Source: File: Stretcher-bearer John Simpson and
Donkey rescuer.jpg, 2015. From
Wikimedia Commons, the free media repository. [online]
Available at: <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Simpson_Kirkpatrick>
[Accessed: 20 May 2015].
[Accessed: 20 May 2015].
A stretcher bearer - allied to
the Anzacs -
By a given name of Private John
Simpson,
Found his way to help those fighters,
With injuries about the Gallipoli
Peninsula -
His origin to that place was by a
different
Name - that of Jack Kilpatrick.
Growing up in Tynside Jack– one boy
Amid eight children, was son of
Scottish
Parents - in his youth the lad had, during
Summer holidays, worked with donkeys
-
Then aged 16 Jack had volunteered
With Territorial Forces to train as
gunner.
In another move Jack Kilpatrick, aged
18,
Joined the Merchant Navy – his
service
Took him to New South Wales
Australia,
Where he deserted the Navy - over
four
Years, young Jack travelled the
country
Taking on work across this
Continent.
In Queensland he was a cane-cutter -
In Illawara he tried coal mining, before
Working on the coastal ships as
stoker,
Steward and greaser – his keenness
For adventure, shaped his political
stance,
Writing to say England needed
revolution.
Jack may have been part of 'Wobblies'
-
A radical labour union member -
although
There was no proof. In his
consideration
Of returning to England, Jack John
Simpson
Enlisted - his real name hidden in case
Of desertion recognition from his
navy days.
In August 1914 having joined as a
stretcher
Bearer, he joined the 3rd
Australian ambulance
Service – the task requiring ability
of strength -
When April came in 1915, Jack was
among
The first to step onto Gallipoli
soil, working
With Anzac Forces as Private John
Simpson.
As the battlefields unfolded Private
Simpson
Found am old ally from his youth - to
find
Grazing Turkish Donkeys - in once gaining
their help to carry children on beaches, Donkeys
their help to carry children on beaches, Donkeys
Helped this stretcher-bearer to
reach wounded
And carry them back over Turkish
soil to safety.
In the early hours of 26 April, Private Simpson
Pulled a wounded man to his
shoulders, when
He saw a donkey - together the
English man
And Turkish Donkey, carried the
Australian
Wounded back to safety - the sight
of the man
And his donkey over the days became
normality.
Private Simpson earned the nicknames
Simmy,
Scotty or Mu – he had no fear as bullets
whined.
Scotty Simpson would sing and
whistle to duty,
As he employed over four donkeys, giving them
Names of Murphy, Abdul, Queen Elizabeth,
And Duffy no 1 and 2; with some dying in
action.
Other bearers then began to follow his
example,
Carrying wounded soldiers over
awkward terrain,
As Colonel Monash wrote of the
fearless John
Simpson, Stretcher-bearer and his
‘little beast’
As together they worked over days
and nights.
Private Simpson seemingly no fear
amid gunfire,
As he undertook many fearless
rescues with his
Donkey companions endured the
dangers to take
Them onto his back or haul them on
stretchers.
Private Jack Simpson went out on 19
May 1915
As usual to assist the wounded
trapped in battle
During the third attack, when he was
hit either
By sniper or machine gun fire, dying
on his duty;
Private Simpson was mentioned in
despatches.
Leaving friends he had found in
Turkey donkeys.
by Jamie Mann.
Source: File:
John Simpson Kirkpatrick. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. [online]
Available at: <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Simpson_Kirkpatrick> [Accessed:
20 May 2015].
Mann, J., 2015. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication,
20 May 2015).
#WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #WW1centenary
#worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered #WW1Gallipoli
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