AustLit

Simpson and his donkey - Hero of ANZAC.

Twenty-two years old, English-born John Simpson Kirkpatrick "was an unlikely figure to become a national hero...He enlisted in the AIF, expecting this would give him the chance to get back to England; instead, Private Simpson found himself at ANZAC Cove on 25 April 1915, and was killed less than four weeks later...Instructed to recover and help the wounded he undertook this work enthusiastically. Famously, he used a small donkey to carry men down from the front line, often exposing himself to fire. The bravery of this "man with the donkey" soon became the most prominent symbol of Australian courage and tenacity on Gallipoli."

Source: Australian War Memorial http://www.awm.gov.au/forging/australians/simpson.htm Sighted 18/1/2013