The Anzac myth is justified because of the hundred upon thousands of the letters home describing the mateship, courage and bravery of the troops by journalists, historians and ordinary soldiers.
Letters from ordinary soldiers home told of the courage and bravado of their fellow soldiers. The soldiers told of the seriously wounded being carried by their mates down into the overcrowded hospitals. One such letter by Albert Keown from Prahran in Victoria tells of all of this after he was shot in the shoulder " . . .Wounded helping the wounded . . .led us to the field dressing station . . .received aid until they were taken to the Base Hospital on the Beach . . .694 cases come in this night alone . . . room for less than 10." Albert Keown was repatriated to Australia after it was discover his shoulder was shattered. There were hundreds of letters like this describing how a wounded soldier would help another wounded person down to the field dressing station. As much as Albert Keown witnessed and took part in these activities of courage under fire and bravery, he could never amount to what one man and his donkey did to justify the Anzac myth.
Jack Simpson Kirkpatrick epitomized the Anzac Myth. Simpson as he is commonly known and his donkey saved over 300 ANZAC troops from certain death. Simpson and his donkey were remembered fondly by every officer at Gallipoli. Captain C. Longmore, in 1933, remembered how the soldiers "watched him spellbound from the trenches. it was one of the most inspiring sights of those early Gallipoli days.".
Simpson and Albert Keown witnessed and took part in just a small part of what was the ANZAC myth, which praised self-sacrifice, bravery and courage. All those who served on the shores of Gallipoli lauded, friendship, honesty, loyalty and above all else, helping there mates. That is why the Anzac myth is justified. .
