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A.J. Shout VcA carpenter at reschs brewery and veteran of the Boer WarA regular at Randwick rifle range and yet he urged for more So when England declared war on Germany, Australia did as well Alfred John Shout swapped chisel for rifle for in war he did excel Captain Shout was soon known as a cheery, well liked and brave man And on landing at ANZAC cove into and at the enemy he did ran He led an advance and captured territory known as Baby 700 Captured Turks were stunned as their belongings were quickly plundered At Gaba Tepe although wounded, carried more than a dozen injured mates Out of the firing line, to safety and out of reach of a doomed fate Injured again his arm shattered but he refused to go to the rear Third time wounded amidst his protests, from the line he was dragged clear Then came the fateful day, he was thirty three and one day old Clearing Sasse's Sap at Line Pine his VC medal citation is told He charged through trenches with Captain Sasse who stabbed and shot Whilst Shout used jam tin bombs to lob at all the Turks he spot He lit three at the one time in preparation for the next assault These crude homemade devices contained bullet shells and bolts He threw one down the way and was about to lob another When one of the remaining two was faulty and blew asunder The explosion took his right hand, his left eye and part of his chin Those near were shocked this red haired digger still managed to grin Though hideously maimed and bleeding freely he directed the attack In time stretcher bearers came and took his weakened body down the track He remained positive that he would heal and soon return to the front But those around him knew Lone Pine would be his final stunt On ship on route to hospital, his heart failed, his soul set free This brave VC winner died a hero and was solemnly buried at sea |