Victoria Cross winner honoured with block name (From Messenger Newspapers)

Altrincham Victoria Cross winner Bill Speakman honoured with block name

12:00pm Thursday 4th October 2012 in Altrincham

A VICTORIA Cross winner from Altrincham had part of an Army accommodation centre in Yorkshire named after him last Friday. Sergeant Bill Speakman VC, 84, attended the opening ceremony of the multi-million pound accommodation at the Infantry Training Centre in Catterick Garrison, where one of the blocks was named in his honour.. The ceremony was attended by high ranking military guests. The Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry awarded to British forces, was presented to Bill by Queen Elizabeth II, the first to be invested by the new Queen after her father’s death. The award was given in recognition of his courage and leadership during the Korean War. As a member of the King’s Own Scottish Borderers in November 4, 1951, Bill and his company were being overrun as Chinese troops led an attack on a desolate Korean hillside. Bill led a series of charges with only six men and a pile of grenades to break up the enemy attacks. His actions, despite being wounded in the leg, kept the enemy at bay long enough for his company to withdraw to safety,