South Shields Sanddancers Forum

Prior to joining the merchant navy in 1909, Kirkpatrick attended 'Barnes Rd.', 'Mortimer Rd.', St. Mary's Sunday School, Tyne Dock and worked as a milkman for Pattinson's. His South Shields friends included Billy Lowes, John Jackson, Jim Wilkinson, John Waters, Willie Jackson Bowman, John Shaw, Wilf Robson, Louis Halliday, William Voyce and John Fenwick (later of Fenwicks Barra's of Laygate). Kirkpatrick's sister, Mrs. Annie Pearson and her husband Adam lived in the town until the late 1950's and attended memorial services at Mortimer Rd. School. If you have come across any of these names in your family tree, or have photographs of any of the above places or know of any stories about Kirkpatrick (his friends or family) which have been passed down from one generation to the next, I'd like to here them. Cheers. Jim3

If you are interested in Kirkpatrick's life story, you may be interested in this You Tube video. Enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3x5yGe_vhc

Three representations of the man with the donkey. The two "chainsaw" sculptures are on the Promenade at Lakes Entrance on the south coast of Victoria and the other one is the "official" one at the National Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne.

radstockjeff

i can never figure out why this story has never been made into a blockbuster film

Perhaps they couldn't find an American actor who could do a decent Tyneside accent!

jimmywizz wrote:i can never figure out why this story has never been made into a blockbuster film

Completely agree Jimmy,

Imagine if our own Ridley Scott happened upon the idea - now he could do the story justice.

Over here, he is generally just known as Simpson and his donkey.
Part of the ANZAC story.

jimmywizz wrote:i can never figure out why this story has never been made into a blockbuster film

It would be a real tear jerker.

He gets killed at the end trying to save the donkey from the turks who want to turn the donkey into kebabs.

Here's a different view of the statue taken on a visit by my brother in the mid 1980s.

Hi
I am researching my family tree. Reading your article, my grandfather was called John James Shaw and lived 38 Eleanor St/ Dale St, the same period. I, and my sister were born and lived at 6, Eleanor St 1951/54. Any info would be great.