Sergeant Bill Speakman VC

"Bill Speakman, Altrincham’s great war hero who was the only living Victoria Cross holder from the Korean War, has died at the age of 90.
The Victoria Cross and George Cross Association has today released a statement confirming that Bill died yesterday surrounded by his family.
It read: “It is with great sadness that we pass on the news of the death of William “Bill” Speakman VC. He died peacefully yesterday (20th June) evening at the Royal Hospital Chelsea which he was proud to call his home. Members of his family were at his bedside.”
His former regiment, the King’s Own Scottish Borderers, added that he had died around 7pm.
Its statement read: “With regret and much sadness we inform you that Sergeant Bill Speakman VC died at The Royal Hospital Chelsea at about 7pm last night.”
Altrincham-born Bill Speakman, who grew up on Moss Lane and was educated at Wellington Boys’ School in Timperley, was just 24 in 1951 when he fought off a wave of attacks from 600 Chinese and North Korean solders for more than four hours.
Speakman was the first man to receive a Victoria Cross from Queen Elizabeth II, and was one of only a handful of living holders of the award. He was given a hero’s homecoming on the streets of Altrincham by thousands of people in 1952."
Bill Speakman, Altrincham's great war hero and the first person to receive a Victoria Cross from Queen Elizabeth, dies aged 90 - Altrincham Today

 

RIP