight of the Order of St Gregory the Great, who were parishioners at St Edward the Confessor Church Golders Green.

Michael Allmand was educated at Ampleforth College, in North Yorkshire, England, before attending Oriel College, Oxford in 1941 where he began to study history.

Michael Allmand was commissioned into the Indian Armoured Corps, and assigned to the 6th Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers.

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

Michael Allmand's movement was hampered by severe trench foot due to the poor conditions that the Chindits had faced.

Michael Allmand nevertheless fought his way "through deep mud and shell-holes" and knocked out the machine-gun with grenades before being wounded.

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

Two days later Captain Michael 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.

Michael Allmand's life is commemorated in the Memorial Window at the St Edward the Confessor Catholic Church in Golders Green, London.

Michael Allmand is named on the Chindit Memorial, Memorial Gates and the Oriel College War memorial.

Michael Allmand is 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.

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.

Michael Allmand is commemorated in the Library of Ampleforth where a painted portrait of him hangs.

Michael 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.