THE bravery of First World War hero John Simpson Kirkpatrick is to be celebrated in his home town of South Shields – despite a snub Down Under.
A senior South Tyneside councillor has pledged to continue honouring the ‘Man with the Donkey’ after a defence tribunal in Australia found there was “insufficient evidence” to award him the Victoria Cross.
Plans have also emerged to move the statue of Kirkpatrick in Ocean Road, South Shields, to a more prominent location in the town to acknowledge his achievements.
A Defence Department report in Australia decided that Kirkpatrick was no more gallant than scores of other stretcher-bearers.
He is said to have saved 300 lives by transporting wounded comrades on a donkey after the landings at Gallipoli in April 1915, before losing his own life.
Coun Ed Malcolm, who acts as the armed forces champion for South Tyneside Council, said: “John Simpson Kirkpatrick is rightly a national hero in Australia for his bravery at Gallipoli, and he has a statue in every state in the country.
“After almost 100 years, it is to be expected that there will be some variation between different accounts, but this should not obscure his courageous actions which have inspired generations both in Australia and here in South Tyneside.”
Kirkpatrick’s bravery inspired a visit last year to the borough by members of the Quinns Rocks Returned and Services League, from Perth.
And members of the full council backed a motion supporting the bid to award a posthumous VC.
Coun Malcolm added: “John Simpson Kirkpatrick was a son of South Shields, and we will continue to do everything we can to honour his name.
“This will include laying a wreath at the cenotaph every Memorial Sunday, while pupils from Lord Blyton School will also lay a wreath at the Kirkpatrick statue in Ocean Road on Anzac Day, April 25.
“The school is also establishing a partnership with a school in Perth to keep his memory alive, while the council is looking at alternative venues for the statue to give Kirkpatrick the prominence he deserves.
“We are also working with Tyne and Wear Museums, local schools and the Durham Light Infantry museum to ensure Kirkpatrick’s story is a central part of our programme of World War One centenary events next year.”
Twitter: @shieldsgazpaul
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