© Crown Copyright Imperial War Museum (Ref
HU2052)
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Captain Michael Allmand VC,
Chindit |
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Extract from
Supplement
to
The London Gazette
of Tuesday, the 24th of October, 1944
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War Office, 26th
October, 1944
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The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the posthumous award
of the VICTORIA CROSS to :- |
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Lieutenant (acting Captain) Michael Allmand (E.C. 8188), Indian
Armoured Corps (attd. 6th Gurkha Rifles)
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
kukri.
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 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, 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.
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