John Simpson Kirkpatrick and His Donkey: An ANZAC Story

John Simpson was a stretcher bearer with the ANZAC troops at Gallipoli. He landed at ANZAC Cove on 25 April, 1915. John spotted a donkey in the hills, and he began to use it to carry wounded soldiers from the war front to the beach, for medical treatment and evacuation. The ANZAC soldiers gave Simpson’s donkey various names such as “Duffy”, “Abdul” or “Murphy”.

Colonel John Monash, one of Australia’s great military leaders, wrote that Private Simpson worked day and night amid shrapnel and rifle fire, effecting many fearless rescues of wounded men, carrying them from the battle field to safety behind the ANZAC lines.

After three and a half weeks of this work, on 19 May 1915, Simpson was struck by machine gun fire and died. John Simpson and his donkey are remembered as an important part of the ANZAC legend.

John Simpson, the man with the donkey, is a true hero of Australian history. It is fitting for us to tell our children of his love and care for his fellow man. His story is a true demonstration of the words of Jesus: “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” John 15:13