Alfred John Shout
Encyclopedia
Alfred John Shout VC
, MC
(8 August 1882 – 11 August 1915) was the most highly decorated Australia
n during the Battle of Gallipoli
. In 1915 he was awarded the Military Cross
during the landing at Anzac Cove
in April and receiving the Victoria Cross
posthumously for his actions during the Battle of Lone Pine
in August. He was also Mentioned in Despatches twice.
, on 8 August 1882, the son of English-born cook John Shout and his Irish wife Agnes (née McGovern). He was privately educated in his youth. In 1900, Shout joined a New Zealand Army
contingent for service in the Second Boer War
. He "served with distinction" as a member of the New Zealand Border Horse in South Africa
, and was wounded twice. On 29 January 1901, Shout, then a lance corporal
, was engaged in action with his unit at Thabaksberg. Throughout the battle, he "assisted greatly" in maintaining the position of his men, and at one stage ventured out under heavy rifle fire to retrieve a wounded man, bringing him back to a place of safety. As a result of his "great courage" in this action, Shout was Mentioned in Despatches. He was promoted to sergeant
on 7 May 1901, and discharged from service in 1902.
Shout remained in South Africa after his discharge and enlisted in Prince Alfred's Own Cape Field Artillery
—a South African unit of the British Army
—as a sergeant in 1903. During this time, he married Rose Alice; the couple had daughter Florence in 1905. In 1907, the Shout family emigrated to Australia, settling in the Sydney
suburb of Darlington
. Shout gained employment as a carpenter
and joiner
, but also "pursued his military interests" by joining the 29th Infantry Regiment of the Citizens Military Force
. He was a regular visitor of the Randwick
rifle range, gaining a reputation as a fine shot with the firearm. A foundation member of the 29th Infantry Club, Shout was commissioned
as a second lieutenant
in the Citizens Military Force on 16 June 1914.
on 27 August 1914, and was posted to the 1st Battalion as a second lieutenant in F Company under the command of Lieutenant Cecil Sasse. On 18 October, the 1st Battalion embarked for Egypt
, with Shout boarding HMAT Afric at Sydney. Following a brief stop at Albany
, Western Australia
, the troopship arrived at its destination on 2 December. Shortly after its arrival, the 1st Battalion was re-moulded into a formation of four companies, and Shout was allotted to D Company as a platoon
commander. The battalion spent the following four months training in the Egyptian desert, during which time Shout was advanced to lieutenant
on 1 February 1915.
, the Allied
commanders formulated an invasion plan of the Gallipoli Peninsula. On 25 April 1915, the men of the 1st Australian Brigade—of which the 1st Battalion was part—landed ashore at Anzac Cove
between 05:30 and 07:30 among the second and third waves of Australian troops. On landing with his unit, Shout was "soon in the thick of the fighting", and moved up with one of the 1st Battalion's companies to Baby 700 following a request for reinforcements. Arriving at the position around 11:00, he led a party of men to support the thin defensive line near Walker's Ridge as part of the Australians' rearguard action. The Allied position on Baby 700 had become dire by that afternoon, which was compounded by the small number of available infantry in the area and the complete lack of artillery support, when the Turks launched an assault. By this stage, Shout and Lieutenant Leslie Morshead
of the 2nd Battalion were the only two surviving officers in their sector of the line. At 16:30, the Turks broke through the defensive line and the Allies were forced to abandon their positions on Baby 700; Shout was one of the last to leave the position, and withdrew down to the beach. On returning to the beach, he was immediately tasked with leading 200 men to reinforce Lieutenant Colonel George Braund's position at Russell's Top on Walker's Ridge. Shout, as dusk began to set in, established a post at the base of the ridge as the men started to dig in.
By 27 April, Shout had been continually in action without rest since the landing. That morning, he was despatched to a sector of Walter's Ridge to replace a wounded officer. At his new post, Shout and his men were subject to heavy rifle fire from Turkish soldiers located in the scrub just beyond the Australians' trench. He promptly set about reorganising his men and, having done so, ventured out to reconnoitre the exact position of the Turkish soldiers in order to accurately direct his men's rifle fire. Despite being wounded early in the action, Shout refused to leave the frontline. Later during the day, the Turks were closing in on the Australian trench and Shout led a bayonet change against their position. He was later wounded a second time, with a bullet passing through his arm and rendering it useless, but still refused to leave. Soon after, he was wounded a third time and was evacuated for treatment. Throughout the battle, Shout had carried several wounded men out of the frontline. Cited for his "conspicuous courage and ability" at Walker's Ridge, Shout was consequently awarded the Military Cross
, becoming the first member of his battalion to be honoured with the decoration. The notification and accompanying citation for the medal was published in a supplement to the London Gazette
on 3 July 1915.
Shout's wounds proved not to be serious and he soon rejoined the 1st Battalion. On 11 May, he was injured once again, suffering another bullet wound to his arm and was evacuated to the hospital ship
Gascon; he rejoined his unit fifteen days later, having sufficiently recovered. On 20 May, Shout was Mentioned in the Despatch of General Sir Ian Hamilton
, General Officer Commanding Mediterranean Expeditionary Force
, as a result of his efforts from the landing on 25 April up to 5 May. He was promoted to captain
on 29 July.
was launched by the men of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Battalions, 1st Australian Brigade, with the 1st Battalion in reserve. The attack was orchestrated as one of a set of feints in order to draw Turkish attention and divert reinforcements from the British landings at Suvla Bay
and thus the Allied offensive on Sari Bair
. The Australian assault commenced in the late afternoon just before sunset, and within half an hour they had seized their objectives. Despite the initial success, the Australian casualties had been heavy and the 1st Battalion was ordered forward in preparation for the expected Turkish counter-attack. The battle subsequently descended into "bitter, savage fighting" over the following days, predominantly in the form of "deadly bombing duels" with grenades.
At 09:00 on 9 August, the 1st Battalion relieved the 3rd Battalion at Sasse's Sap on the Lone Pine frontline. However, as soon as the men of the 3rd Battalion were clear of the trenches, the Turks renewed their attack and were successful in seizing a significant proportion of Sasse's Sap. In response, Shout and Captain Cecil Sasse gathered three men to carry sandbags in order to construct trench barricades and charged down the Sap. The two officers ran at the head of the party, with Sasse sniping at the Turkish soldiers with his rifle while Shout hurled bombs. The group advanced small stages at a time until they had recaptured approximately 20 metres (21.9 yd) of the line, at which point the trio carrying the sandbags constructed a barricade while Sasse continued to fire at the Turks. Sasse was credited with killing twelve Turkish soldiers during the action and Shout with eight, while forcing the remainder to flee.
Sasse, "elated" by their achievement earlier that day, went to Shout that afternoon and the pair agreed to attempt a repeat of the earlier operation. This time, the duo assembled a party of eight men to carry sandbags and extra bombs. Having made a "sufficient reconnaissance" of the area, the previously erected barricade was shoved down and, side-by-side, Sasse and Shout ran forward. The group advanced in much the same manner as before, moving in short stages and building a barricade each time they halted. Shout was fighting with "splendid gaiety" throughout the assault, "laughing and joking and cheering his men on". As they progressed further, the two officers spotted a suitable location to raise their final barricade. Shout then simultaneously lit three bombs for the final run forward in an effort to prevent the Turkish soldiers from hindering the construction of the barricade. He successfully threw two of the grenades, and attempted to hurl the third when it burst as it was leaving his hand. Shout was mortally wounded, the explosion having shattered his right hand and part of the left, destroying his left eye, cutting his face, and causing burns to his chest and leg. Despite the severity of his injuries, Shout maintained consciousness and was dragged out of the firing line, where he remained cheerful, "drank tea and sent a message to his wife".
. As a consequence of his actions during the Battle of Lone Pine, Shout was awarded the Victoria Cross
, while Captain Cecil Sasse was decorated with the Distinguished Service Order
. The announcement of Shout's Victoria Cross was promulgated in an issue of the London Gazette on 15 October 1915, reading:
Considerable confusion reigned following Shout's death. On 15 August the Army sent a cable telling Rose Shout that her husband had been wounded a second time (she had already received notification of his 27 April wound). Initially, records showed Shout died on 11 August but they were then altered on 20 August showing him 'Not Dead' on Thermistocles returning to Australia. The press in Australia published news of his return, adding that he would arrive in Sydney mid-September.
Shortly after the war the citizens of Darlington commemorated the name of Alfred Shout on a memorial plaque. This plaque is now held at Victoria Barracks
having been removed from Darlington.
Until 2006 Shout's medals, including his Victoria Cross, remained in the possession of his family — at the time, the only one of the nine VCs won by Australians at Gallipoli not in the collection of the Australian War Memorial
. On 24 July 2006 the medals were auctioned with the VC fetching a record A$
1.2 million, surpassing the previous record price for the VC of Norman Cyril Jackson
. Shout's medals were bought by Kerry Stokes
, and donated to the Australian War Memorial
.
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
, MC
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
(8 August 1882 – 11 August 1915) was the most highly decorated Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n during the Battle of Gallipoli
Battle of Gallipoli
The Gallipoli Campaign, also known as the Dardanelles Campaign or the Battle of Gallipoli, took place at the peninsula of Gallipoli in the Ottoman Empire between 25 April 1915 and 9 January 1916, during the First World War...
. In 1915 he was awarded the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
during the landing at Anzac Cove
Landing at Anzac Cove
The landing at Anzac Cove was part of the amphibious invasion of the Gallipoli Peninsula by Australian and New Zealand forces on 25 April 1915. The landing, north of Gaba Tepe on the Aegean coast of the Peninsula, was made by soldiers of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps and was the first...
in April and receiving the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
posthumously for his actions during the Battle of Lone Pine
Battle of Lone Pine
The Battle of Lone Pine was a battle between Australian and Turkish forces that took place during the Gallipoli campaign from 6–10 August 1915. It was part of a diversion to draw attention from the main assaults of 6 August against the Sari Bair peaks of Chunuk Bair and Hill 971, which became...
in August. He was also Mentioned in Despatches twice.
Early life
Alfred John Shout was born in Wellington, New ZealandNew Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, on 8 August 1882, the son of English-born cook John Shout and his Irish wife Agnes (née McGovern). He was privately educated in his youth. In 1900, Shout joined a New Zealand Army
New Zealand Army
The New Zealand Army , is the land component of the New Zealand Defence Force and comprises around 4,500 Regular Force personnel, 2,000 Territorial Force personnel and 500 civilians. Formerly the New Zealand Military Forces, the current name was adopted around 1946...
contingent for service in the Second Boer War
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
. He "served with distinction" as a member of the New Zealand Border Horse in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, and was wounded twice. On 29 January 1901, Shout, then a lance corporal
Lance Corporal
Lance corporal is a military rank, used by many armed forces worldwide, and also by some police forces and other uniformed organizations. It is below the rank of corporal, and is typically the lowest non-commissioned officer, usually equivalent to the NATO Rank Grade OR-3.- Etymology :The presumed...
, was engaged in action with his unit at Thabaksberg. Throughout the battle, he "assisted greatly" in maintaining the position of his men, and at one stage ventured out under heavy rifle fire to retrieve a wounded man, bringing him back to a place of safety. As a result of his "great courage" in this action, Shout was Mentioned in Despatches. He was promoted to sergeant
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
on 7 May 1901, and discharged from service in 1902.
Shout remained in South Africa after his discharge and enlisted in Prince Alfred's Own Cape Field Artillery
Cape Field Artillery
The Cape Field Artillery is an artillery regiment of the South African Army. As a reserve unit, it has a status roughly equivalent to that of a British Territorial Army or United States Army National Guard unit...
—a South African unit of the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
—as a sergeant in 1903. During this time, he married Rose Alice; the couple had daughter Florence in 1905. In 1907, the Shout family emigrated to Australia, settling in the Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
suburb of Darlington
Darlington, New South Wales
Darlington is a small, inner-city suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Darlington is located about 3 kilometres south of the Sydney central business district and is part of the local government area of the City of Sydney and is part of the region of the Inner...
. Shout gained employment as a carpenter
Carpentry
A carpenter is a skilled craftsperson who works with timber to construct, install and maintain buildings, furniture, and other objects. The work, known as carpentry, may involve manual labor and work outdoors....
and joiner
Joiner
A joiner differs from a carpenter in that joiners cut and fit joints in wood that do not use nails. Joiners usually work in a workshop since the formation of various joints generally requires non-portable machinery. A carpenter normally works on site...
, but also "pursued his military interests" by joining the 29th Infantry Regiment of the Citizens Military Force
Australian Army Reserve
The Australian Army Reserve is a collective name given to the reserve units of the Australian Army. Since the Federation of Australia in 1901, the reserve military force has been known by many names, including the Citizens Forces, the Citizen Military Forces, the Militia and, unofficially, the...
. He was a regular visitor of the Randwick
Randwick, New South Wales
Randwick is a suburb in south-eastern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Randwick is located 6 kilometres south-east of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government area of the City of Randwick...
rifle range, gaining a reputation as a fine shot with the firearm. A foundation member of the 29th Infantry Club, Shout was commissioned
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
as a second lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
in the Citizens Military Force on 16 June 1914.
First World War
On the outbreak of the First World War, Shout transferred to the newly raised Australian Imperial ForceFirst Australian Imperial Force
The First Australian Imperial Force was the main expeditionary force of the Australian Army during World War I. It was formed from 15 August 1914, following Britain's declaration of war on Germany. Generally known at the time as the AIF, it is today referred to as the 1st AIF to distinguish from...
on 27 August 1914, and was posted to the 1st Battalion as a second lieutenant in F Company under the command of Lieutenant Cecil Sasse. On 18 October, the 1st Battalion embarked for Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, with Shout boarding HMAT Afric at Sydney. Following a brief stop at Albany
Albany, Western Australia
Albany is a port city in the Great Southern region of Western Australia, some 418 km SE of Perth, the state capital. As of 2009, Albany's population was estimated at 33,600, making it the 6th-largest city in the state....
, Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
, the troopship arrived at its destination on 2 December. Shortly after its arrival, the 1st Battalion was re-moulded into a formation of four companies, and Shout was allotted to D Company as a platoon
Platoon
A platoon is a military unit typically composed of two to four sections or squads and containing 16 to 50 soldiers. Platoons are organized into a company, which typically consists of three, four or five platoons. A platoon is typically the smallest military unit led by a commissioned officer—the...
commander. The battalion spent the following four months training in the Egyptian desert, during which time Shout was advanced to lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
on 1 February 1915.
Landing at Anzac
As part of an endeavour to defeat TurkeyTurkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, the Allied
Allies of World War I
The Entente Powers were the countries at war with the Central Powers during World War I. The members of the Triple Entente were the United Kingdom, France, and the Russian Empire; Italy entered the war on their side in 1915...
commanders formulated an invasion plan of the Gallipoli Peninsula. On 25 April 1915, the men of the 1st Australian Brigade—of which the 1st Battalion was part—landed ashore at Anzac Cove
Landing at Anzac Cove
The landing at Anzac Cove was part of the amphibious invasion of the Gallipoli Peninsula by Australian and New Zealand forces on 25 April 1915. The landing, north of Gaba Tepe on the Aegean coast of the Peninsula, was made by soldiers of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps and was the first...
between 05:30 and 07:30 among the second and third waves of Australian troops. On landing with his unit, Shout was "soon in the thick of the fighting", and moved up with one of the 1st Battalion's companies to Baby 700 following a request for reinforcements. Arriving at the position around 11:00, he led a party of men to support the thin defensive line near Walker's Ridge as part of the Australians' rearguard action. The Allied position on Baby 700 had become dire by that afternoon, which was compounded by the small number of available infantry in the area and the complete lack of artillery support, when the Turks launched an assault. By this stage, Shout and Lieutenant Leslie Morshead
Leslie Morshead
Lieutenant General Sir Leslie James Morshead KCB, KBE, CMG, DSO, ED was an Australian soldier, teacher, businessman, and farmer, with a distinguished military career that spanned both world wars...
of the 2nd Battalion were the only two surviving officers in their sector of the line. At 16:30, the Turks broke through the defensive line and the Allies were forced to abandon their positions on Baby 700; Shout was one of the last to leave the position, and withdrew down to the beach. On returning to the beach, he was immediately tasked with leading 200 men to reinforce Lieutenant Colonel George Braund's position at Russell's Top on Walker's Ridge. Shout, as dusk began to set in, established a post at the base of the ridge as the men started to dig in.
By 27 April, Shout had been continually in action without rest since the landing. That morning, he was despatched to a sector of Walter's Ridge to replace a wounded officer. At his new post, Shout and his men were subject to heavy rifle fire from Turkish soldiers located in the scrub just beyond the Australians' trench. He promptly set about reorganising his men and, having done so, ventured out to reconnoitre the exact position of the Turkish soldiers in order to accurately direct his men's rifle fire. Despite being wounded early in the action, Shout refused to leave the frontline. Later during the day, the Turks were closing in on the Australian trench and Shout led a bayonet change against their position. He was later wounded a second time, with a bullet passing through his arm and rendering it useless, but still refused to leave. Soon after, he was wounded a third time and was evacuated for treatment. Throughout the battle, Shout had carried several wounded men out of the frontline. Cited for his "conspicuous courage and ability" at Walker's Ridge, Shout was consequently awarded the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
, becoming the first member of his battalion to be honoured with the decoration. The notification and accompanying citation for the medal was published in a supplement to the London Gazette
London Gazette
The London Gazette is one of the official journals of record of the British government, and the most important among such official journals in the United Kingdom, in which certain statutory notices are required to be published...
on 3 July 1915.
Shout's wounds proved not to be serious and he soon rejoined the 1st Battalion. On 11 May, he was injured once again, suffering another bullet wound to his arm and was evacuated to the hospital ship
Hospital ship
A hospital ship is a ship designated for primary function as a floating medical treatment facility or hospital; most are operated by the military forces of various countries, as they are intended to be used in or near war zones....
Gascon; he rejoined his unit fifteen days later, having sufficiently recovered. On 20 May, Shout was Mentioned in the Despatch of General Sir Ian Hamilton
Ian Standish Monteith Hamilton
General Sir Ian Standish Monteith Hamilton GCB GCMG DSO TD was a general in the British Army and is most notably for commanding the ill-fated Mediterranean Expeditionary Force during the Battle of Gallipoli....
, General Officer Commanding Mediterranean Expeditionary Force
Mediterranean Expeditionary Force
The Mediterranean Expeditionary Force was part of the British Army during World War I, that commanded all Allied forces at Gallipoli and Salonika. This included the initial naval operation to force the straits of the Dardanelles. Its headquarters was formed in March 1915...
, as a result of his efforts from the landing on 25 April up to 5 May. He was promoted to captain
Captain (British Army and Royal Marines)
Captain is a junior officer rank of the British Army and Royal Marines. It ranks above Lieutenant and below Major and has a NATO ranking code of OF-2. The rank is equivalent to a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy and to a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force...
on 29 July.
Lone Pine
On 6 August 1915, an assault on the "impregnable" Turkish position at Lone PineBattle of Lone Pine
The Battle of Lone Pine was a battle between Australian and Turkish forces that took place during the Gallipoli campaign from 6–10 August 1915. It was part of a diversion to draw attention from the main assaults of 6 August against the Sari Bair peaks of Chunuk Bair and Hill 971, which became...
was launched by the men of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Battalions, 1st Australian Brigade, with the 1st Battalion in reserve. The attack was orchestrated as one of a set of feints in order to draw Turkish attention and divert reinforcements from the British landings at Suvla Bay
Landing at Suvla Bay
The landing at Suvla Bay was an amphibious landing made at Suvla on the Aegean coast of Gallipoli peninsula in the Ottoman Empire as part of the August Offensive, the final British attempt to break the deadlock of the Battle of Gallipoli...
and thus the Allied offensive on Sari Bair
Battle of Sari Bair
The Battle of Sari Bair , also known as the August Offensive, was the final attempt made by the British in August 1915 to seize control of the Gallipoli peninsula from the Ottoman Empire during First World War.The Battle of Gallipoli had raged on two fronts, Anzac and Helles, for three months since...
. The Australian assault commenced in the late afternoon just before sunset, and within half an hour they had seized their objectives. Despite the initial success, the Australian casualties had been heavy and the 1st Battalion was ordered forward in preparation for the expected Turkish counter-attack. The battle subsequently descended into "bitter, savage fighting" over the following days, predominantly in the form of "deadly bombing duels" with grenades.
At 09:00 on 9 August, the 1st Battalion relieved the 3rd Battalion at Sasse's Sap on the Lone Pine frontline. However, as soon as the men of the 3rd Battalion were clear of the trenches, the Turks renewed their attack and were successful in seizing a significant proportion of Sasse's Sap. In response, Shout and Captain Cecil Sasse gathered three men to carry sandbags in order to construct trench barricades and charged down the Sap. The two officers ran at the head of the party, with Sasse sniping at the Turkish soldiers with his rifle while Shout hurled bombs. The group advanced small stages at a time until they had recaptured approximately 20 metres (21.9 yd) of the line, at which point the trio carrying the sandbags constructed a barricade while Sasse continued to fire at the Turks. Sasse was credited with killing twelve Turkish soldiers during the action and Shout with eight, while forcing the remainder to flee.
Sasse, "elated" by their achievement earlier that day, went to Shout that afternoon and the pair agreed to attempt a repeat of the earlier operation. This time, the duo assembled a party of eight men to carry sandbags and extra bombs. Having made a "sufficient reconnaissance" of the area, the previously erected barricade was shoved down and, side-by-side, Sasse and Shout ran forward. The group advanced in much the same manner as before, moving in short stages and building a barricade each time they halted. Shout was fighting with "splendid gaiety" throughout the assault, "laughing and joking and cheering his men on". As they progressed further, the two officers spotted a suitable location to raise their final barricade. Shout then simultaneously lit three bombs for the final run forward in an effort to prevent the Turkish soldiers from hindering the construction of the barricade. He successfully threw two of the grenades, and attempted to hurl the third when it burst as it was leaving his hand. Shout was mortally wounded, the explosion having shattered his right hand and part of the left, destroying his left eye, cutting his face, and causing burns to his chest and leg. Despite the severity of his injuries, Shout maintained consciousness and was dragged out of the firing line, where he remained cheerful, "drank tea and sent a message to his wife".
Legacy
Shout was evacuated from the Gallipoli Peninsula to the hospital ship Euralia shortly afterwards. On 11 August 1915, he succumbed to his wounds and was buried at seaBurial at sea
Burial at sea describes the procedure of disposing of human remains in the ocean, normally from a ship or boat. It is regularly performed by navies, but also can be done by private citizens in many countries.-By religion:...
. As a consequence of his actions during the Battle of Lone Pine, Shout was awarded the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
, while Captain Cecil Sasse was decorated with the Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
. The announcement of Shout's Victoria Cross was promulgated in an issue of the London Gazette on 15 October 1915, reading:
Considerable confusion reigned following Shout's death. On 15 August the Army sent a cable telling Rose Shout that her husband had been wounded a second time (she had already received notification of his 27 April wound). Initially, records showed Shout died on 11 August but they were then altered on 20 August showing him 'Not Dead' on Thermistocles returning to Australia. The press in Australia published news of his return, adding that he would arrive in Sydney mid-September.
Shortly after the war the citizens of Darlington commemorated the name of Alfred Shout on a memorial plaque. This plaque is now held at Victoria Barracks
Victoria Barracks
There are several Victoria Barracks in the world.*Victoria Barracks, Windsor Castle*Victoria Barracks, Melbourne*Victoria Barracks, Hong Kong*Victoria Barracks, Sydney*Victoria Barracks, Brisbane...
having been removed from Darlington.
Until 2006 Shout's medals, including his Victoria Cross, remained in the possession of his family — at the time, the only one of the nine VCs won by Australians at Gallipoli not in the collection of the Australian War Memorial
Australian War Memorial
The Australian War Memorial is Australia's national memorial to the members of all its armed forces and supporting organisations who have died or participated in the wars of the Commonwealth of Australia...
. On 24 July 2006 the medals were auctioned with the VC fetching a record A$
Australian dollar
The Australian dollar is the currency of the Commonwealth of Australia, including Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, and Norfolk Island, as well as the independent Pacific Island states of Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu...
1.2 million, surpassing the previous record price for the VC of Norman Cyril Jackson
Norman Cyril Jackson
Norman Cyril Jackson VC was a sergeant in the Royal Air Force who earned the Victoria Cross during a bombing raid on Schweinfurt, Germany in April 1944. Born in Ealing, Middlesex, Jackson joined the RAF Volunteer Reserve in 1939 and originally served as an engine fitter. He retrained as a flight...
. Shout's medals were bought by Kerry Stokes
Kerry Stokes
Kerry Matthew Stokes AC is an Australian businessman. He holds business interests in a diverse range of industries including electronic and print media, property, mining, and construction equipment. He is most widely known as the chairman of the Seven Network, one of the largest broadcasting...
, and donated to the Australian War Memorial
Australian War Memorial
The Australian War Memorial is Australia's national memorial to the members of all its armed forces and supporting organisations who have died or participated in the wars of the Commonwealth of Australia...
.
Honours and awards
- Victoria CrossVictoria CrossThe Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
(VC) - Military CrossMilitary CrossThe Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
(MC) - Queen's South Africa MedalQueen's South Africa MedalThe Queen's South Africa Medal was awarded to military personnel who served in the Boer War in South Africa between 11 October 1899 and 31 May 1902. Units from the British Army, Royal Navy, colonial forces who took part , civilians employed in official capacity and war correspondents...
, with 3 clasps: 'WITTEBERGEN', 'TRANSVAAL' and 'CAPE COLONY' - King's South Africa MedalKing's South Africa MedalThe King's South Africa Medal was awarded to all troops who served in the Boer War in South Africa on or after 1 January 1902, and completed 18 months service before 1 June 1902. The medal was not issued alone but always with the Queen's South Africa Medal or QSA.The KSA was awarded only to those...
, with clasps 'SOUTH AFRICA 1901' and 'SOUTH AFRICA 1902' - 1914-15 Star1914-15 StarThe 1914-15 Star was a campaign medal of the British Empire, for service in World War I.The 1914-15 Star was approved in 1918, for issue to officers and men of British and Imperial forces who served in any theatre of the War between 5 August 1914 and 31 December 1915 .Recipients of this medal also...
- British War MedalBritish War MedalThe British War Medal was a campaign medal of the British Empire, for service in World War I.The medal was approved in 1919, for issue to officers and men of British and Imperial forces who had rendered service between 5 August 1914 and 11 November 1918...
- Victory MedalVictory MedalVictory Medal, also referred to as the "Inter-Allied Victory Medal", can refer to one of the following World War I medals:-World War I Victory medals:*Victory Medal *World War I Victory Medal...
with oakleaves (MID)
External links
- New Zealand Troops who have won the Victoria Cross (Archived 2009-10-25) (brief biography details)