John Simpson Kirkpatrick

John Simpson Kirkpatrick
Simpson (centre) with his donkey, bearing a wounded soldier.
Nickname(s)	"Scotty", "Simmy", "Murphy/Murph", "Mu"
Born	6 July 1892 South Shields, United Kingdom
Died	19 May 1915(1915-05-19) (aged 22) Gallipoli, Turkey
Buried at	Beach Cemetery, Gallipoli
Allegiance	Australia
Service/branch	Australian Imperial Force
Years of service	1914–15
Rank	Private
Unit	3rd Australian Field Ambulance, Australian Army Medical Corps
Battles/wars	World War I Gallipoli Campaign
Awards	Mentioned in Despatches

World War I

John (Jack) Simpson Kirkpatrick (6 July 1892 – 19 May 1915), who served under the name John Simpson, was a stretcher bearer with the 1st Australian Division during the Gallipoli Campaign in World War I. After landing at Anzac Cove on 25 April 1915, Simpson began to use donkeys to provide first aid and carry wounded soldiers to the beach, for evacuation. Simpson and the donkeys continued this work for three and a half weeks, often under fire, until he was killed, during the Third attack on Anzac Cove. "Simpson and his Donkey" are a part of the "Anzac legend".

Simpson was born on 6 July 1892 in South Shields, Tyneside, England, to Scottish parents: Sarah Kirkpatrick (née Simpson) and Robert Kirkpatrick. He was one of eight children, and worked with donkeys as a youth, during summer holidays. He attended Barnes Road Junior School and later Mortimer Road Senior School.

At 16 he volunteered to train as a gunner in the Territorial Force, as British Army reserve units were collectively known at the time, and in early 1909 he joined the British merchant navy.

In May 1910, Simpson deserted at Newcastle, New South Wales, and then travelled widely in Australia, taking on various jobs, such as cane-cutting in Queensland and coalmining in the Illawarra district of New South Wales. In the three or so years leading up to the outbreak of World War I, he worked as a steward, stoker and greaser on Australian coastal ships.