Breaker Morant
By Jonathan Hardy
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1Hurry up, man. Party, right wheel. This court of inquiry has completed its investigation. Do you wish to make any statement or give any evidence? Harry Harbord Morant. Lieutenant, Bushveldt Carbineers. I enlisted in South Australia. I was with the second contingent for nine months and was promoted to sergeant in that corps. I received my commission when l transferred to the Transvaal Constabulary. I returned to England on six months' leave and with the help of my friend, Captain Hunt, patched up a quarrel, an old quarrel with my family. I had intended to go back to England to live after the war. On my return to South Africa, I fought at Karee Siding and Kunstadt under Lord Roberts. I also fought with General French's cavalry brigade at Diamond Hill. After that, there were requests for volunteers to join the Bushveldt Carbineers in the Northern Transvaal. I joined on April 1, 1900. April Fools' Day. In the Carbineers, I was responsible for the capture of Boer commando leader, Kelly. I was recommended for a DSO. I take full and entire responsibility for the events at Fort Edward. I was, however, acting under orders. I was also deeply disturbed by what happened to Captain Hunt. No sentries. Either they're asleep or there's no one there. -No horses either.
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-No. Ask him if he's sure if the information is correct. They have returned from the Cape Colony. They are very weak. Stay here with three men and this boy. Keep the horses quiet. Cover us. Is not good, Captain. Get back! Get back over here. Fall back! Mount up! Let's get out of here! Can't you send them back? For Captain Hunt. Watch it, Peter. -Probably just a stone bruise. -You think that's all it is? -Yes. If he limps again, I'll swap it. -Patrol's back! Get the Breaker. Get the Breaker! That's my horse! What happened? All right, you men, break. -They've Captain Hunt. -They were waiting for us. There were many men. Captain Hunt was shot. There was nothing we could do. Bullets whizzing by like blowflies. Lost five men. George, go set it up. We're going out on patrol. There was nothing we could do. They must have known we were coming. Known? Of course they bloody knew. You can't trust these blokes. How many sides you fighting on, mate? Just because you sign a bit of paper don't mean the war's over. Mr. Taylor, so much for your damn intelligence report. Eight Boers, exhausted.
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That's what you said. Horses with fever, you said. What do you say now? I say avenge Captain Hunt. Prisoners and escort! Quick march! Come in. The court of inquiry has come to a recommendation. About time. It has been decided to proceed with a military court-martial here at Pietersburg. You will remain under close arrest. Major Charles Bolton to see Lord Kitchener and Colonel Hamilton. This way, sir. Charles, my dear chap. Good to see you again, sir. You come highly recommended, young man. Thank you, sir. I have a rather important prosecution I want you to handle. Yes, sir. Charles, you've heard of the Bushveldt Carbineers? Yes, a special force raised by Lord Kitchener to deal with the Boer guerrillas. Correct. Colonials, most of them. Australians. I understand they've been quite effective, sir. Very effective. We've just arrested three of them for shooting Boer prisoners and a German missionary. I've received, Bolton, a telegraph message from Whitehall. The German government has lodged a serious protest, -about the missionary in particular. -Yes, sir. The Kaiser, as you know, is our late Queen's grandson. The fact is that Whitehall feels the Germans
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are looking for an excuse to enter the war. On the Boers' side, of course. We don't want to give them one. Needless to say, the Germans couldn't give a damn about the Boers. It's the diamonds and gold of South Africa they're interested in. They lack our altruism, sir. Quite. Here's the report of the preliminary inquiry. The evidence against the Australians is overwhelming. Who's handling the defense, sir? We expect no difficulties there. Selected one of their own chaps a major from the New South Wales Mounted. Still can't get used to it. Court-martial. On the ship coming over here, the blokes used to joke about who'd be the first to get a VC. Scratch yourself from that race, mate. My father said the war would make a man of me. Everybody's father says that, George. -It's really... -Ironic? Ironic. He believes in the British Empire, you know. We all do in my family. That's why I volunteered, to help keep the Empire together. I volunteered because there's a depression back there and I've got a wife and kid. You believe in the Empire, Harry? Do I? Don't reckon he does, mate. Major J.F. Thomas. I'm your defending officer. -George Witton. -Harry Morant. New South Wales Mounted. What sort of a lawyer are you?
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They haven't locked me up yet. What sort of soldier are you? They're looking after you here? Looks a bit Spartan. Well, it's not exactly the Hotel Australia. More like a coffee palace. No grog. They gave you the report on the preliminary inquiry? -Yesterday. -Yesterday? -But the trial starts tomorrow. -We thought you were going to miss it. You don't know anything about us. Only what's in the preliminary report. And that, gentlemen, is not very flattering. As a matter of interest, how many courts-martial have you done? -None. -None? Jesus, they're playing with a double-headed penny, aren't they? Would you rather conduct your own defense? But you have handled a lot of court cases back home, sir? No. I was a country town solicitor. I handled land conveyancing and wills. Wills. Might come in handy. I'm going to need a lot of information. Do you think they're going to imprison us or cashier us, sir? -My father, if he found out... -Haven't they told you? There are several murder charges. The penalty is death. "Long as the waves shall roll "Long as fame guards us whole "And men who heart and soul thrill to true glory "Their deeds from age to age "Shall voice and verse engage "Swelling the splendid page of England's story" It's a matter of discipline and tradition.
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Do you think this could've happened with any contingent besides the Australians? But Morant's not an Australian. You're splitting hairs. He's been out there 15 years, learned all their bad habits. I never thought you colonials got lost, Major. I've been at the prison, sir. Major Thomas, Major Bolton. Captain Nicholson. Lieutenants Reed and Baxter. Miss... How do you do? I understand your Mr. Morant is something of a poet, Major. That's right. He wrote for a paper called The Bulletin in Sydney. A Tennyson of the Transvaal. The Byron of the Bushveldt Carbineers. Why is it he's referred to as Breaker Morant? Ladies' man, perhaps? A breaker of hearts. No, he was a horse breaker. I understand, the best in Australia. Quite a Renaissance figure. I daresay, if everything goes well, he could come and recite for us one night. In the meantime, this refined-looking fellow is an ex-opponent of ours, who's wisely signed the non-combatant pledge. They say he has a fine voice. Only speaks Dutch, though. So, Mr. Baxter and ladies, you'll have to tell us what it's all about. A few things to clear up. How many men at Fort Edward? About 50. Sometimes more, sometimes less. -And most were Australians? -We told you all this last night. -About 45 of them were. -Gentlemen. The intelligence officer, Captain...
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-Taylor? -Taylor, yes. -What did he have to do with this? -Nothing. Then who do you think filed the report that led to your arrest? Don't know, but it wasn't Taylor. He was a good bloke. Bring in the accused. This court-martial is convened by order of... I'd like to ask for an adjournment, sir. -Adjournment? We've only just arrived. -Yes, sir. I only just arrived in Pietersburg yesterday. It doesn't give me much time to prepare a defense. The prosecution's had six weeks. There are witnesses who have traveled over 60 miles for this hearing. Do you expect us to keep them around at taxpayers' expense? -Yes, sir. l need time... -Quite out of the question, Major... Thomas. This court-martial is convened by order... Yes, Major Thomas. This court-martial is unconstitutional, sir. The three defendants are Australian subjects, and as the country is now an independent commonwealth, they can only be tried by the Australian Army. The defendants, Major, were serving in the Bushveldt Carbineers, a unit under British command. This court-martial is convened by order of Horatio Herbert, Lord Kitchener of Khartoum, GCB, GCMG, RE, Commander in Chief of British and Colonial Forces in South Africa. The charges are as follows: Defendants Morant, Handcock, and Witton
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are charged with the murder of a Boer prisoner named Visser. They are also charged with the murders of six other Boer prisoners, names unknown. In addition, Lieutenants Morant and Handcock are charged with the murder of a German missionary, the Reverend H.C.V. Hesse. How do you plead? Not guilty. -Not guilty of all three charges? -Yes, sir. Your first witness, Major Bolton. Call Mr. Donald Robertson. Robertson, who's he? We told you about him last night. Take this Bible in your right hand. Now repeat after me, I swear by almighty God... I swear by almighty God... ...that the evidence I shall give before this court... -...shall be the truth... -...shall be the truth... -...the whole truth... -...the whole truth... -...and nothing but the truth. -...and nothing but the truth. Thank you. Would you like to take the witness chair? Captain Robertson, you were in the regular army for 20 years. Yes, sir. I was with the 10th Hussars before taking command of the Bushveldt Carbineers in the Transvaal. And how was discipline in the Carbineers? Impossible. Especially with the Australians. They didn't like picket duty or guard duty. The only day we could get them on parade was payday. Could you give the court any other examples
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of their breaches of discipline? There were so many. They'd only salute the officers they liked. -Reckon you didn't get too many salutes. -Order. Some of them had these illegal stills. Made this really strong drink out of corn and boot polish. -You'd know. You were their best customer. -Order. They stole cattle and sold them. Now, this cattle, did it belong to... I must object. Two of the defendants were not even at Fort Edward... Sir, I'm trying to establish for the court the irregularities and un-soldierly behavior of the Bushveldt Carbineers. Objection overruled. Thank you, sir. Would you go on please, Captain Robertson? I had to reprimand Handcock here for what l considered to be a serious breach of the rules of war. And what was that? He placed prisoners of war in open wagons in front of train engines. They could have been shot at by their own side. Thank you. That'll be all, Captain. Just hold your horses there. Do you wish to cross-examine the witness, Major Thomas? Yes, sir, I do. Now tell me... Tell us, when you joined the Carbineers, what were you told they'd be doing? -Fighting the enemy. -Yes. I mean, how? It was a new kind of corps, wasn't it? That's right. We had to fight behind the lines,
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against the Boer commandos. Commandos? That's a new word. That's a Boer word, isn't it? What does it mean? The commandos had to live off the land. Use hit-and-run tactics. Surprise attacks, that sort of thing. The Boers did it, so it was the only way we could fight back. And it must have been very difficult to maintain discipline under these sort of conditions? It was, with the Australians. -But you tried? -Aye. Like when you reprimanded Lieutenant Handcock for putting the war prisoners in the carriages in front of the engines? I told him we didn't do that sort of thing. But in the Carbineers, I mean, you were doing a lot of things that you'd never done before. That's right, but there's a limit. What was Lieutenant Handcock's reason for placing these carriages of prisoners in front of trains? The Boers had been mining the lines and blowing up a lot of trains. He thought it might stop them. Did it? Yes, they did stop blowing up the trains, but I don't think that's the... When you were in command at Fort Edward before the late Captain Hunt and Lieutenant Morant took over, what did you do with Boer prisoners? How do you mean? Fort Edward's only a farmhouse. There aren't any facilities for them there. What did you do with them? We sent them down here
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under guard to Pietersburg. I see. How many of them did you send down here to Pietersburg? Fifty, seventy, -I really couldn't say. -I've been informed that during your command only 29 prisoners were sent to Pietersburg. So what did you do with the others? It's quite a discrepancy, isn't it, -between 50... -Objection, Mr. President! -This man is not on trial. -He bloody ought to be. Extraneous comments prejudice your case, Lieutenant Handcock. -What in hell does that mean? -Objection allowed. Was there a policy to shoot prisoners in the Bushveldt Carbineers? Mr. President! The defending officer is attempting to incriminate the witness. Major Thomas, objection allowed. The witness is not on trial. Sir, I'm trying to establish the credibility... -I'm sorry, lack of all credibility... -Objection! You are incriminating the witness, Major! All right. Just one more question. Did you discontinue the practice of placing prisoners in open carriages? No. No, I didn't. Why not, if you objected to it? Could it have been that the practice, though irregular, was effective in controlling Boer attacks? Yes. That will be all, Mr. Robertson. You may stand down, Mr. Robertson.
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Good on you, mate. I will proceed now, sir, with the extraordinary events following the death of Captain Hunt -and the subsequent murder of the Boer... -Objection. This has not yet been proved. Objection allowed. The subsequent death of the Boer prisoner, Visser. Sergeant Major Drummond, following your patrol's return to Fort Edward, Lieutenant Morant ordered the force to return immediately to Phil Jurne's farmhouse. Yes, sir. He didn't even let us have a feed. George, check the house! Five men, with me! Is it Hunt? What's left of him. We'll rest the horses, then we'll go after them. They got nearly two days' start, and we don't have the direction. They'll have gone to the Waterberg. Where else can they go? Christ! We rode another couple of days, up on to the high veldt. Hardly ever stopped. Morant was right about where they'd gone. We'll get them now. -We ought to wait an hour, it'll be dark then. -We'll get them now! We got a few of them, but most of them got away. Get on back. Horseback! Hurry it up. Get that body off the tent. Come on, you blokes, get some of this Boer coffee in you while you can. -We've got to follow.
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-Bugger the Boers. What do you think you're doing? Come on, get out of there. Get out of there. You're in trouble, mate. Get up. He's wearing Hunt's uniform. Get up there. Your name? -Ask him his name. -What is your name? Teunis Visser. You were at the farmhouse. You killed Captain Hunt, the British officer. -He says no. He didn't kill him. -What do you mean you didn't kill him? You're wearing his bloody jacket, blast you! What do you mean you didn't kill him? This man killed Captain Hunt! He will be executed immediately! I want an eight-man firing squad. I reckon we ought to take him back to Fort Edward. I want to be on the firing party, Lieutenant. He killed Captain Hunt. If he did not, he would not have his uniform. Please, Lieutenant. Most of the blokes aren't too keen on this. Why don't you have a yarn with him? He might take some notice of you. You killed him! You're wearing his bloody jacket, man! -Harry. -He will be executed, George. Captain Hunt had bullet wounds only in the shoulder and the leg. They mutilated him! They mutilated him with knives while he was still alive. He'll never get to heaven if he doesn't die. Yeah, he's gonna sleep real good tonight. Get up, come on. Ready! Aim!
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Fire! Did you object to Lieutenant Morant's treatment of the prisoner? Yes, sir. Do you consider that the prisoner was given a fair trial? No, sir. Not in the state Lieutenant Morant was in. He was like a madman, sir. Thank you, Sergeant Major Drummond. Any questions, Major Thomas? You are aware that Lord Kitchener issued orders that Boers caught wearing khaki were to be shot? Major, Lord Kitchener's order only applied if they were wearing khaki with an intention to deceive. -The first l've heard of that. -That's how they're interpreting it. More like he was trying to keep out the cold. The Boers are real short of supplies. You are a regular soldier and were one of the first to join the Bushveldt Carbineers. -You served under Captain Robertson? -That's right. Would you agree that discipline had improved once Mr. Robertson was removed and Captain Hunt and Lieutenant Morant took over. I suppose. Try yes or no, Sergeant Major. Yes. Morant and Handcock broke up illegal stills, did they not? -And forced troopers to return stolen cattle? -Yes. There were, in fact, dismissals from the corps. Did this cause resentment
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against Morant and Handcock? A bit. It's natural. And some of those dismissed are now witnesses for the prosecution? Yes. Were not you yourself reprimanded for holding stolen cattle? I explained that! I came across them while l was on patrol. I only impounded them, that's all! I have no more questions. You may stand down, Mr. Drummond. -You couldn't lie straight in bed. -I don't have to take that from you. Come outside, I'll knock your bloody head off. Control yourself, Mr. Handcock, or you'll find yourself in serious trouble. You find that amusing. I was just wondering how much more serious things could be. Anytime, mate. Since signing a non-combatant agreement you've been a guide and interpreter to the Carbineers? Yes. Would you please tell the court exactly what happened after the capture of the Boer prisoner? No one wanted to go on the firing party. So he said if we did not, he would shoot the prisoner himself. Mr. Botha, do you consider that the prisoner, Visser, received a fair trial? Objection! The witness is obviously not qualified to answer. I will rephrase the question. Was the trial of Visser in any way similar to this court-martial? No. Nothing like this. I repeat, the witness is not in the British Army. He is not qualified to answer.
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I believe the question is pertinent. You may proceed, Major Bolton. I have no more questions, Mr. President. But I would like to add that I've been generous in even using the word "trial" or "court-martial" in relation to the killing of Visser. It was a conspiracy. lt was a consultation. It was a measure to mature a criminal purpose, but it was not a court. Trooper Botha. Didn't you volunteer to shoot the prisoner Visser? If word got around town he was offering to shoot his mates his life wouldn't be worth half a crown. -You volunteered, Trooper Botha. -No. No. I only obeyed orders. That is a lie. Didn't all the troopers in the firing squad volunteer? No, I was commanded. You knew Captain Hunt had told Lieutenants Morant and Handcock not to bring in prisoners, -but to shoot them. -I did not. I knew nothing of such orders. Company, halt. Company, order. Number one sentry, step forward. Lieutenant Morant, Captain Hunt was a particular friend of yours. Yes. I mean... I was engaged to his sister in England. So his death was very disturbing to you. It was more the way he died. He was mutilated. You were present at the action where Captain Hunt was killed? No.
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Then how do you know he wasn't killed in a fair fight? Because I saw his body. Some time later. You can't possibly know how Captain Hunt met his death. So you cannot produce any evidence to connect Visser with it. So then why did you order him to be shot? It is customary during a war to kill as many of the enemy as possible. Was your court at the trial of Visser constituted in any way like this? -What rule did you shoot him under? -Like this? No, sir, it wasn't quite like this. No, sir, it wasn't quite so handsome. And as for rules, we didn't carry military manuals around with us. We were out on the veldt, fighting the Boer the way he fought us. I'll tell you what rule we applied, sir. We applied rule 3-0-3. We caught them and we shot them under rule 3-0-3. Farewell to Lochaber And farewell, my Jean Where heartsome with thee I hae monie days been Did you get a reply from the consul? No. Either the English aren't sending the telegrams or the Australians are ignoring them. How's your eyesight, Sergeant? Very weak, sir. Thank you. You're the best witness the prosecution's got, Harry. Better watch your temper. Yes, I'm sorry. It's my great failing. lmpetuosity. Most un-British. You better watch yourself, too.
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This is a British court-martial, not a backbox pub. We've got a few witnesses of our own tomorrow, anyway. Not many. Just about anyone with a good word for us has been sent to India. Go on, read it to us, Harry. Peter, come on. You know you loathe poetry. There's not much else to bloody do here. Come on, read it. "Oh, those rides across the river "Where the shallow stream runs wide "And the sunset's beams were glossing strips of sand on either side "We would cross the sparkling river on the brown horse and the bay "Watch the willows sway and shiver and the trembling shadows play "'Tis a memory to be hoarded "Of a foolish tale and fond "Till another stream be forded "And we reach the great beyond" I don't want to die. Every life ends in a dreadful execution, George. Yours will be much quicker and less painful than most. And a lot earlier than most. I swear by almighty God... Just a Charlie who used to be with the Carbineers. Boers aren't fond of turncoats. Captain Taylor, you were with the Bushveldt Carbineers, but not actually a member of the corps? That's correct. I joined the Carbineers as intelligence officer at the request of Lord Kitchener. I had lived in South Africa before the war and spoke some of the native languages as well as Dutch.
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And were you senior to Lieutenant Morant? I was senior, yes, but the day-to-day running of the corps was left to Lieutenant Morant. Although he sometimes referred matters to me. And what is your opinion of Lieutenant Morant? A good fellow. One could not help liking him. He was a little hotheaded. Inclined, perhaps, to do things on the impulse of the moment. The men obeyed him. He's a good soldier. Did you know Captain Hunt well? Hunt? Yes, I did. Did you know of any orders to shoot Boer prisoners? There was an understanding. Kitchener is quite right, you know. Lord Roberts is far too correct for this kind of a war. All the internments, deportations should be over in a matter of months. -You'll be going home? -Me? I don't think so. There should be a few opportunities here. Nothing will keep me in South Africa. Good day. How did you do? -Pretty good, by the look of it. -No stopping me now, Peter. Go well, Harry? Not bad. One dead, one wounded. Mind you, I got 13 of them. Crept up on them while they were asleep. This lot surrendered. God, Harry, we've got no facilities for prisoners, can't even feed them. Execute those men. You too, Greg. Simon, I thought the proclamation only applied to Boers
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