Bronwyn and Paul Smith Australian War Memorial

11 November 2019

John Kirkpatrick Simpson was a stretcher-bearer with the 3rd Australian Field Ambulance brigade during the Gallipoli campaign – the Allied attempt to capture Constantinople, capital of the Ottoman Empire, during WWI. 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. Simpson and his donkey called Duffy (also Murphy and the Donk), have become part of the ANZAC legend. Bronwyn and Paul Smith photographed with the commemorative statue (sculptor Peter Corlett), at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra on Remembrance Day. Paul and Bronwyn were the official guests of AWM Council Member Mrs Josephine Stone AM.



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