Today, 22 October 2008, sees the opening of the Shout V.C. Barracks at Linton, New Zealand. The barracks have been named after Captain Alfred John Shout VC, MC who served with F Company, 1st Infantry Battalion AIF on Gallipoli. The naming of the barracks follows the convention where Linton’s barracks are named after Victoria Cross (VC) winners who have a New Zealand connection. For more details on Linton Base, New Zealand, click here.
Shout was born in Wellington, New Zealand on 7th August 1881. Alfred Shout served in the Boer War with the Border Horse, under the Command of Colonel Baden-Powell at Mafikeng. Shout was mentioned in dispatches for his bravery during the Boer War campaign. Shout married in South Africa after the war and moved with his Sydney born wife, Rose and daughter Florence to Darlington, Sydney. Alfred trained part-time with the 29th Infantry Regiment (Australian Rifles).
Photo: Alfred John Shout [Harry Willey]
Alfred Shout was 33 years old when he joined the 1st Battalion AIF on 18th August 1914. Lieutenant Alfred Shout landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula on 25th April 1915. He was awarded the MC for his actions on 27th April 1915:
During operations near Gaba Tepe, for showing conspicuous courage and ability in organising and leading his men in thick, bushy country under very heavy fire. He frequently had to expose himself to locate the enemy and led a bayonet charge at a critical moment.
On 9th August 1915 Captain Shout again exhibited:
Most conspicuous bravery at Lone Pine Trenches, in the Gallipoli Peninsula. On the morning of 9 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 of the same day, from the position gained in the morning, he captured a further length of trench under similar conditions 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. This most gallant officer has since succumbed to his injuries.
Capture Alfred Shout was a true original ANZAC. Families and Friends of First AIF member Harry Willey from Scone, NSW, has recorded Shout’s story in his book 150 years of the Victoria Cross, 1857 – 2007 Crimea to Afghanistan. The book also includes information on the history of the Victoria Cross, its awarding and the stories of 16 other VC winners
If you are interested in obtaining a copy of 150 years of the Victoria Cross, 1857 – 2007 Crimea to Afghanistan please contact Families and Friends of First AIF by emailing projectfffaif@yahoo.com.au.
Harry Willey has also written Scone’s Fallen ANZACs which tells the story of the lives of the one hundred and four men from the Scone district of New South Wales, that have their names recorded on the War Memorial Gateway at the entrance to the Scone Library
If you are interested in obtaining a copy of Scone’s Fallen ANZACs please contact Families and Friends of First AIF by emailing projectfffaif@yahoo.com.au.
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More news from NZ: Medals returned to Army Museum The collection of 96 medals, including nine Victoria Crosses, which were stolen in a smash-and-grab raid in December 2007 are now safely back in the Waiouru Army Museum. To read more click here.
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The Families and Friends of the First AIF thanks the Australian, UK and French governments for affording Australian and British soldiers – presently buried in mass graves at Pheasant Wood – dignified individual reburials in a new CWGC cemetery at Fromelles, and urge those responsible to ensure all necessary scientific and other means are employed to properly identify each soldier.