Ranks Held | Captain, Lieutenant, Second Lieutenant |
---|---|
Birth Date | 07/08/1881 |
Birth Place | New Zealand: North Island, Wellington, Wellington |
Death Date | 11/08/1915 |
Death Place | Ottoman Empire: Turkey, Dardanelles, Gallipoli |
Final Rank | Captain |
Service | Australian Imperial Force |
Unit | 1st Australian Infantry Battalion |
Places | |
Events | |
Conflict/Operation | First World War, 1914-1918 |
Captain Alfred John Shout
Alfred Shout epitomised the legend of Anzac. He was born in New Zealand in 1881. During the Boer War, Shout served with the Border Horse and Cape Field Artillery. In 1905 he settled in Australia with his wife and daughter. He was a carpenter and joiner in Sydney and served part-time as an officer in the local militia force. He joined the AIF as soon as war was declared and was a foundation officer of the 1st Battalion. He took part in the landing on Gallipoli on 25 April 1915, and was awarded the Military Cross and Mentioned in Despatches for his actions over the next few weeks.
On 6 August the AIF attacked at Lone Pine. During three days of bitter fighting Shout became one of seven Australians to be awarded the Victoria Cross there. He took part in the initial assault and over the next days was conspicuous in defending captured positions. On 9 August Shout charged down an enemy trench, killing eight Turks with bombs and wounding others. Later that day he simultaneously lit three bombs as a prelude to a final dash. The third exploded prematurely, causing horrendous injuries. Shout remained cheerful as he was evacuated to the rear, but died on a hospital ship two days later. He was buried at sea, and his Victoria Cross was gazetted two months later.
For years Shout s Victoria Cross was the only Gallipoli one not held by the Memorial. It was added to the collection in 2006 and displayed in the Hall of Valour with the other six Lone Pine Victoria Crosses.
Citation (abridged):
On the morning of 9th August, 1915, with a small party, Captain Shout charged down trenches strongly occupied by the enemy, and personally threw four bombs among them, killing eight and routing the remainder. In the afternoon he captured a further length of trench and continued personally to bomb the enemy at close range, under very heavy fire, until he was severely wounded, losing his right hand and left eye. He succumbed to his injuries.
Rolls
-
Honours and Awards:
- Unit
- 1st Australian Infantry Battalion
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Lieutenant
-
Honours and Awards:
- Unit
- 1st Australian Infantry Battalion
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Lieutenant
-
Honours and Awards:
- Unit
- 1st Australian Infantry Battalion
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Captain
-
Honours and Awards (Recommendation):
- Unit
- 1st Australian Infantry Battalion
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Captain
-
Honours and Awards (Recommendation):
- Unit
- 1st Australian Infantry Battalion
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Lieutenant
-
Honours and Awards (Recommendation):
- Unit
- 1st Australian Infantry Battalion
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Lieutenant
-
Honours and Awards (Recommendation):
- Unit
- 1st Australian Infantry Battalion
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Captain
-
Honours and Awards (Recommendation):
- Unit
- 1st Australian Infantry Battalion
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Lieutenant
-
Honours and Awards (Recommendation):
- Unit
- 1st Australian Infantry Battalion
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Lieutenant
-
Honours and Awards (Recommendation):
- Unit
- 1st Australian Infantry Battalion
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Lieutenant
-
Honours and Awards (Recommendation):
- Unit
- 1st Australian Infantry Battalion
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Lieutenant
-
Honours and Awards (Recommendation):
- Unit
- 1st Australian Infantry Battalion
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Lieutenant
-
Honours and Awards (Recommendation):
- Unit
- 1st Australian Infantry Battalion
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Lieutenant
-
First World War Embarkation Roll:
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Second Lieutenant
-
First World War Nominal Roll:
- Unit
- 1st Australian Infantry Battalion
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Captain
-
Roll of Honour:
- Unit
- 1st Australian Infantry Battalion
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Captain
Timeline
Date of birth | 07/08/1881 | New Zealand |
---|---|---|
Date of enlistment | 19/09/1914 | |
Date and unit at appointment (Officers) | 27/08/1914 | Appointed 2nd Lieutenant in 1 Battalion. |
Date of embarkation | 18/10/1914 | Embarked aboard A19 (SS Afric). |
Date of fate | 11/08/1915 | |
Date of recommendation honour or award | 01/09/1915 | |
Date promoted | 01/02/1915 | Appointed Lieutenant. |
Date of honour or award | 04/1915 | Awarded Military Cross. |
Date of honour or award | 09/08/1915 | Awarded Victoria Cross for action at Lone Pine, Gallipoli, Turkey whilst serving with 1 Battalion, 1 Brigade, 1 Division as a Captain |
Date of death | 11/08/1915 | Died of wounds recieved at Gallipoli in the action for which he received the Victoria Cross. |
Date promoted | 29/07/1915 | Appointed Captain. |
Date of honour or award | 05/08/1915 | Mention in Despatches. |
Related information
Related Objects
- Lieutenant (Lt) Alfred J Shout hand feeding a pet rabbit at Mena camp near Cairo. Lt Shout ...
- Lieutenant Alfred John Shout sits outside his tent at Mena camp, ten miles from Cairo, playing ...
- Gallipoli Peninsula, Turkey. c. 7 June 1915. Quinn's Post communicated with Courtney's trenches ...
- Gallipoli Peninsula, Turkey. June 1915. Portrait of Lieutenant A. J. Shout VC, 1st Battalion.
- Studio portrait of Captain Alfred J Shout. Shout served in the Boer War with the New Zealand ...
- Pre enlistment studio portrait of Captain (Capt) Alfred John Shout VC, 1st Battalion, in civilian ...
- Informal portrait of Second Lieutenant (2nd Lt) Alfred John (Alf) Shout, probably in Egypt. On ...
- Informal outdoor portrait of Lieutenant (Lt) Alfred Shout (his wounded right arm in a sling) and ...
- Informal outdoor portrait of Lieutenant (Lt) Alfred Shout (his wounded right arm in a sling) and ...
- The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of Captain Alfred John Shout VC MC, 1 Battalion (Infantry), First World War