The Battalion
By Col. Robert W. Black
SAS Operation Galia
By Robert Hann
William Speakman
John Robertson

William Speakman

William (Bill) Speakman
born 21.9.1927 Altrincham,Cheshire
son of Hannah Speakman (father not known) (died 1998)
stepson of Herbert Houghton (died 1949)
educated Oakfield Road Infants' School,Altrincham
educated Wellington Road Boys' School,Timperley (left 1941)
Cheshire Regiment (A Company,1 Cadet Bn) 1941- August 1945
employed with Churchill Machine Tools until August 1945
enlisted 10.8.1945 Manchester
Private 14471590
General Service Corps
1 Bn Black Watch 1.11.1945
10 Bn Black Watch 1.11.1945
8 Holding Bn Black Watch 2.7.1946
1 Bn London Scottish (Gordon Highlanders) 13.8.1946
1 Special Guards Bn 9.12. 1946
1 Bn Black Watch 14.2.1947
attached Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders 1951
1 Bn King's Own Scottish Borderers (B Company) May 1951
WIA 4.11.1951 Korea
awarded V.C.
Regimental Depot,K.O.S.B. March 1952
1 Bn K.O.S.B. 21.4.1952
22 SAS (C Squadron) (Trooper) April 1953 - 9.7.1954
served in Malaya
1 Bn Royal Scots Fusiliers (D Company) (L/Cpl) 10.7.1954
1 Bn K.O.S.B. 30.6.1956
A/Sergeant 25.3.1957
Corporal September 1957
119 Recruiting Centre,Army Recruiting Staff 10.5.1957
Army Information Office,Dumfries
relinquished rank of A/Sgt 26.1.1959
1 Bn K.O.S.B. (B Company) 26.1.1959
Sergeant 1.7.1961
discharged from Army 11.12.1968 (Sgt)
employed by Union Castle Line 1970
changed surname to Speakman-Pitts early 1970s
moved to South Africa
security and fire adviser,Durban
married Rachel Ann York Snitch 31.12.1955 Singapore (divorced June 1972) (3 sons Colin, David and Casper,3 daughters Jane,Susan and Helen)
married Jill Whitelaw 1973 (divorced 1980) (1 daughter Kate)
married Heather Rooken-Smith (nee Griffin) 25.9.1995 (divorced November 1997)
biography:- Beyond the Legend : Bill Speakman VC by Derek Hunt and John Mulholland (2013)
died 20.6.2018

photo source Bill Speakman collection
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