Frederick William Gadsby Annand was born on 7 May 1872 at Toowoomba, Queensland, to James Annand and Harriet (née Gadsby). He attended school in Toowoomba before working as a government auditor, and married Helen Alice Robinson on 1 June 1898 at Toowoomba. After serving 22 years in the Infantry Light Horse and Field Engineers in Queensland, Annand enlisted with the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) on 12 November 1915 at the age of 43. He was allotted to the 7th Field Company Engineers as a major, and embarked for Egypt from Sydney aboard HMAT Suffolk on 30 November 1915.

In March 1916, Annand was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and command of the 2nd Australian Pioneer Battalion. He left Egypt a week later, disembarking in Marseilles on 26 March 1916. On 15 November 1916 Annand was wounded in the right shoulder and lumbar region and was transferred to the 3rd London General Hospital and then to Cobham Hall in Kent. He was discharged on 9 February 1917 and returned to France to rejoin his battalion.

Annand was mentioned in despatches four times and received the Distinguished Service Order for special devotion to duty and conspicuous good service during the operations at Pozières in July and August 1916. Annand was awarded a Bar to the Distinguished Service Order on 2 April 1919. On 9 December 1919 he was awarded a 2nd Bar to the Distinguished Service Order for his leadership, zeal and energy in ensuring a successful engagement at Montbrehain on 5 October 1918.

Annand left France for England on 19 May 1919. He was employed for a month from 19 June at the English company, Messrs W.A. Sparrow and Co Ltd, before returning to Australia on 22 August 1919. After the war, Annand continued to serve with the militia until his retirement on 19 May 1932. He died on 22 June 1958 in Brisbane.