Condolence letters for John Simpson Kirkpatrick, 1915

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Part of Quest:
John Simpson Kirkpatrick Letters
Subject:
  • ANZAC
Status:
Finalised
Accession number:
RCDIG0000383
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 11

Fallih G. Moneat September 2nd 1753 Dear tir Dimpson I was ertenely sory to hem from you tat you had had no word from us about your totter. Colonel Button. Hen commanding the Ambulance, I am practually certain very shortly fer the sermne Clonl Batton han how left as + I was more in Loesh and you batter tan to ter remaining ffeers of oun corse, s daw reslying to you letter Your brotter landed with ues from the tapeds brat at dayheake on the 20th of aprel so taking part in the hestoric landing. De did excellent work during to day. Ie discoured a donkey in a desera his Deck possession & wriked up & down a dangerous vally carying wounded men t This plan may the bead on the donkey
a e a n he e ene day by day from morning till night. best known men in became one of the division. Crryone from the general downwards seems to have known him his donley which he christened tphy. valley at the Sime was very dangeray it was expsed to snipers & was als continuously shelled. He seemed danger, & alway left going wherthin Javourte Do D ringing, a universal worked for three weaks. On the night the 18th May, as you will have read in the papers, the Tanks made a heavy art on our position. Early in the reoming se ureal you boter was at work when a Tuukish machene gun played on the track where he was passing; the day of his almost meraculary escapes were passed, for he fell on the got. olot that the Teat. He Tuly dos dony hies any 1038
We tuned him f t mest in a litte hill near the sea chore 14 frcen Queensland Point, Rheplain Colonel of our blivinion reading the service. Ei 3 The moe your hatter that hen exceptionally good tot his name was day. WI hoped mentioned in orders of the that me of the melitary dicorations of honoon might be awarded tim as he fulis drewed it, but efurtunately all a disered cannot receive the special rewaids Mrs Dimpson & yourself can at leas take comfort that he gave his life o the pesosmance of gallant & dheful servie that has been excelled by nove am enclosing with tis letter the Ambulance Regimental Badges oct which you have desired. Yo bretter effects have been sent to the Pase & will be forwarded in due cousse to you. In conclusion I ail to exfress the dis genfatly of our whole unet wtt thes sompe & yause wa sad larement a E2 Yours Fensreg f. H.M D Arb been e,
Gallet Dear Mes Denpeon The enclose from an Custalion neay of 8uoy I am just reached me shauld s Se you in case 4 tesses have peea Ha agate once is storcer Of Cennily 4 Feeld Conlilamnz
Please return you bes is my dear minler sandrnting hime
ASSEDEY 87 EEHSOR
44 Withnell Rd. Blackpool Nov. 5 1915 My dear Mrs Kirkpatrick I cannot tell you how very beny sorry I am to hear about the John, I well not son the sad death death of as I think it was the most glorious end any man could have. He must have saed the live many & reliered the supperings of hundreds before his call came, & freake love habh no man can this I know your anguisa of mind + heart muist be intense, feor Mr. Mokpabick, & the knowledge that John died a heros death is not very consolind at the moment, but I pray that God in this Mercy widl give yousteneth to bear your brreavement There is the to feel glad of that his death must have been instantanions & painless & even death seems preferable to the urribly cases I disfegurment + disablement thatone seez here. It seems just the other doysince John was aliule boy abschool & all we teachers were so fond of him & so proyd him - we lule thought at the hime had
Fane e he swwould hae the opportunity of dis tinguishing himself To nobley & that his hame worlld be inscribed for all time on the role of Englands Heroes Mary has sent me the colu from the Gazetty, & I were prond to read it & to realise that his nobility character was just as much appreciabed in his manhood by his offices & comades as it was by all who knew him as a little school boy. Teapeat you have heard from Miss Robertson, I know she will be deeply grieved. Tha Mrs Hirkpatrick, I trust that the lone of God which passes all understanding will lase the ache in your mothers heart & hedp you to bear your thrrible affliction & give for peace. Yours mostinceely M. Braham-Fic. Fom his etleher when a littleboe af Ae Baynes School Bit BslS 3FS JONNIRN ✓
Famen When he nes anlet. BAY
th Nov 28 1910 Blandford Dear Mro Kilpatrick was very sorry that I could not come to see you before I left. had to leave home on Friday night As I ins tead of Saturday, as the train on sat. would not catch the connections + I would not have got here till Monday would had come win. the Saturday train if so you will have to excuse me. I arrived hereon Saturday at 4 pm, & saw the doctor I he has given me duty & put me in the first class + that means that I will have to go but I am going to see away again him again in the morning, as my leg is troubling me with the heavy shoes, I don't think much of the doctor that I saw so I will see another one in the morning. I hear that we are going to get either 7 or 10days at X mas so I will pay you a visit. Hoping that you are keeping better, I often think about jack especially when I tell people about your son saving me & losing his own life after doing such good work, & if anybody was worthy of a ORIA 00032
N. C. 2l was gack. I think the is all the news at present, & will be sure to see you at the holidays. Foain W. Lowis yens is a So. Shuilds man now living in Laygate Pease So. Shields EMORI

Gallipoli Vicinity 
September 2nd 1915 
  
Dear Miss Simpson 
I am extremely sorry  
to hear from you that you had had no  
word from us about your brother.  Colonel  
Sutton, then commanding the ambulance,  
wrote, I am practically certain, very shortly  
after the occurrence. Colonel Sutton has  
now left us, & I was more in touch with  
your brother than the other remaining officers  
of my corps, so I am replying to your  
letter. 
Your brother landed with us from the  
torpedo boat at daybreak on the 25th of April  
so taking part in the historic landing.  He  
did excellent work during the day. He  
discovered a donkey in a deserted hut,  
took possession, & worked up & down a  
dangerous valley carrying wounded men to  
the beach on the donkey.  His plan was

 

a very great success, so he continued  
day by day from morning till night, &  
became one of the best known men in  
the division.  Everyone from the general  
downwards seems to have known him &  
his donkey which he christened Murphy.  
The valley at the time was very dangerous  
as it was exposed to snipers, & was also  
continuously shelled.  He scorned the  
danger, & always kept going whistling &  
singing, a universal favourite.  So he  
worked for three weeks.  On the night of  
the 18th May, as you will have read in  
the papers, the Turks made a heavy attack  
on our position.  Early in the morning  
as usual your brother was at work,  
when a Turkish machine gun played over 
the track where he was passing; the days 
of his almost miraculous escapes were passed,  
for he fell on the spot, shot thro’ the  
heart.  He truly died doing his duty. 

 

We buried him that night on a little  
hill near the sea shore known as  
Queensland Point, Chaplain Colonel Green  
of our Division reading the service. 
The work your brother did was so  
exceptionally good that his name was  
mentioned in orders of the day.  We hoped  
that one of the military decorations of honour  
might be awarded him, as he fully  
deserved it, but unfortunately all who  
deserve cannot receive the special awards.  
Mrs Simpson & yourself can at least  
take comfort that he gave his life  
in the performance of gallant & cheerful  
service that has been excelled by none. 
I am enclosing with this letter a  
set of the Ambulance Regimental Badges,  
which you have desired.  Your brothers effects  
have been sent to the Base & will be  
forwarded in due course to you. 
In conclusion I wish to express the  
deep sympathy of our whole unit with Mrs Simpson  
& yourself in your sad bereavement.   
Believe me, Yours sincerely H. Kenneth Fry Capt. 
3. F. Amb. 

 

Gallipoli 
Sept. 16th 1915 
  
Dear Miss Simpson 
The enclosed cutting from an Australian newspaper has just reached me, & I am sending it to you in case you should not have seen it.  It testifies once again to your brothers work. 
  
Yours sincerely 
H Kenneth Fry 
Capt 
3rd Field Ambulance

 

Please return this back after you read it. 
  
This is my dear mother's handwriting 
Annie

 

PASSED BY 
No 2861 
CENSOR 
  
Miss A. Simpson 
14 Bertram St 
South Shiels 
Durham 
England 
[*H Kenneth Fry*]

 

44 Withnell Rd, 
Blackpool 
Nov. 5th 1915. 
  
My dear Mrs Kirkpatrick 
I cannot tell you 
how very very sorry I am to hear about the 
death of John.  I will not say the "sad" death 
as I think it was the most glorious end any 
man could have.  He must have saved the lives 
of many & relieved the sufferings of hundreds 
before his call came, & "greater love hath no man 
than this." 
I know your anguish 
of mind & heart must be intense dear Mrs 
Kirkpatrick, & the knowledge that John died 
a hero's death is not very consoling at the 
moment, but I pray that God in His Mercy 
will give you strength to bear your bereavement. 
 There is this to feel glad of that his death must 
have been instantaneous & painless & even death 
seems preferable to the terrible cases of 
disfigurement & disablement that one sees here. 
It seems just the 
other day since John was a little boy at school 
& all the teachers were so fond of him & so proud 
of him - we little thought at the time that 

 

he would have the opportunity of distinguishing 
himself so nobly & that his 
name would be inscribed for all time on the 
role of "England's Heroes".  Mary has sent 
me the column from the Gazette, & I was 
proud to read it & to realise that his nobility 
of character was just as much appreciated 
in his manhood by his officers & comrades 
as it was by all who knew him as a little 
school boy.  I expect you have heard from 
Miss Robertson.  I know she will be deeply 
grieved. 
Dear Mrs Kirkpatrick I trust 
that the "love of God which passes all 
understanding" will ease the ache in your 
mother's heart & help you to bear your terrible 
affliction & give you peace. 
Yours most sincerely 
M. Braham - Fox 
  
From his teacher 
when he was a little boy 
at the [[Barnes]] School.

 

from his 
From one of his teachers 
when he was a little boy 
  
DONATED RECORDS LIST 
3424 
3rd Series 
  
DONATED RECORDS LIST 
3424 
3rd Series

 

Nov 28th 1915 
Blandford 
  
Dear Mrs Kirkpatrick 
I was very sorry that I 
could not come to see you before I left. 
As I had to leave home on Friday night 
instead of Saturday, as the train on Sat. 
would not catch the connections & I would 
would not have got here till Monday 
if I had come with the Saturday train 
so you will have to excuse me.  I 
arrived here on Saturday at 4pm, & 
I saw the doctor & he has given me 
duty & put me in the first class & 
that means that I will have to go 
away again, but I am going to see 
him again in the morning, as my 
leg is troubling me with the heavy 
shoes. I don't think much of the 
doctor that I saw so I will see 
another one in the morning.  I hear that 
we are going to get either 7 or 10 days at 
Xmas so I will pay you a visit.  Hoping 
that you are keeping better. I often think 
about Jack especially when I tell 
people about your son saving me & losing 
his own life after doing such good 
work, & if anybody was worthy of a 

 

V.C. it was Jack.  I think this is all the 
news at the present, & will be sure to see you 
at the holidays. 
I remain 
W. Lowes 
  
This is a So: Shields man 
now living 
in Laygate Place 
So: Shields.

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Jacqueline KennedyJacqueline Kennedy
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