Tricorne hat, William (Bill) Speakman VC, Royal Hospital Chelsea, 2015-2018

Bill Speakman served with the Black Watch and later joined the King's Own Scottish Borderers, serving in Korea where he won the Victoria Cross. 'The London Gazette' of 28 December 1951 citation relates how Speakman, despite being wounded in the leg, led his men in successive grenade attacks against Communist human wave attacks. Speakman later served with the Special Air Service in Malaya, Borneo and Radfan. He was a Chelsea Pensioner from 2015 until his death in 2018. It is unusual for items of Chelsea Pensioner uniform not to be retained by the Royal Hospital for reissue due to the cost of production.