Upon leaving school he worked at the National Provincial Bank first at South Shields and then in Rugby and finally in London.

[3] "Dickie" Annand was 25 years old, and a second lieutenant in the 2nd Battalion, the Durham Light Infantry, during Operation David when a deed took place on 15 May 1940, near the River Dyle, Gastuche, Belgium, for which he was awarded the VC.

It read as follows:[5] For most conspicuous gallantry on the 15th–16th May 1940, when the platoon under his command was on the south side of the River Dyle, astride a blown bridge.

Second Lieutenant Annand attacked this party, but when ammunition ran out he went forward himself over open ground, with total disregard for enemy mortar and machine-gun fire.

During the evening another attack was launched and again Second Lieutenant Annand went forward with hand grenades and inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy.

[8] Upon retirement from the military, and because of the injuries he sustained during the Second World War, Annand became involved in helping disabled people.

[2] Statues by the sculptor Roger Andrews depicting Annand and Private Thomas Young VC, who served with the Durham Light Infantry in the First World War, were unveiled inside South Shields Town Hall in May 2007.