Everyone knows beer can save the day in most social situations, but did you know that it can also save the day on the battlefield?

Consider the case of Private William Speakman, who used the incredible power of beer to fight off 6,000 enemy soldiers during the Korean war.

In 1951, Speakman was a private in the British Army, fighting against the Chinese People's Liberation Army in Korea. His regiment was given the task to capture and hold United Hill, a Chinese outpost. Speakman and his comrades captured the hill without much trouble, but found that holding the position would be nearly impossible.

Starting in the early morning on 4 November, the Chinese assaulted the position with mortars and cannons.They shelled the hill for hours, destroying defensive structures and injuring many men. Then the Chinese charged the hill on foot. An estimated 6,000 Chinese troops rushed the position, and the British soldiers were quickly overwhelmed.

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Bear Grylls//Digital Spy
Sergeant William Speakman, meeting with reporters in 2010.

Upon hearing that a command post a few feet from his location was about to be overrun, Speakman gathered six men and as many grenades as he could carry and charged the enemy. Speakman and his makeshift squad repelled the attackers, but more kept coming. Speakman led nine more charges, repelling the enemy every time, even after being wounded in the leg.

At some point in the fighting, Speakman ran out of grenades, so he grabbed whatever else he could find, including rocks and beer bottles. Even with this poor-quality equipment, Speakman and his fellow soldiers repelled the enemy over and over again.

When the order came to retreat, Speakman charged the Chinese forces one more time to buy his comrades enough time to get away. Because of his valor, 400 British troops lived to fight another day. Speakman was promoted to sergeant and awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions, the highest honor that can be bestowed on a British soldier.

Source: VinePair

From: Popular Mechanics