Historical information

John Simpson Kirkpatrick enlisted in the Australian Army Medical Corps serving as a stretcher bearer at Gallipoli. With the help of a donkey he recovered wounded from the battlefield, often under fire. He was killed in action on 19 May 1915 and was awarded a Mention in Despatches for his act of bravery.

Significance

Simpson and his donkey has become the most famous of the images arising from Australia's Gallipoli Campaign in the First World War

Physical description

A small statuette depicting a World War 1 Australian serviceman assisting a wounded comrade who is riding on a donkey. This statuette is made from pewter and symbolises the brave deeds of Private John Simpson Kirkpatrick who, during the early days of the Gallipoli campaign, similarly assisted a number of wounded servicemen. This Army Medical Corps serviceman was a stretcher bearer and commonly known as "Simpson".
The statuette is mounted on a stained wooden base which has a small title plate at its front edge.

Inscriptions & markings

Title plate inscribed "SIMPSON AND HIS DONKEY"