British veteran named war hero of month

William Speakman / Korea Times file

By Kang Seung-woo

William Speakman, a British veteran of the 1950-53 Korean War, has been honored as the war hero of February for his outstanding bravery against Chinese troops and commitment to save his fellow soldiers, according to the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, Monday.

Speakman, then-a 24-year-old native of Altrincham in Greater Manchester, was dispatched to Korea as part of the 1st Battalion of the King's Own Scottish Borderers, and participated in a battle on Mount Maryang at the mouth of the Imjin River on Nov. 4, 1951.

During the hard-fought combat, the private displayed bravery and courage fighting off waves of advancing Chinese troops by throwing dozens of grenades and engaging in hand-to-hand combat for more than four hours to save fellow soldiers and help British troops withdraw safely ― although he sustained a serious leg injury.

Speakman was transferred back to Britain in January 1952, but volunteered to return to Korea three months later and took part in the war until August of that year.

His gallantry gained recognition in February 1952, after he was awarded the Victoria Cross by Queen Elizabeth II, the highest and most prestigious award in the British honors system. In addition, a building and a bridge in his hometown of Manchester were named after him.

The Korean government also conferred the First Class Taegeuk Cordon of the Order of Military Merit, the highest in Korea, on him in July 2015 for his services.

Speakman died at age 90 on June 20, 2018, and in accordance with his wishes that his ashes would be scattered over Korean soil, he was buried at the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Busan in February 2019.

“Speakman was a just and honorable British soldier who took the lead in promoting world peace,” President Moon Jae-in said in his eulogy during Speakman's burial ceremony.

“Korea has never forgotten the sacrifice and friendship shown by Britain, which helped defend freedom by shedding blood on this soil, nor has it forgotten Speakman.”

Speakman was the seventh Korean War veteran from the U.N. allied forces to be buried at the U.N. cemetery after passing away in their home countries.