GALLIPOLI HERO

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18255, 25 November 1933, Page 12

GALLIPOLI HERO

MAN WITH THE DONKEY j t „ .. , i INSPIRATION TO ALL ; f MELBOURNE, Nov. 1L J The heroism of John Simpson Kirk- . patriek, better known to Anzacs as “the man with the donkey,” may yet be . recognised by the erection in Meibouine of a. monument. Kirkpatrick was officially known on Gallipoli as Private Simpson, and with the help of his faithful donkey—at ono time he had two donkeys —he rendered gallant service to the' wounded under lire. ; , j, Tho suggestion made that Simpson s ( heroism should be recognised by a monu- 1 : meat has aroused intense interest, and already leading citizens of' Melbourne have, given the proposal their wholehearted support. Major-General C. 11. \ Brand, to whose brigade Simpson was 1 attached on Gailipclli, says that if ever a , man deserved to be immortalised it is • Simpson. In the early days on Gallipoli i ho was an inspiration to all as he and his j donkev at all hours of the day and : night/ traversed Shrapnel Gully on their ■ errands of mercy. A memorial near the Shrine of Remembrance would bn a tribute to Simpson and to other : stretcher-bearers. Simpson’s story is brief, but an everlasting one. He bore a charmed life for : three short weeks, and then a bullet ■ stilled his heart in Shrapnel Gully, j Simpson enlisted at Fremantle. He was j a unit in the third field ambulance, and' landed on Anzac on April 25, 1915. He j seemed to be inspired from the start. It,, is related that he rescued 16 men under heavy lire on the first day. Then. Simp- t, son acquired a donkey - -not perhaps ait official acquisition —and Ids mission of j rescue continued. Later, there Was.- ,Y: : second donkey. The remarkable feature of Simpson’s work was that lie played a lone hand. Many Anzacs owe their life Jto that little man. Wherever Anzacs I

foregather, his name is with j reverence. If the practical recognition of! his services does not take, tho form of n. monument, there is certain to be ■ erected some memorial so that- the younger generation may not forget- one whose name is as imperishable as that of Anzac itself. 1 . 1 Among those who are supporting the present project are the Premier of Victoria, Sir Stanley Argylo, and Lady Irvine, wife of the Lieutenant-Governor. Sir Stanley Argylo.says that the proposal to erect a monument has his wholehearted approbation and support. Lady Irvine has announced that the Victorian division of the Red Cross Society, of which she is president, has decided to launch an appeal for funds to erect a suitable memorial. . .