‘Simpson and his donkey’ sculpture being lowered into its new home at the Australian War Memorial. Photo: James Coleman.
The Australian War Memorial’s most loved sculpture has reclaimed pride of place near the main entrance after three years in storage.
‘Simpson and his donkey’ was painstakingly craned into its new home at the southern entrance to the Memorial on Friday morning (13 December).
The bronze statue, weighing nearly 800 kg and standing 2.35 metres tall, is the work of Peter Corlett and commemorates perhaps the most prominent symbol of Australian courage and tenacity during the brutal Gallipoli campaign in World War I.
When it was unveiled in 1988, it was also the first to honour an individual on the Memorial’s grounds.
John Simpson Kirkpatrick was an English-born trade union activist who enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) on the eve of WWI. He’d previously deserted the merchant navy in 1910 and figured this would be a good way to get back home.
Instead, he found himself at Anzac Cove on 25 April 1915.
He was assigned the role of stretcher bearer, traversing the slopes of the peninsula, rescuing wounded soldiers and bringing them to safety, but very quickly opted to use one of the force’s donkeys instead.
Simpson and his donkey. Photo: Australian War Memorial.
“We had donkeys on the peninsula to cart water and other supplies and he commandeered one and became known across the peninsula as ‘the man with the donkey’,” Australian War Memorial director Matt Anderson explains.
“Every day, he would go up from ‘Hellspit’ – what we now call Anzac Beach – to rescue the wounded and bring them back. All the official reports say that along the routes he took, he was exposed to rifle fire, sniper fire, shrapnel.”
Private Simpson was killed less than four weeks later.
“But such was the contribution he made, he was able to forge such a reputation in those four weeks.”
Preparing to disembark the truck. Photo: James Coleman.
Mr Anderson says he’s become “arguably the most identifiable and recognisable” figure from the Gallipoli campaign as an “unarmed soldier who ultimately gave his life for others”.
Over the years, parts of the sculpture have changed colour due to the sheer number of people rubbing the foot of the soldier or patting the nose of the donkey – just as its maker intended.
“Peter Corlett, the sculptor, wanted people to engage with it,” Mr Anderson says.
Previously located in the ‘Sculpture Garden’ on the western side of the site, it was tucked away safely into storage at the Memorial’s Mitchell warehouse three years ago when work began on the $550 million redevelopment project.
It’s now on the other side of the site, downstairs from the existing forecourt and just outside the new Southern Entrance.
“It’s been placed there, so not only is he walking towards the Memorial, but it’s on the café side of the building, near the entrance ramp. I know this will be very popular in terms of foot traffic.”
‘Simpson and his donkey’ being installed at the new site. Photo: James Coleman.
The statue also forgoes its original plinth to bring it closer to ground level. Head of art Laura Webster says that makes it more “approachable and accessible” for the Memorial’s visitors.
“Peter Corlett’s intention was for the sculpture to be a national icon of compassion, courage and humility,” she says.
“It speaks to our common humanity and how we have the capacity as ordinary people to do extraordinary things in challenging times.”
The new entrance will open to visitors by Christmas.
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