WAR hero John Simpson Kirkpatrick's bravery and act of sarifice for his colleagues deserves to be honoured with an Australian VC, say Gazette readers.
We reported yesterday that the Australian government snubbed a bid to honour the Shields-born soldier who was killed 93 years ago, during the First World War, trying to ferry injured soldiers from the frontline at Gallipoli.
Although his commanding officer at the time, Lieutenant-Colonel Alfred Sutton, had recommended him for the country's highest military award, the Australian Government's new Defence Honours and Awards Tribunal is to disqualify Pte Simpson from being posthumously awarded the medal.
The decision has been taken because his bravery is not supported by the required documentation: the sworn statements of at least three witnesses to his actions.
Our poll asked:
Should John Simpson Kirkpatrick be awarded an Australian VC?The result was
Yes - 55 per cent.
No - 45 per cent.Click here to read the original story.To take part in Today's Web Vote click hereThe full article contains 175 words and appears in Shields Gazette newspaper.
