Captain's courage on display
Alfred Shout was born in Wellington, New Zealand, on August 8, 1882 and served in the Boer War with the New Zealand Border Horse (where he was wounded twice and Mentioned in Despatches for bravery) before migrating to Australia with his family in 1907.
He lived in Darlington in Sydney and worked as a carpenter and also served part-time as a militia officer in the 29th Infantry Regiment. Shout enlisted as soon as war was declared and was appointed 2nd lieutenant in the 1st Battalion. The battalion embarked for Egypt on October 18, 1914 and arrived on December 2, to spend the next four months training. Shout landed on Gallipoli on April 25, 1915 with the 1st Battalion and soon after led a party inland to Baby 700, in support of the weak defensive line near Walker’s Ridge. However, the position became untenable mid-afternoon when the Turks launched an assault.
By this stage, Shout and another officer were the only two surviving officers in their sector. The Turks broke through the defensive line and a withdrawal ensued. Shout was one of the last to leave the position, and withdrew to the beach, where he was immediately tasked with leading 200 men to reinforce Russell’s Top.
Shout’s men moved up and dug in under fire during the early evening. By April 27, Shout had continuously been in action without a respite for 48 hours. Shout and his men came under heavy rifle fire from Turks dug into the scrub nearby. Shout organised his men and despite being wounded, reconnoitred the enemy positions, after which he directed his men’s fire.
Later that day, Shout led a bayonet charge into the enemy position and was wounded again, but refused to withdraw until he was wounded a third time. Shout was awarded the Military Cross and soon rejoined his battalion, but was shot again on May 11. He was Mentioned in Despatches and promoted to captain on July 29.
On August 6 an attack was launched against Lone Pine as part of the August Offensive. During three days of desperate fighting Shout became one of seven Australians to win the Victoria Cross at Lone Pine.
He participated in the initial assault, which broke into the Turkish trenches, after which he served prominently in defence of the captured positions. The 1st Battalion was relieved on August 7 for a respite and reorganisation, but re-entered the fray at 9am on August 9.
The Turks launched a heavy attack and recaptured part of a trench, known as Sasse’s Sap. Capts Alfred Shout and Cecil Sasse charged down the trench, with Sasse shooting and Shout hurling bombs. Shout killed eight Turks with bombs and wounded several others, after which a barricade was quickly constructed with sandbags.
During another attack in the afternoon, Shout simultaneously lit three bombs, but the third exploded prematurely in his hand and inflicted grievous injuries. Shout remained cheerful as he was evacuated and drank tea and sent a message to his wife, but died on a hospital ship on August 11. Capt. Shout was buried at sea, without knowing that he had won the Victoria Cross.
Shout’s medals remained in the possession of his family for years until they were auctioned and purchased by Kerry Stokes and donated to the Australian War Memorial.
