Anzac Day 2023
Soon our nation will pause for Anzac Day, and services will honour those who served on far-away battle fields. Anzac Day began as a commemoration of what took place in 1915 when Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (Anzac) landed at Gallipoli in Turkey, but it has broadened to include both world wars as well as other military interventions that Kiwi servicemen and women have been engaged with.
Murray Smith
War is ugly, revealing human depravity at its worst. But sometimes it has displayed what is most noble. The 2016 biographical movie Hacksaw Ridge documents the courage of Desmond Doss who enlisted as an army combat medic in the early stages of the United States being drawn into World War II. He excelled in training but reviled for refusing to hold a gun or participate in combat. His true qualities came to light on the battlefield.
In a dreadful evacuation from an escarpment during the Battle of Okinawa, Doss was drawn back by the cries of wounded soldiers. He carried them under heavy fire to a cliff’s edge and single-handedly lowered down dozens of his fellow soldiers – many who previously scorned him – by rope to receive help.
John Simpson died 111 years ago, on May 19, 1915, aged 22. He too never fired a shot in war, nor participated in the horrific loss of life of from the Gallipoli trenches. But he is remembered for his bravery and his personal sacrifice to save others.
John Simpson Kirkpatrick was born in Britain but made his way to live in Australia. With the outbreak of war in August 1914, he enlisted and ended up serving at Gallipoli the following year as Private John Simpson in the Australian Army Medical Corps. He served from the time of landing at Gallipoli on April 25 until he was killed in action on May 19.
Simpson began as a stretcher bearer, but the loss of co-bearers reduced him to carrying the wounded on his back. In England he had given children seaside donkey rides, so with that experience he began using donkeys to carry the wounded day and night from the fighting to the beach at Anzac Cove, braving sniper fire and deadly shrapnel. It is believed his activities saved the lives of about 300 men. Ultimately Simpson sacrificed his life, a bullet pierced his heart under machine gun fire.
Jesus’ words are often quoted at Anzac Day services. “No man has greater love than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” Desmond Doss risked his life – John Simpson laid down his, saving the lives of injured comrades.
Giving one’s life for a friend, is admirable… giving your life for an ‘enemy’ is rare indeed. The Bible states “it is an extraordinary thing for someone to die and give their life for a friend – but God showed His great love by sending Christ to die for us even when our sin estranged us.” What’s our response to that sacrifice?
Cas Stinson, left, and Colin Parkinson of the Cambridge RSA lay poppies during the Dawn Ceremony. Anzac Day Dawn Parade 2025. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
