JOHN SIMPSON KIRKPATRICK
Jack Simpson Kirkpatrick was born in 1892 at South Shields in the north east of England. He came with a large family, being one of eight children. As a child during his summer holidays he used to work as a ‘donkey-lad’ on the sands. He loved animals and loved being around them, but in particular he loved donkeys. He heard of the war in Germany, and he left Australia.
Fearing that he might not be accepted into the Australian Army because he wasn’t born in Australia, he changed his name to John Simpson. He was to become Australia’s most famous, and best-loved military hero.
In Perth on the 23rd of August 1914, Jack was accepted and chosen as a field ambulance stretcher bearer. This job was only given to strong men, so Jack’s list of jobs in the past has helped him gain this position. He joined the 3rd field Ambulance at Black boy Hill Camp.
On the 25th of April 1915, he along with the rest of the Australian And New Zealand Contingent landed at the wrong beach on a piece of wild, impossible and savage land also know a ANZAC cove. The Attacking and counter attacking began. During the hours of April the 26th, along with his mates, jack was carrying casualties back to the beach over his shoulder-at that moment he saw the donkey.
Jack caught the donkey and placed the man on its back. From then on he became a part of the scene at Gallipoli, walki9ng along next to his donkey, he sang and whistled to his wounded passengers, not worrying about anyone of the circumstances, or danger that Gallipoli was. Jack led a charmed life with his donkey from the 25th of April 1915 until he was hit by a machine gun bullet in his back on 19th may 1915.
In these amazing 24 days Jack Simpson was into the Australian Army field ambulance stretcher bearer, Jack rescued 300 men down the Monash valley. His heroic feat was accomplished. Quoted from some of his officers:
· "Almost every digger knew about him. The question was often asked: "Has the bloke with the donk stopped one yet?"
· "He was the most respected and admired of all the heroes at Anzac."
· Captain C. Longmore, in 1933, remembered how the soldiers "watched him spellbound from the trenches... it was one of the most inspiring sights of those early Gallipoli days."
· Colonel John Monash wrote "Private Simpson and his little beast earned the admiration of everyone at the upper end of the valley. They worked all day and night throughout the whole period since the landing, and the help rendered to the wounded was invaluable. Simpson knew no fear and moved unconcernedly amid shrapnel and rifle fire, steadily carrying out his self imposed task day by day, and he frequently earned the applause of the personnel for his many fearless rescues of wounded men from areas subject to rifle and shrapnel fire."
Jack was recommended for the Victoria Cross, officially, through his unit, on June 3rd 1915. He was also recommended for the highest military honours by Colonel Monash, Australia’s greatest commander of the First World War. Monash, commander of the 4th Brigade at the time (where Jack was operating) was an eye-witness to his activities and sent in a lengthy submission to Divisional Headquarters on May 20th. Unfortunately, the senior medical officer at Anzac, Colonel Howse VC, had given faulty instructions to the junior officer preparing Simpson’s citation. He was recommended under the wrong category of heroism and consequently his VC request was denied.
Fearing that he might not be accepted into the Australian Army because he wasn’t born in Australia, he changed his name to John Simpson. He was to become Australia’s most famous, and best-loved military hero.
In Perth on the 23rd of August 1914, Jack was accepted and chosen as a field ambulance stretcher bearer. This job was only given to strong men, so Jack’s list of jobs in the past has helped him gain this position. He joined the 3rd field Ambulance at Black boy Hill Camp.
On the 25th of April 1915, he along with the rest of the Australian And New Zealand Contingent landed at the wrong beach on a piece of wild, impossible and savage land also know a ANZAC cove. The Attacking and counter attacking began. During the hours of April the 26th, along with his mates, jack was carrying casualties back to the beach over his shoulder-at that moment he saw the donkey.
Jack caught the donkey and placed the man on its back. From then on he became a part of the scene at Gallipoli, walki9ng along next to his donkey, he sang and whistled to his wounded passengers, not worrying about anyone of the circumstances, or danger that Gallipoli was. Jack led a charmed life with his donkey from the 25th of April 1915 until he was hit by a machine gun bullet in his back on 19th may 1915.
In these amazing 24 days Jack Simpson was into the Australian Army field ambulance stretcher bearer, Jack rescued 300 men down the Monash valley. His heroic feat was accomplished. Quoted from some of his officers:
· "Almost every digger knew about him. The question was often asked: "Has the bloke with the donk stopped one yet?"
· "He was the most respected and admired of all the heroes at Anzac."
· Captain C. Longmore, in 1933, remembered how the soldiers "watched him spellbound from the trenches... it was one of the most inspiring sights of those early Gallipoli days."
· Colonel John Monash wrote "Private Simpson and his little beast earned the admiration of everyone at the upper end of the valley. They worked all day and night throughout the whole period since the landing, and the help rendered to the wounded was invaluable. Simpson knew no fear and moved unconcernedly amid shrapnel and rifle fire, steadily carrying out his self imposed task day by day, and he frequently earned the applause of the personnel for his many fearless rescues of wounded men from areas subject to rifle and shrapnel fire."
Jack was recommended for the Victoria Cross, officially, through his unit, on June 3rd 1915. He was also recommended for the highest military honours by Colonel Monash, Australia’s greatest commander of the First World War. Monash, commander of the 4th Brigade at the time (where Jack was operating) was an eye-witness to his activities and sent in a lengthy submission to Divisional Headquarters on May 20th. Unfortunately, the senior medical officer at Anzac, Colonel Howse VC, had given faulty instructions to the junior officer preparing Simpson’s citation. He was recommended under the wrong category of heroism and consequently his VC request was denied.