What makes someone run towards danger to save another person? From acts of bravery to extraordinary endurance, discover what drives ordinary people to risk everything for others, and what it really means to be a hero.
Behind these acts of courage are the stories of five remarkable people.
At Gallipoli, John Simpson Kirkpatrick became a legend for carrying wounded men to safety with his donkey. On the Western Front, Lawrence “Snowy” Atherton and Ernest Corey faced relentless shellfire to rescue the wounded, yet their names are far less known.
Nurses Alice Ross-King and Vivian Bullwinkel faced danger of a different kind. One continued caring for patients as bombs fell around her. The other survived the sinking of the Vyner Brooke, the Banka Island massacre and years of captivity under the Japanese.
Through their experiences, we explore heroism in its many forms, from acts of bravery to extraordinary endurance and ask what drove ordinary people to risk everything for others.
Collection items and related stories
Studio portrait of Private John Simpson Kirkpatrick
Explore the story of John Simpson Kirkpatrick
- Discover the story behind one of Australia's best-known in the AWM's Anzac Voices: John Simpson
- Explore letters exchanged between Simpson and his family in the AWM's private records collection
- Learn more about the life, service and legacy of John Simpson Kirkpatrick and his donkey
Portrait of 6766 Private Lawrence (Snowy) Atherton, B Section, 8th Field Ambulance, of Sydney, NSW
Explore the story of Lawrence "Snowy" Atherton
- Explore diaries, photographs and personal papers in the AWM's collection on Lawrence "Snowy" Atherton
- Discover the story behind Atherton's bravery under fire through his Military Medal and service history
- See one of the medals awarded to Atherton for his First World War Service, the 1914-15 Star
Studio portrait of Private Ernest Albert Corey, 55th Battalion AIF.
Explore the story of Ernest "Ernie" Corey
- Discover the remarkable story behind Corey's four awards for bravery through his Military Medal with three bars
- Explore Corey's service, honours and related collection items in the AWM's collection record
- View the steel helmet worn by Corey during the First World War
The leaders of the Australian Red Cross Voluntary Aid Detachment, Melbourne 1942
Explore the story of Sister Alice Ross-King
- Explore Ross-King's wartime experiences, photographs, and objects in the AWM's collection
- Discover Ross-King's experiences of wartime nursing through her diaries, letters and personal papers
- Follow Ross-King's experiences in France, where she received the Military Medal, in her 1917-1919 diary
Studio portrait of Staff Nurse Vivian Bullwinkel, Australian Army Nursing Service (AANS), in service dress uniform
Explore the story of Vivian Bullwinkel
- Listen to Vivian Bullwinkel recount her experiences as an Australian Army nurse and prisoner of war in her 1982 interview with Tim Bowden
- Explore Sister Bullwinkel's objects as part of the 'Fifty Australians' exhibition
- Discover Bullwinkel's wartime experiences, timelines, and photographs in the AWM collection
- Read the AWM's article on the sinking of SS Vyner Brooke and the Banks Island Massacre
Voices
- Sue Ducker
Senior Curator Digitised Collections, Research Centre, Australian War Memorial - Dr Ian Hodges
Military historian and author whose work has explored Australian experiences of the First and Second World Wars. His doctoral research examined the First World War generation, including the experiences of Lawrence “Snowy” Atherton. - Andrew Curry
Reference Services Manager, Research Centre, Australian War Memorial - Rebecca Van Der Werff
Assistant Curator, Digitisation on Demand, Research Centre, Australian War Memorial - Penny Fisher
Curator, Digitised Collections, Research Centre, Australian War Memorial - Shannon Sutton
Curator, Digitisation on Demand, Research Centre, Australian War Memorial - Stuart Bennington
Curator, Official Records, Research Centre, Australian War Memorial
About the host
John Barrington
John is the host of Through Their Eyes. Drawing on his experience presenting and reporting for 3RRR Melbourne, Good Shout Stories, triple j HACK, ABC Radio and The Project, he brings a fresh perspective to Australian War Memorial storytelling, connecting you with the people and experiences behind Australia’s military history, inspired by his father's Second World War service. As your guide through the podcast, John helps reveal the human stories and overlooked perspectives, making history accessible and relevant.
