Captain Alfred John SHOUT Clicking on Photo will return to Page S - T

SHOUT Captain Alfred John Victoria Cross, Military Cross, Queen's South Africa Medal, King's South Africa Medal, Mentioned in despatches) F Company, 1st Battalion, Australian Imperial Force Born 7th August 1881, in Wellington, New Zealand [Birth certificate 1881 2472 [Wellington dist. Sep qtr], NZ] Educated: 'Private education' Married; Carpenter and joiner, of 116 Darlington Road, Darlington, Sydney, NSW Next of Kin: Wife; Rose Alice Shout, of 116 Darlington Road, Darlington, Sydney, NSW Photos of Captain Shout are known to exist in the following locations: Anzac Memorial p46. Sydney Town & Country Journal 30 Sep 1914 p26 & 19 May 1915 p22 & 9 Jun 1915 p31. Sydney Mail 20 Oct 1915 p27. Numerous books concerning winners of the Victoria Cross.

Died of wounds
11th August 1915
at Sea: aboard HMHS 'Neuralia'
Aged 34







1st Battalion, AIF

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No Known Grave
(Buried at Sea)

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Fought in Boer War. 'Mentioned in despatches. Made Queen's sergeant. Came to Australia at age 23'. (AWM 131).

Served as a sergeant in South Africa in the Border Horse (NZ Contingent), 1900 - 1902, and afterwards (1903 - 1907) as a sergeant in the Cape Field Artillery. In Australia served with the 29th Infantry (Australian Rifles) from 1907 till the outbreak of war. Promoted 2nd Lieutenant June 16 1914. Appointed to A.I.F. as 2nd Lieutenant, August 27th, 1914. Lieutenant February 1, 1915. Captain July 29, 1915.

One daughter; Florence Agnes Maud Shout.

Father; John Richard Shout. Mother; Agnes Mary Shout (nee Kelly). Sister; Mrs Agnes Mary Robinson, died in New Zealand, 1958.

The Auckland Weekly News (25 Nov 1915 p39) states Cpt. Shout to be 'of Wellington'.

Slightly wounded, 27th April 1915, sent to Hospital Ship 'Gascon' and rejoined unit on 26th May.

'I call to mind Capt. Shout, of the 1st Bn., who received a M.C. at the Landing, and a V.C. and death at the Pine. Here was a man - a born leader, with wonderful control. I first saw him when we lay behind a ridge with bullets cutting the leaves and twigs off the bushes just above our heads.
Hell! I was scared; almost every second man was dead, and hope was lost! I prayed as I had been taught as a kid. If somebody had said run for the beach I would have been an easy winner. Along the ridge came an officer, just strolling, carrying a stick and a revolver - it was Shout!
A brave leader who sensed the position, he rushed us over the skyline into a better possie; gave fire orders, and passed on, unhurt. This was my first experience of individual courage - that stuff we call 'guts' - and I've never forgotten Shout.
Captain Concanon, my own beloved company commander, did the same thing repeatedly on Monday, the 26th - he held his company and others on one of the tightest spots against repeated Turkish attacks until he was shot down and died in the front line of his own men. 'C' Company of the 2nd never forgot Concanon; he set a standard for the dozens of O.C.'s it had during the war.' (Millar, Capt. K. MC 'Control Over Fear: The Secret Of Leadership.' Reveille Vol. 9 No. 8; 1 Apr 1936 p12).

Awarded posthumous Victoria Cross.

Victoria Cross citation reads:
'For most conspicuous bravery at Lone Pine trenches, in the Gallipoli Peninsula. On the morning of the 9th Aug., 1915, with a very small party, Capt. 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.' (London Gazette No. 29328 15th Oct. 1915).

Captain Shout was holding three bombs, and had thrown the first two when... 'The third burst in his hand, destroying it and shattering one side of his face and body. Carried to the rear, still cheerful, he sat up and drank a pannikin of tea, vowing that he would soon recover; but his brave life ended on the hospital ship.' (Bean V1 p295, 304, 315, 316, 318, 332, 334, 466, 471, 508-9, V2 p196n, 564-5 quoted, 565n).

1st Casualty Clearing station, Anzac, reported wounds as 'Bomb wounds chest and hands'.

Captain Shout's wife was originally informed that her husband was only wounded, and that he was returning to Australia aboard the 'Thermistocles'. She was then informed, in a letter dated 26th August 1915, that he had in fact died, and that the mix-up had occurred because a Captain 'Shirt' was actually wounded and aboard that ship [A search of Australian and New Zealand records has not found any trace of this man]. Captain Shout's father, of Trentham, Wellington, New Zealand, wrote a letter, dated 4th September 1915, to Base Records, Melbourne, stating that he had only 'accidentally heard to-day' of his son's death.

Captain Shout's identity disc was returned to his wife in December, 1918.

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