PRIVATE BILL SPEAKMAN VC – BLACK WATCH, BRITISH ARMY – KOREA

He was a private. Not an officer. Not special forces. Just a Black Watch private on a hill in Korea.

His section was holding a position that had to hold. The enemy kept coming, wave after wave, trying to take the hill.

When the position was almost overrun, Speakman did not pull back. He stayed. He kept throwing grenades, again and again, holding the line on his own when others around him were down or out of ammunition.

When the grenades ran low, he led what was left of his men forward, charging into the enemy to drive them back off the hill. He kept going until the attack was broken and the position was saved

For that, he was awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy.

He survived. He lived on to a great age, and he wore his medals with pride for the rest of his life. The portrait in the National Army Museum shows him exactly like that, red jacket, medals on his chest, still standing tall.

LEST WE FORGET

They gave up their today for our tomorrow. In this case, one private held a hill so his mates could live.