John Simpson Kirkpatrick

John Simpson
Simpson (right) with his donkey
Birth name	John Kirkpatrick
Born	(1892-07-06)6 July 1892 South Shields, England
Died	19 May 1915(1915-05-19) (aged 22) Anzac Cove, Gallipoli, Ottoman Turkey
Buried	Beach Cemetery, Gallipoli
Allegiance	Australia
Service/branch	Australian Imperial Force
Years of service	1914–1915
Rank	Private
Service number	202
Unit	3rd Field Ambulance
Battles/wars	First World War Gallipoli campaign Landing at Anzac Cove Third attack on Anzac Cove  †
Awards	Mentioned in Despatches

John Kirkpatrick (6 July 1892 – 19 May 1915), commonly known as John Simpson, was a stretcher bearer with the 3rd Australian Field Ambulance during the Gallipoli campaign – the Allied attempt to capture Constantinople, capital of the Ottoman Empire, during the First World War.

After the landing at Anzac Cove on 25 April 1915, Simpson used donkeys to provide first aid and carry wounded soldiers to the beach, from where they could be evacuated. He continued this work for three and a half weeks – often under fire – until he was killed by machine-gun fire during the third attack on Anzac Cove. Simpson and his donkey have become part of the Anzac legend.