Allmand VC 75th Commemoration

COMMEMORATION OF THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEATH OF CAPTAIN MICHAEL ALLMAND VC

23 June 2019

On Saturday 23 June 2019 the organise the occasion, did a wonderful job. The service Association commemorated the 75th was attended by the three children of Michael Allmand’s anniversary of the death of Captain sister, Roger and Martin Murphy and Anne Rose, plus a Michael Allmand during the attack strong contingent of their children and grandchildren. It on Mogaung in Burma, for which he was awarded a really was a wonderful turnout from the family. Sadly, posthumous Victoria Cross. Christopher and Bernadette Allmand were committed to a pre-arranged cruise on the Danube. Martin Russell, Before World War II, Michael Allmand, with the the Deputy Lord Lieutenant for Greater London with rest of his family had worshipped at St Edward the special responsibility for Barnet, who had been very Confessor Catholic Church in Golders Green, north involved in organising the commemoration, and his wife London. After the war the parishioners created a Bridget also attended, as did Councillor Lachhya Gurung, beautiful stained-glass window in the church which the Deputy Mayor of Barnet and leader of the Nepalese included the 6 GR badge and the VC in recognition of Burnt Oak Community. With Lachhya, from the Burnt Michael Allmand’s sacrifice, and readers may recall Oak Community came our own Captain Bombahadur the articles and photographs from ceremonies at the Gurung and Jitbahadur Gurung; it was wonderful to church in the 2016 and 2018 Journals. see them both. A small group of four from RGR led by Captain Scott Sears also joined us, as well as a This service was taken by Professor David Lawrence, number of relations and parishioners. The Association a Deacon in formation who, despite the short time to was represented by John Anderson, Paul Pettigrew,

The Allmand family at the Golders Green War Memorial

The 6 GRRA group at the Golders Green War Memorial

Bhagwansing Thapa and Duncan Briggs, as well as Captain Bombahadur.

The church service included a reading of Michael Gurkha soldiers, the Bidding and the Kohima Epitaph, as well as the laying of a wreath by the Deputy Mayor and the 6 GRRA wreath by Anne, Roger and Martin. It was a very moving occasion, so well led by David Lawrence and so nice to include so many generations and people from such different backgrounds, each

Allmand’s VC citation, Sir Ralph Turner’s tribute to with their own link to Michael Allmand.

After some photographs and a small presentation to David Lawrence, we walked to the Golders Green War Memorial on a traffic island just outside the

The group gathered in St Edward the Confessor Catholic Church

Underground Station where, with the traffic circling, we had a second short ceremony. There is a lovely bronze “book” recording the fallen from the borough, but unfortunately Michael Allmand’s name was not included. Some years later, after a campaign led by a local builder, Michael Allmand’s name was added and as such is the most obvious one.

As part of the service a wreath from the Barnett Council was laid by the Deputy Mayor and the 6 GRRA wreath was laid by Captain Bombahadur accompanied by Duncan Briggs.

We all felt that it had been a fitting occasion to honour an extremely brave young man, who had given his life for what he believed in and the country that he loved, plus the many others in 3/6 GR who had fought alongside him. It was particularly gratifying to meet so many from the Allmand family, and we had a lovely message afterwards from both Christopher Allmand and Anne Rose. It was also extremely moving to be able to join so many local people from the Barnet Community.

Duncan Briggs

Captain Bombahadur Gurung laying the 6 GRRA wreath at the Golders Green War Memorial