AUCKLAND SOLDIER'S RECORD

Auckland Star, Issue 123, 24 May 1919, Page 5

AUCKLAND SOLDIER'S RECORD

WOUNDED THKEE TIMES. AWARDED THE D.C.M. Sergeant J. B. Speakman. D.C.M., son of ilr. \V. H. Sueakman. of Mt. F.den, is due to arrive in Wellington by the Fakeha next Tuesday. This young soldier lias a record worthy of his grandeire, who was one of the lioih Regiment, "The Tipi'iv." Mr. Speakman has received Information regarding what hi* son did to earn the Dist Condurt Medal. He was a corporal in charge of a Lew is jrun section, and was the means of putting r-ewral German pins uut of action, besides securing a number of prisoners. This occurred at Passciendaeie. He also wont out under lire and brought in a wounded comrade. •who unfortunately died subsequently. Corporal SpeaV.man .vas svounJed on iha: o-vueinn, ami \a- promoted to servant for his gallant conduct. After recovering from ha wound. Sergeant >peakm.in was a:, the rapture .1: Le Qaesn.\T. His ifficer be-ln-i killed, he led I The men. an i again a of pruns and pn.-.T.ers were fipturei. A young Merman offii'er he'd up V.s hands, and en-ed "'"Kamarici." hut when rhe sr-rfreant tnmej to stop h± men from firing, the prisoner shot Speakrnan in tho back. The traiior paid f~r his treachery with his life. Sergeant Spoakman's own iife in «v,\l owing t.i the fact of the ballet being- turned by a packet of photo-p-aphs he had in his p<v-: v( -.T. \V;:ile in England he was ins-trui-ted to study for a commission. 'When, however, the last enmt took plaoe >er£;e;'.nt >p?.iknian 1 ;o our. thus throning β-ivay Ir.s <-han oof a enmmission. He vas wnund.'d a third time, four days before the armi.-ti.-e v-3- declared, not a bad record for a lirafron eehoolboy only £3 years ai ag-e.