VC holders...

[Don the Mod]

...one immortalised...




...and one on to Valhalla.

[Don the Mod]

Re: VC holders...

What a cracking painting that is.

[downash]

Re: VC holders...

captures the moment.

[trubrit2411]

Re: VC holders...

Is that Bill Speakman of the Cheshires below ?

[Don the Mod]

Re: VC holders...

Is that Bill Speakman of the Cheshires below ?

Yes Tony.

[standinthedoor]

Re: VC holders...

Bill tried P coy around my time, did not pass. Nowt wrong with that, many fail, but I suspect that having a serving soldier around with a VC could have been 'problematical'. Just my opinion.

[Dave Burgess]

Re: VC holders...

Did he go on to serve with 22?

[trubrit2411]

Re: VC holders...

Not Chesires but from Chesire....Looks like England lent him to the Jocks and he went in the Black Watch.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Speakman

[Don the Mod]

Re: VC holders...

Did he go on to serve with 22?

Yes.

William (Bill) Speakman
born 21.9.1927 Altrincham,Cheshire
son of Hannah Speakman (father not known) (died 1998)
stepson of Herbert Houghton (died 1949)
educated Oakfield Road Infants' School,Altrincham
educated Wellington Road Boys' School,Timperley (left 1941)
Cheshire Regiment (A Company,1 Cadet Bn) 1941- August 1945
employed with Churchill Machine Tools until August 1945
enlisted 10.8.1945 Manchester
Private 14471590
General Service Corps
1 Bn Black Watch 1.11.1945
10 Bn Black Watch 1.11.1945
8 Holding Bn Black Watch 2.7.1946
1 Bn London Scottish (Gordon Highlanders) 13.8.1946
1 Special Guards Bn 9.12. 1946
1 Bn Black Watch 14.2.1947
attached Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders 1951
1 Bn King's Own Scottish Borderers (B Company) May 1951
WIA 4.11.1951 Korea
awarded V.C.
Regimental Depot,K.O.S.B. March 1952
1 Bn K.O.S.B. 21.4.1952
22 SAS (C Squadron) (Trooper) April 1953 - 9.7.1954 served in Malaya
1 Bn Royal Scots Fusiliers (D Company) (L/Cpl) 10.7.1954
1 Bn K.O.S.B. 30.6.1956
A/Sergeant 25.3.1957
Corporal September 1957
119 Recruiting Centre,Army Recruiting Staff 10.5.1957
Army Information Office,Dumfries
relinquished rank of A/Sgt 26.1.1959
1 Bn K.O.S.B. (B Company) 26.1.1959
Sergeant 1.7.1961
discharged from Army 11.12.1968 (Sgt)
employed by Union Castle Line 1970
changed surname to Speakman-Pitts early 1970s
moved to South Africa
security and fire adviser,Durban
married Rachel Ann York Snitch 31.12.1955 Singapore (divorced June 1972) (6 children)
married Jill Whitelaw 1970s (divorced) (1 daughter Kate)
married Heather Rooken-Smith (nee Griffin) 25.9.1995 (divorced November 1997)
biography:- Beyond the Legend : Bill Speakman VC by Derek Hunt and John Mulholland (2013)

[bob9739]

Re: VC holders...

He must have had a bloody bad week not to get through P Company. Because that guy has balls a pawnbroker would be proud of !
Agree about the painting what a well captured scene, excellent.

[jim scott]

Re: VC holders...

Bill Speakman ,signed me up for Para Reg , in Dumfries, when I went for National Service enlistment ,in 58

[bob9739]

Re: VC holders...

Pity they never retained it Jim, it might have done some of these youngsters good to have gone through it !

[standinthedoor]

Re: VC holders...

Think we had the last NS man to serve in the Paras, Scots lad named Gavin Stout with MMG's 1 Para. quiet lad, got on with it, never whinged about having to do NS.

[Aussie Nick]

Re: VC holders...

Bill Speakman ,signed me up for Para Reg , in Dumfries, when I went for National Service enlistment ,in 58

Same here Jim, the recruiting office was in Irish St just off the Vennel, followed you in 165 Pln a month behind. There was a slight altercation in the NAFFI Club in the shot between Bill Speakman and a certain chap in 3 PARA Speakman came off second best.

[Don the Mod]

Re: VC holders...