VC hero bridges gap to family
May 21, 2003
A HERO who won the Victoria Cross in the Korean War has been honoured 50 years on in his home town.
Civic leaders gathered in Altrincham to name a bridge after Private Bill Speakman, who won his medal in 1951 for braving Chinese shell and mortar fire, despite being severely injured.
After a rain-soaked ceremony on Speakman's Bridge, 75-year-old Bill, who has lived in South Africa for the last 40 years, spoke of his joy at returning home and being reunited with his brother and sister.
He said he was now planning to leave Cape Town for good to return to Altrincham in two years' time.
Drummer boy
Bill, born in Altrincham and educated at Wellington Boys' School, in Timperley, spent his spare time as a drummer boy with the Army cadets, but was told by his teachers that he would never make a soldier.
He went on to become a private in the Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) attached to the King's Own Scottish Borderers - and used his 6ft 6in frame to devastating effect on the enemy and led charge after charge on Hill 217 against waves of Chinese attacks.
He showed determined aggression and complete disregard for his own safety, although he says tales that he threw beer bottles after he ran out of grenades were fantasy.
"Where would you get bottles of beer from?" he said. "Whoever started the story, it seems to have caught on."
Stones
Nevertheless, he became known as "the beer bottle VC" and he added: "It's true we did run out of ammunition and we were in darkness, so you pick up what you can get your hands on - fallen weapons or stones."
After leaving the Army, Bill served on board a passenger ship sailing between Southampton and South Africa.
His delighted sister, Ann Stringer, 65, said: "It's been really nice to have him back. We don't realise how people have missed him."
Major Gavin Leathall, company commander of the First Battalion, the King's Own Scottish Borderers, who brought a piper for the honour ceremony, said Bill remained the unit's only surviving VC winner and was often held up as an example to new recruits.
"As a soldier, you live by the yard-stick of your forebears and there's no better example than Bill," he said.
"He is very much part of our regiment's history. Every time we have dinner in the officer's mess, his painting looks down at me."
www.altyfans.co.uk » General Category » Altrincham FC First Team
Nowt to do with Football but Alty related...
Author
Topic: Nowt to do with Football but Alty related... (Read 9531 times)