Annand, born in Westoe Village, South Shields the son of a naval officer, was very keen to follow in his father's footsteps. In 1933, while working in the South Shields branch of the National and Provincial bank, he became a midshipman in the Tyne division of the RNVR. He applied for a full-time commission in 1938 but was turned down for age reasons.
Annand achieved the great distinction of being the first British Army VC in WWII. He was serving as a second lieutenant with the DLI in Belgium when he showed great gallantry in an action of 15 May 1940. Under heavy fire, he personally attacked a German position with hand grenades. Later, when his company was retreating, he learned that his seriously-wounded batman had been left behind. Though himself wounded, he returned and brought the man back in a wheel-barrow. He then fainted from loss of blood.
After the war, Annand worked as personnel officer at the Finchale Abbey training centre for the disabled, and paid particular attention to obtaining work for his charges. He spent the rest of his life working for the disabled, especially the deaf.
In 1979, he saved his wife from drowning in the Tyne after a dinner aboard HMS Bacchante. Two different headlines appeared in the local press:

WAR HERO RESCUES WIFE FROM DROWNING

DURHAM MAGISTRATE FALLS INTO TYNE AFTER NAVAL PARTY