V.C. AWARDED TO PRIVATE

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26617, 31 December 1951, Page 4

V.C. AWARDED TO PRIVATE

HEROISM IN KOREA LONDON, December 28. A 24-year-old private, William Speakman, of the Black Watch, won the second Victoria Cross awarded for heroism in the Korean War. The citation, published to-day, stated that he led numerous charges on November 4 against the enemy through withering machine-gun and mortar fire and broke up advancing waves of the enemy. After being severely wounded in the leg, he carried on and covered his company’s withdrawal. The citation stated that Private Speakman, on his own initiative, collected a party of six men and a pile of grenades and led a series of grenade charges against a part of the company’s position overrun by the enemy. The citation stated that he was personally responsible for causing enormous losses to the enemy, assisting his company to maintain its position for four hours and when it was forced to withdraw, “assailed the enemy with showers of grenades,” saving the lives I of many of his comrades. Dearer Coal in Britain.—The National Coal Board to-day announced an average rise of 7s 6d a ton in the price of coal. —London, December 29.