Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), Monday 17 April 1950, page 1


Man with Donkey "not Australian"

THE PAINTING of "The Man with the Donkey."

AUCKLAND, Sun.: Blind and ageing Anzac veteran Dick Henderson says that he is the man in the famous Gallipoli painting of "Simp-son and his Donkey," and that the legend has grown around an error made by the painter.

The picture, immortalising an Australian soldier and his donkey, who carried wounded troops to safety on Gallipoli, was painted more than 30 years ago by Sapper H. Moore Jones.

The soldier, known as "Simpson," was Pte. John Simpson Kirkpatrick, of the 3rd Aust. Field Ambulance.

"Simpson" was killed by an enemy sniper a fortnight after the landing on Galli-poli on April 25, 1915.

Henderson, who was a private in the N.Z. 1st Field Ambulance, says that he took over "Simpson's" rescue work for about six weeks, and it was from a photo-graph taken of him at Gallipoli by J. G. Jackson, of Christchurch, that Sapper Jones made his painting.

Henderson says the legend was wrong in that "Murphy" referred to on the painting was not the soldier's name.

The donkey was found wandering along a shell-torn beach by "Simpson," who decided to use it, and named it "Murphy."

Henderson watched the legend grow around the painting, and did not worry about the mistake, but "now he's getting old and wants the matter cleared up."