First donkey to receive the RSPCA Purple Cross

On 19 May 1997, Murphy – an Australian Army donkey – was posthumously awarded the RSPCA Australia Purple Cross, an award for animal bravery, at the Australian War Memorial on behalf of all donkeys that had served alongside ANZAC troops during the 1915–16 Gallipoli campaign.

During the abortive offensive in the Dardanelles in 1915–16, Murphy carried the wounded from the front on a perilous journey down the exposed rocky gullies to reach field hospitals. Murphy was trained by 22-year-old stretcher bearer John Simpson Kirkpatrick to carry his wounded victims into the main tent of the hospital and to reverse on the command: "Back pedal". With the help of Murphy, it's estimated that Kirkpatrick rescued in the region of 300 injured soldiers; Kirkpatrick himself was killed by a sniper on 19 May 1915.

A statue of Murphy at the Australian War Memorial is one of the country's most enduring images of World War I.

The first recipient of the Purple Cross was silky terrier Fizo on 25 September 1996. Fizo received the accolade after jumping off a balcony to protect several children from a venomous snake. As of 2021, only 10 Purple Crosses have been awarded, all of which have been dogs beside Murphy and his pack donkey brethren.