43 Facts About Alfred Shout

Alfred Shout killed eight Turkish soldiers, and managed to clear others to retake the trench.

Alfred Shout successfully threw two, but just as the third left his hand it detonated.

Alfred Shout rose to sergeant and was mentioned in despatches for saving a wounded man before being discharged in 1902.

Alfred Shout remained in South Africa for the next five years, serving as an artilleryman in the Cape Colonial Forces from 1903.

The family settled in Darlington, where Alfred Shout worked for Resch's Brewery as a carpenter and joiner.

Alfred Shout was active in the part-time Citizens' Forces, being commissioned just prior to the outbreak of the First World War.

Alfred John Shout was born in Wellington, New Zealand, on 8 August 1882.

Alfred Shout was the eldest of nine children to an English-born father, John Richard Shout, and Irish mother, Agnes Mary.

In early 1900, Alfred Shout travelled to South Africa with his elder half-brother, William McGovern.

The brothers sought to join one of the colonial contingents then engaged in the Second Boer War; Alfred enlisted in the newly raised Border Horse on 17 February 1900, while William found a place in Bethune's Mounted Infantry.

Alfred Shout was promoted to sergeant on 7 May 1901, and discharged from the Border Horse 16 days later.

Alfred Shout then served with the Stellenbosch District Mounted Troop until 1902.

Alfred Shout decided to remain in South Africa after his discharge and, in 1903, enlisted in the Cape Colonial Forces.

Alfred Shout was made a sergeant in Prince Alfred's Own Cape Field Artillery, with which he served until 1907.

In 1907, the Alfred Shout family immigrated to Australia, settling in the Sydney suburb of Darlington.

Alfred Shout joined the 29th Infantry Regiment of the part-time Citizens' Forces shortly after arriving in Sydney, was a foundation member of the 29th Infantry Club, and a regular visitor at the Randwick rifle range, where he gained a reputation as an excellent shot.

Alfred Shout was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Citizens' Forces on 16 June 1914.

Shortly after, the 1st Battalion was reorganised into four companies; Alfred Shout was allotted to D Company as a platoon commander.

The battalion spent the next four months training in the Egyptian desert, during which time Alfred Shout was promoted lieutenant on 1 February 1915.

Alfred Shout was one of the last to evacuate, and withdrew down towards the beach.

Alfred Shout duly relayed the message, and was immediately tasked with leading 200 stray men to reinforce the thin defensive line near Braund's position.

Alfred Shout established a post at the base of the ridge as dusk began to fall, and his men started to dig in.

Alfred Shout struggled and struggled until he got to his feet, refusing all entreaties to go to the rear.

Accordingly, Alfred Shout reorganised his men and, exposing himself to the Turks' fire, ventured out to reconnoitre the enemy's position.

Alfred Shout was then able to accurately direct the rifle fire of his men.

Alfred Shout was later wounded a second time, a bullet passing through his arm and rendering it useless.

Alfred Shout's wounds proved to be relatively light and he soon rejoined the 1st Battalion.

Alfred Shout was evacuated to the hospital ship HMHS Gascon, but rejoined his unit fifteen days later.

Alfred Shout killed eight Turks, and managed to clear others to retake the trench.

Bean wrote that Alfred Shout fought with "splendid gaiety" throughout the assault, historian Stephen Snelling adding that Alfred Shout was "laughing and joking and cheering his men on".

Alfred Shout successfully threw two, but the third burst just as it was leaving his hand.

Alfred Shout was grievously wounded; the explosion incinerated his right hand and part of the left, destroyed his left eye, cut his cheek, and caused burns to his chest and leg.

Alfred Shout was evacuated from the Gallipoli Peninsula to the hospital ship Neuralia shortly after he was wounded.

Alfred Shout died two days later, on 11 August 1915, and was buried at sea.

Lieutenant Colonel Alfred Bennett, commanding officer of the 1st Battalion, labelled Shout's actions at Lone Pine as "brilliant" and described him as "unapproachable in his splendid leadership".

Alfred Shout's VC was the seventh and final awarded to the AIF for the operations around Lone Pine, and the second to a member of the 1st Battalion.

The announcement of Alfred Shout's VC was promulgated in the London Gazette on 15 October 1915, reading:.

Alfred Shout is commemorated on the Lone Pine Memorial, and he was remembered by the citizens of Darlington with a memorial plaque.

In 1916, to honour "the heroic and glorious deeds and death" of Alfred Shout and relieve the financial strain placed upon his wife, a collection was taken up by local citizens in Sydney to provide Rose and their daughter with a house.

Until 2006 Alfred Shout's medals were in the possession of his family.

That year, Alfred Shout's grandson decided to sell the medals to relieve some of the family debt and financial burdens.

At the time Alfred Shout's VC was the only one awarded to a member of the AIF at Gallipoli that was not in the collection of the Australian War Memorial.

Alfred Shout's medals were purchased by media mogul Kerry Stokes, who subsequently donated the set to the Australian War Memorial for display in the Hall of Valour.