The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
1914-15 Star. Impressed reverse with recipient's details.
John 'Jack' Simpson Kirkpatrick was born in July 1892 in South Shields, at the mouth of the River Tyne in north eastern England. As a young man, he joined the merchant navy, but deserted his ship in Australia in May 1910. For the next year, he held a variety of labouring jobs in Queensland and NSW, before finding work on coastal steamers which occupied him until the outbreak of war. Kirkpatrick enlisted in the AIF at Perth, Western Australia, but fearing that his history as a deserter might count against him, dropped his surname, becoming 202 Private John Simpson in 3 Field Ambulance. This unit was among the first to land at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915, and by the 26th, Kirkpatrick had struck on the idea of using a donkey to assist wounded men from the high ground of the front line back to the dressing stations near Anzac Cove. Absenting himself from his unit, and known variously to the men of Anzac as 'Scotty' or 'Murphy' because of his thick Tyneside accent, he performed this dangerous task, often exposed to the fire of Turkish machine guns, snipers and artillery, until May 19, when he was killed by machine gun fire in Monash Valley. He was buried at Beach Cemetery. Colonel (later General Sir John) Monash, commanding 4 Australian Infantry Brigade, wrote at the time: 'This man has been working in this valley since 26th April, in collecting wounded, and carrying them to the dressing stations. He had a small donkey which he used, to carry all cases unable to walk. 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 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.'
Circular bronze medallion surmounted by the Queen's crown. Obverse shows Simpson and his donkey assisting a wounded man, a laurel wreath, the date '1915' and the word 'ANZAC'. Reverse shows a map of A
202 Private John Simpson Kirkpatrick, 3rd Field Ambulance Brigade (enlisted as Simpson), assisting an unidentified British soldier, wounded in the leg, being carried by a donkey. Pte Simpson was later
Collection relating to the First World War service of 202 Private John Simpson Kirkpatrick, 3 Australian Field Ambulance, United Kingdom, Australia, Egypt and Gallipoli, 1909-1948. The collection con
In 1987 sculptor Peter Corlett won a competition to design a memorial to commemorate the courage and sacrifice of Private John Simpson Kirkpatrick, a 3rd Field Ambulance stretcher-bearer who became th
Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Purple Cross and framed certificate of award. Antique silver medal bears a purple enamel cross on the obverse with the embossed words, 'PURPLE CR
Depicts New Zealander Private Richard (Dick) Alexander Henderson of the New Zealand Medical Corps with a donkey. Moore-Jones believed that the photo he based it on was of Private John Simpson Kirkpatr
Arguably Australia's most famous soldier, 'Simpson' was neither a general nor a Victoria Cross recipient, but a stretcher bearer who served briefly in the nation's first major campaign. The painting d
British War Medal 1914-20. Impressed around edge with recipient's details. John 'Jack' Simpson Kirkpatrick was born in July 1892 in South Shields, at the mouth of the River Tyne in north eastern Eng
Victory Medal with Mentioned in Despatches oakleaf. Medal impressed around edge with recipient's details. John 'Jack' Simpson Kirkpatrick was born in July 1892 in South Shields, at the mouth of the
Circular aluminium identity disc incorporating a integral suspension tag, through which is laced a flat-profile leather thong for wear around the neck The thong ends are knotted. The disc is impressed
Bronze Next of Kin plaque with an image of Britannia and a lion together with the words 'HE DIED FOR FREEDOM AND HONOUR'. The name of the dead soldier 'JOHN SIMPSON' is recorded in raised letters with
Circular bronze medallion surmounted by the Queen's crown. Obverse shows Simpson and his donkey assisting a wounded man, a laurel wreath, the date '1915' and the word 'ANZAC'. Reverse shows a map of A
Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Purple Cross and framed certificate of award. Antique silver medal bears a purple enamel cross on the obverse with the embossed words, 'PURPLE CR