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John Simpson Kirkpatrick was born in Britain (South Shields, County Durham) on 1892 but later moved to Australia.-
With the outbreak of war in 1914, John enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force and worked as a stretcher bearer in the Australian Medical Corps on the Anzac Cove, Gallipoli, Turkey.- He served from the time of the landing at Gallipoli on 25 April until he was killed in action on 19 May, 1915.-
Simpson became famous for his work as a stretcher-bearer. Using one of the donkeys brought in for carrying water, he transported wounded men day and night from the fighting in Monash Valley to the beach on ANZAC Cove.- Together John and the donkey recovered 300 casualties by keeping the injured upright on the donkey.-
He was even known to sing or whistle as he tended to the injured, prompting Indian troops fighting with the British forces to name him "Bahadur" - bravest of the brave.
Colonel John Monash wrote of Kirkpatrick's exploits: "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."
He died on May 19, 1915 - three and a half weeks after arriving - cut down by machinegun fire. His body lies in Beach Cemetery at Gallipoli.
awm.gov.au
remembrance2010.indev.com.au
thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk
wiki
With the outbreak of war in 1914, John enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force and worked as a stretcher bearer in the Australian Medical Corps on the Anzac Cove, Gallipoli, Turkey.- He served from the time of the landing at Gallipoli on 25 April until he was killed in action on 19 May, 1915.-
Simpson became famous for his work as a stretcher-bearer. Using one of the donkeys brought in for carrying water, he transported wounded men day and night from the fighting in Monash Valley to the beach on ANZAC Cove.- Together John and the donkey recovered 300 casualties by keeping the injured upright on the donkey.-
He was even known to sing or whistle as he tended to the injured, prompting Indian troops fighting with the British forces to name him "Bahadur" - bravest of the brave.
Colonel John Monash wrote of Kirkpatrick's exploits: "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."
He died on May 19, 1915 - three and a half weeks after arriving - cut down by machinegun fire. His body lies in Beach Cemetery at Gallipoli.
awm.gov.au
remembrance2010.indev.com.au
thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk
wiki