John Simpson Kirkpatrick The Man with the Donkey (Gallipoli)

Local History for Tyne & Wear
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jim3
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John Simpson Kirkpatrick The Man with the Donkey (Gallipoli)

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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
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Re: John Simpson Kirkpatrick The Man with the Donkey (Gallip

Post by queenvictoriaiii »

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
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jeff
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Re: John Simpson Kirkpatrick The Man with the Donkey (Gallip

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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.

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Re: John Simpson Kirkpatrick The Man with the Donkey (Gallip

Post by jimmywizz »

i can never figure out why this story has never been made into a blockbuster film
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Re: John Simpson Kirkpatrick The Man with the Donkey (Gallip

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Perhaps they couldn't find an American actor who could do a decent Tyneside accent! :lol:
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Re: John Simpson Kirkpatrick The Man with the Donkey (Gallip

Post by westoelad »

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.
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Re: John Simpson Kirkpatrick The Man with the Donkey (Gallip

Post by sherri »

Over here, he is generally just known as Simpson and his donkey.
Part of the ANZAC story.
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Re: John Simpson Kirkpatrick The Man with the Donkey (Gallip

Post by memor »

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.
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Re: John Simpson Kirkpatrick The Man with the Donkey (Gallip

Post by Pooter »

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

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Re: John Simpson Kirkpatrick The Man with the Donkey (Gallipoli)

Post by Rustic123 »

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.
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