Wallace Moir Annand was the son of Robert Annand, Managing Director of Northern Press & Engineering, and was one of five Annand brothers who were also at the High School - brothers James and Allan Young also served in the war.

His father was a printing engineer (holding several significant printing patents), but was also Managing Director of Northern Press, and proprietor of the Shields Gazette.

Wallace's uncle, James Annand, became editor of the Newcastle Chronicle and later, the Shields Gazette - but he also holds the record for serving the shortest term as an MP. Having been elected MP for East Aberdeenshire, he died only 16 days later without taking up his seat.

After leaving the High School, Wallace went on to study at Armstrong College in Newcastle. He was to follow in his father's footsteps and work in the newspaper industry as a representative of the Northern Press in South Africa, and also as a Director of the company.

Wallace was already a military man before the war broke out. He had initially joined the Northumberland Fusiliers as a private, and in 1907 joined the Royal Naval Voluntary Reserve as a midshipman with HMS Satellite.

In June, 1914, Wallace joined the Royal Naval Division, and was promoted to Lieutenant. When war broke out, he volunteered for foreign service and found himself initially working as an instructor until, in January 1915, he was appointed Adjutant of the Collingwood Battalion at Blandford Camp. 4 months later, he was appointed Temporary Lieutenant Commander.

The Battalion was posted to the Gallipoli peninsula, and during the third Battle of Krithia on 4-Jun-1915 was to come under extremely heavy fire from the Turks. The Collingwood Battalion suffered heavy casualties, one of which was Wallace Moir Annand.

He was buried in Harton Cemetery, South Shields, and he features on the Helles Memorial at the tip of the Gallipoli peninsula.

He left behind his new wife, Dora Elizabeth Chapman, and a 7-month-old son Richard Wallace Chapman Annand. Richard was also to join the military and rose to Captain in the Durham Light Infantry and, in 1940, was to receive the first Victoria Cross of the Second World War.