Private John Simpson Kirkpatrick Harrison 3/4T

John (Jack) Simpson Kirkpatrick served under the name Private John Simpson. Born in Shields, England in 1892 Joined the English Army at 17 after 4 years as a milk boy. In 1910 moved to Australia and for 3 years worked on ships and even a coal miner here at Coledale, Corrimal and Mt Kembla. Joined the Australian Army in 1914 to become a stretcher bearer with the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps during Gallipoli. Used donkeys to provide first aid and carry wounded soldiers to the beach.

Gallipoli Peninsula Simpson landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula on 25 April 1915 as part of the ANZAC forces. The following day, while he was bearing an injured comrade on his shoulders, he spotted a donkey and quickly began making use of it to carry his fellow soldiers. Simpson would sing and whistle, seeming to ignore the bullets flying through the air, while he tended to his comrades.

Donkeys Simpson has used different donkeys, some of the donkeys were killed or wounded in action. Simpson’s donkeys were called: 1.Duffy no 1 2.Duffy no 2 3.Murphy 4.Queen Elizabeth 5.Abdul

Private Simpson and his donkeys have earned great respect of the fellow soldiers. Simpson’s nicknames were “Scotty and “Simmy”. Simpson and his donkeys worked all day and night during the whole period since arriving in Gallipoli. Simpson knew no fear and often earned the applause of the personnel for his many fearless rescues od wounded men. Other ANZAC stretcher bearer started to follow Simpson’s use of the donkeys.

On 19 May 1915, during the attack on Anzac Cove Simpson was struck by machine gun fire and died at the age of 23. He was buried in the Beach Cemetery on the Gallipoli Peninsula. No Medals have ever been awarded to Simpson for his bravery. However, In May 1997 Australian RSPCA, awarded its Purple Cross to the donkey Murphy for performing outstanding acts of bravery towards humans. Australian RSPCA