The ‘Real’ John Simpson Story

In the last fortnight we have heard a laxidasical Government enquiry has once again taken a swipe at one of our Nations heroes.

Reported in the AGE on 7 March 2013 under a typical heading of  ’Taken for a Ride’  http://www.theage.com.au/national/taken-for-a-ride-20130306-2fli4.html?rand=894160  Mark Baker reports, a federal government inquiry has found that the legendary heroism of Simpson and his donkey is more myth than reality.

This investigation was under the guise of looking into claims he should be awarded a VC.

I had investigated John Simpson and agreed he does not warrant a VC, however, he does deserve a highest Bravery award for his actions, and below is MY investigation into John Simpson and his Donkey.  His story was NOT mainly myth, he actually did these acts, and people of both sides had great respect for his selfless acts, his one flaw was he never fitted into the Killing Machine mantel that most heroes were held in such high regard for.

I believe it is a true sign of the Aussie humanity that alongside Lance Corporal Jacka, a fighting colossus of the time, comes with equal fame a man who was so opposite in way of living his life.  John Simpson, was regarded as a true humanist.  He disregarded the orders to keep himself sheltered in his determination to serve his country by making every effort to save others.

Born in England in 1892, he showed his rare courage as a 13 year old lad.  He saw 2 youths drowning in the River Tyne, so with no consideration for his own safety he dived in and saved them both.  He had a certain empathic way with animals, and he loved them as much as they were devoted to him. He worked around horses, donkeys, kept rabbits and pigeons and was rarely seen without a dog following him around.

He felt a strong sense of responsibility to others. And after his father died in 1909, he assumed the role of bread winner for his mother and sister. In 1910 he joined the crew of the SS Yeddo as a stoker and sailed for Newcastle, Australia. Without fail, he continually sent money home to his mother – irrespective of how much he needed it himself.

And yet regardless of how loyal he was to his family, in his work life he never showed a temperament which would have suited him to army discipline. When the Yeddo arrived in Newcastle, he deserted.  For the next few years he worked a series of jobs such as cane cutting, cattle droving, and coal mining.  He then joined the crew of the SS Yankalilla. The job took him to Fremantle where Simpson again deserted.  Just 3 weeks after the outbreak of World War 1, Simpson enlisted, it was not a heroic motive that made him join, but a selfish one, for he had heard the army was going to England for their basic training, which meant to him, a free ride home. as of yet no one could have noticed the strength of character of this man that would soon make him one of Australia’s celebrated heroes.

Unfortunately for Simpson’s plans, the army was diverted to Egypt.  It was in Egypt, Simpson was allotted to the Field Ambulance as a stretcher bearer.

After 8 months in Egypt he landed at ANZAC Cove, Gallipoli. Of the 1500 men who landed in the first wave, only 755 remained in active service at the end of the day. The sheer number of casualties necessitated that stretcher bearing parties be reduced in the size from 6 to 2. Simpson then decided that he could operate better by acting alone. He spied a deserted donkey in the wild overgrown gullies and decided to use it to help carry a wounded man to the beach.  From this moment on, he and his donkey acted as an independent team, and the legend began.  Instead of reporting to his unit, Simpson camped with the 21st Kohat Indian Mountain Artillery Battery – which had many mules and nicknamed Simpson “Bahadur” – the “bravest of the brave”.

Simpson’s  refusal to report to his own field ambulance post was a direct affront to his Commanding Officer’s ego, not to mention considerations of military tradition, etiquette and discipline. For the first 4 days he was technically a deserter until his CO, seeing the value of his work, agreed to turn a blind eye to rules and approved his actions, it is better to have a one brave maverick rather than to tie him down and lose his enthusiasm for saving lives.

Simpson would start his day as early as 6.30 a.m. and often continue until as late as 3.00 a.m. He made the one and a half mile trip, through sniper fire and shrapnel, 12-15 times a day. He would leave his donkey under cover while he went forward to collect the injured.  On the return journey he would bring water for the wounded. He never hesitated or stopped even under the most furious shrapnel fire and was frequently warned of the dangers ahead but invariably replied “my troubles”.

For almost 24 days Simpson operated through the impossible conditions.  After seeming to gain an aura of someone with divine protection and a conviction he would survive, Simpson’s luck ran dry and he was killed.  He was subsequently recommended for the Victoria Cross, twice, and the Distinguished Conduct Medal. The commander of the 4th Brigade, Colonel Monash, said:

“Private Simpson and his little beast earned the admiration of everyone at the upper end of the valley. They worked all day and night throughout the whole period since the landing, and the help rendered to the wounded was invaluable. Simpson knew no fear and moved unconcernedly amid shrapnel and rifle fire, steadily carrying out his self-imposed task day by day, and he frequently earned the applause of the personnel for his many fearless rescues of wounded men from areas subject to rifle and shrapnel fire.”

Padre George Green, who led Simpson’s burial service, later said :

“If ever there was a man deserve the Victoria Cross it was Simpson. I often remember now the scene I saw frequently in shrapnel Gully, of that cheerful soul calmly walking down the gully with a Red Cross armlet tied round the donkey’s head. That gully was under direct fire from the enemy almost all the time.”

Sgt. Hookway, his Section Sergeant, said of him:

“a big man and very muscular, though aged only 22 and was selected at once as a stretcher bearer… he was too humane to be a parade ground soldier, and strongly disliked discipline; though not lazy he shirked the drudgery of ‘forming fours’, and other irksome military tasks.”

Although Simpson had the respect of all those who knew him, his larrikin ways did not endear him to the authorities thus all nominations for posthumous decoration were declined.  The lack of posthumous decoration probably bothered Simpson’s admirers far more than it would have ever bothered Simpson.  He just didn’t have the character that sought recognition, decoration or awards.

Despite the lack of military decoration,  the wider community elevated him to iconic status.  He was seen to embody the ANZAC spirit of abandonment of everything except that which is important.
In 1965, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the ANZAC landings, Australian stamps where issued depicting Simpson, his donkey and a wounded soldier. In 1967, the Australian Government released the ANZAC Commemorative Medallion. It depicted Simpson and his donkey. In 1995, the Australian five dollar commemorative coin was released. Again, it depicted Simpson, his donkey and a wounded soldier. In 1996, the Australian 100 dollar bill was released. It had Simpson and his donkey in the background.

While the stamps, the medals, and the currency have all helped immortalise his name, perhaps the commemoration that most befitted his character was a simple stone that replaced the cross over his grave in Gallipoli. It read:

JOHN SIMPSON
KIRKPATRICK SERVED AS
202 PRIVATE
J SIMPSON,
AUST. ARMY MEDICAL CORPS,
19TH MAY 1915         AGE 22
HE GAVE HIS LIFE
THAT OTHERS MAY LIVE.

A man who was not the type imagined to be a hero, yet when the strife hit, he showed little respect for the “Military and yet without consideration for his own safety, he determined to save as many soldiers as he was able.  A true ANZAC hero.

NB. Simpson has never been honoured with a VC medal and when looking at his contempt of discipline, and his refusal to report to his Commanding Officer would be a major reason he never received a VC.  However, although I might acknowledge it not being in the finest tradition of the Service to award this to him, there is more than enough evidence to suggest Pte Simpson is worthy of the highest bravery honour  available, and a special dispensation should make this available to him posthumously. However the validity of the enquiry needs to be questioned.  It seems they had a agenda in their investigation into this matter.  The evidence clearly showed his courage in saving others, while placing his own life in Peril.  It was a unfortunate part of his character that he would not follow orders, however, John Simpson’s humanity was HIS driving force and the reason he should have his heroism officially recognised.