South Tyneside Pays Tribute on Anzac Day

The folks of South Tyneside got here collectively to honour members of the Australian and New Zealand Military Corps at a particular ANZAC Day service held immediately (Thursday 25 April).

Anzac Day is a Nationwide Day of Remembrance commemorating those that fought within the battle of Gallipoli in the course of the First World Warfare, together with South Shields-born Non-public John Simpson Kirkpatrick, often called ‘The Man with the Donkey.’

To mark the event, a service befell on the John Simpson Kirkpatrick memorial statue in Ocean Street, South Shields City Centre.

The Mayor of South Tyneside, Councillor John McCabe was joined by the Mayoress, Julie McCabe and the Deputy Lieutenant of Tyne and Put on, Col. Ann Clouston to steer the service, which included a one-minute silence, renditions of The Final Publish and Reveille. Wreaths had been additionally laid on behalf of the folks of the Borough.

It was performed by Father Mark Mawhinney and attended by native dignitaries, navy organisations and youngsters from Lord Blyton and Stanhope major colleges.

Kirkpatrick risked his personal life to rescue greater than 300 wounded Australian and New Zealand soldier from the frontline in the course of the Gallipoli marketing campaign of 1915. He carried the troopers to security utilizing his trusted donkey till he was killed on the age of twenty-two by a sniper’s bullet on 19 Might 1915.

His bravery continues to encourage generations of individuals and he’s nonetheless extremely regarded in Australia the place his superb story is informed to schoolchildren.

The Mayor mentioned: “It was an honour to pay tribute to John Simpson Kirkpatrick for his unbelievable bravery and to all of the service personnel who misplaced their lives at Gallipoli.

“The Gallipoli marketing campaign was one of many Allie’ nice navy disasters within the First World Warfare, but additionally stands out for the immense bravery of the Anzac troops.

“Kirkpatrick is just not solely a son of South Shields, however rightly thought to be certainly one of Australia’s biggest heroes. We had been so proud to honour and bear in mind him and his comrades on this approach.”

The Mayor additionally laid a wreath on the Gallipoli memorial at Littlehaven Promenade. The memorial was unveiled in 2015 marking the 100^th anniversary of Kirkpatrick’s loss of life.