Recently, a Boer War historian, Chris Ash published some interesting works on Breaker Morant on his blog, and it’s not what you may think of this hero to some and villain to others, ultimately executed for the murder of unarmed Boers during the South African War 1899 – 1902. It was not his trial, or the murders he committed or controversy around his execution by the British, nor the controversy of nationalists making a hero of him in latter years – simply because they saw him as a British scapegoat. It was also not the repeated attempts by current Australian social activists trying to embolden Morant as a National Australian Hero and their repeated and unsuccessful attempts to get the British government to issue a “pardon” for him and apologise for shooting him. Nah! None of that … turns out Breaker Morant was an accomplished poet – and Chris Ash simply published some of his poems.
I wrote to Chris Ash on one of the published poems and stated that it remained ironic, for all the hullabaloo over Breaker Morant and calls for his reinterment on Australian soil as a National Australian hero .. his grave in Pretoria was in fact empty, there’s nothing in it. This came as a surprise to him – and to others I’m sure as its a very little known fact.
Empty! Huh – no Morant, what happened and where the hell is Breaker? Well, here again there’s a little more controversy to this very controversial man.
A while back in early February 2024 I published an Observation Post on the Boer War 2 titled ‘War is Cruelty’ War is Cruelty – a very esteemed Australian based historian, Gordon Mackinlay wrote some of the content and he wrote to me to say, according to his research, Breaker Morant was gone – so too Hancock buried with him, the result of a grave robbery in the 80’s – the grave site near the hallowed acre of Afrikaner heroes in Pretoria had been tampered with – detectives found no bodies, so they put it down to a grave robbery for African “Muti” purposes. The conclusion that the bones of men executed held mystical powers and of value to practitioners of traditional African “Muti” medicine. The Australian government sponsored a nice new slab for the grave in the knowledge that neither Morant or Hancock are in it.1
On the Observation Post’s scuttlebutt Facebook group, this question was again raised, along with Danie Theron, the famous Boer Scout, whose grave was also robbed. A good friend, fellow historian and regular contributor to the Observation Post, Johann Hamman gave us some fresh insight.
Johann is a leading Afrikaans battlefield historian and I generally sit up and listen to him. The feedback as follows:
The remains of Danie Theron had indeed been stolen from his grave. 2He had been taken by two Afrikaner Weerstandsbewegin (Afrikaner Resistance Movement – AWB) members from Carltonville, but his remains had since been recovered. He was re-buried and the site was re-secured at Eikenhof. The AWB men robbed the grave of his remains because they did not want their ‘white’ Boer hero to lie among the ‘Black’ Africans buried in the same cemetery from the nearby modern township.
On Breaker Morant – he is most certainly not present in his grave anymore, however, according to Johann it is not because of any Muti-theft in the 80’s – the detectives are mistaken. When Morant was buried they poured two bags of unslaked lime on top of him, and what they buried there is no longer there as a result. There is nothing to steal.3
Johann Hamman and Gerald Leach among others, researched Morant as thoroughly as possible, and they blocked an attempt to have him pardoned as an Australian hero by Queen Elizabeth twice.
The argument was that Morant, Handcock and Taylor had been responsible for the murder of at least 36 people, of whom the youngest were Boer children of 11 years, they were murderous and their execution justified. Morant himself admitted to 12 killings at his court-martial, one was the Reverend Heese, who was the great-grandfather of Johan’s friend – the late Hendrik Neethling.4
Just to note, the British poured unslaked lime on everyone they executed in Boer War 2, Cape Rebels and Boers wearing British Khaki uniform included. There has been some research on whether unslaked lime speeds up decomposition or in fact aids preservation of the corpse, however even here school is out, some medical journals and specialists specify preservation others demonstrate the opposite – rapid decomposition.
Now, I’m pretty sure that the case on Morant is forever open to endless debate, especially in Australia, but the general conclusion most historians come to is regardless of legalise, and whether Morant was even an Australian – he was by all accounts a maverick from the get-go, his execution an inevitability and for very justifiable reasons (many in fact just conclude that ‘he had it coming’). There are countless Australian heroes from their statutory forces over the years, and to be honest they can find amongst them far more suitable candidates to honour than Morant.
Either way we cut it, whether the bones were stolen, whether they are completely destroyed by unslaked lime – or not – Breaker Morant is not there, the grave is empty.
Written by Peter Dickens
Referenced Observation Post: https://samilhistory.com/2024/02/04/war-is-cruelty/
Referenced poetry by Breaker Morant – Westward Ho:
With thanks to Johann Hamman, Robin Smith, Dirk Lombard, Gordon Mackinlay and Chris Ash.
Footnotes
- Correspondence Gordon Mackinlay and Peter Dickens – February 2024 ↩︎
- Boer hero’s remains stolen by Annie Olivier – News 24, 21 Feb 2003 ↩︎
- Correspondence Johann Hamman and Peter Dickens 2 May 2024 ↩︎
- Ibid ↩︎
The Observation Post 
To be fair, most things come as a surprise to me!
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The part about why the AWB stole Danie Theron’s remains reminds me of Herman Charles Bosman’s short story ‘Unto Dust’, worth a read.
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Bosman one of my favourite authors. His best work Is the short story compendium illustrated by Badcock.
The Marico area is where I practically grew up, spending most school holidays o my Uncles racehorse stud and farm.
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Mr Dickens,
My apologies for not contacting you over the last couple of weeks. But I have been extremely ill.
With the last minute debacle with the publishing of the book, which the solicitor in the UK after contact with the publishers solicitor, confirmed that the reason why the contract was not signed was due to the US owners, concern with such as slavery etc, but mainly their worry about litigation re BLM in regard to the History from 1652 to `1995.
Anyway to put “my take” of that series of War Crimes by Morant (or Murrant his real name) and his cohorts, here is the definitive entry from my book on it. Even today their actions and that of their supporters since, disgust me.
A lot of work, checking and double checking by myself, and competent others. At the bottom entries to two others corps of relevence.
If anyone wants a copy of the text, sent to gam47@bigpond.com for a free copy copy (buckshee, gratis), Note hi has not pretty pictures just solid authoritive text.
Yours,
G/.
THIS ENTRY IS THE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OF GORDON ANGUS MACKINLAY.
No 248 (was 81) BUSHVELD CARBINEERS (BVC), entitled Bushveld Rifles on raising, later retitled Pietersburg Light Horse, 1st December, 1901. Raised as a irregular corps of the South African Mounted Irregular Force, men from Southern Africa, Britain, Australia, Canada and New Zealand, with surrendered Boers, in Pretoria, February-March, 1901, by a Mr Levi, a hotel-keeper at Pienaar’s River, Northern Transvaal, and served with Plumer’s Column. Also served in the Eastern OFS. So it not a British Army corps, nor Australian, but a Cape Colonial one.
Lt Col Francis Henry Hall Hall, Royal Field Artillery, Acting Commandant Pietersburg, he received a letter written by Trooper Robert Mitchell Cochrane of the Carbineers, who had been a Justice of the Peace in Coolgardie, Western Australia, dated 4th October, 1901, signed by 15 members of that Corps. It referred to six ‘disgraceful incidents’ involving death and theft from captured Boers and civilians, and the unlawful killing of a member of the Corps. As a result he summoned all officers and NCOs to Pietersburg on the 21st. They segregated and interrogated. As a result a Englishman, Lt H.Morant was arrested on his return from leave in Pretoria, Command HQ directed that a General Court Martial be convened.
Captain Robert Burns-Begg (1872-1918), the prosecuting counsel, and with professional skill destroyed the defence (4).
This a prime example of how a badly led, ill disciplined and inadequately trained unit can so easily get out control and commit atrocities (5). Whilst many of the Irregular, Home Guard type units, and the smaller Boer commandos from 1900, were such, the BVC by far the worse. Their unforgivable actions in the region of Louis Trichardt in Northern Transvaal (now Hlanganani region, Limpopo Province), were without a doubt the most extreme in the war. For amplification, see entries for Beddy’s Scouts and Mafeking Railway Volunteers (with reports relating to charges not placed), and the Notes and Texts below.
Holding the Governor of Cape Colony’s Commission, Lt Harry ‘Breaker’ Harbord Morant (born Edwin Henry Murrant, 9th December, 1864, Somerset, England), a bushman of Queensland and South Australia, and bush poet of some renown, of dubious morals, came to South Africa with the Second Contingent of the South Australian Mounted Rifles, until eventually discharged as a sergeant in country. Lt Peter Joseph Handcock (17th February, 1868) commanding A Squadron, served 1st New South Wales Mounted Rifles, as Farrier-Sergeant, he discharged in country, obtaining a commission in the BVC as Veterinary and Transport Officer. Lt G.R.Witton (28th June, 1874), a Regular Gunner in the Victorian Garrison Artillery, enlisted into Victorian Imperial Bushmen, reaching the rank of corporal, although he claimed he was squadron quartermaster sergeant, on commissioning into BVC. These three were court-martialled as Cape Colonial Commission holders (not Queen’s Commission), for the Capital Crimes for which they charged.
LEACH (below) gives solid information that they did in fact commit 25 murders, and others (possibly 35 plus) without such having charges actually raised (6). Found guilty of specific crimes. Morant and Hancock were executed by firing squad, Witton received penal servitude for life, but was released after political intervention after three years.
There is absolutely no doubt that in the 21st Century, they would have been trialled as ‘war criminals’, on the evidence presented, found guilty.
Morant had made no doubt to anyone at that time, that he a Englishman and would never return to the ‘new’ country of Australia. The other two were respectively British citizens of the Australian Colonies of New South Wales and Victoria, leaving them prior to the Federation of Australia 1st January, 1901. The case in Australia became a cause celebre, both then and in the 21st Century, with both the Far Left and Far Right of politics taking it up. Whilst some of the texts below totally in support of the accused and others advocating the correctness of the verdict and punishment, those of the former exhibit a lack of complete comprehension of the events and actions, and the sheer lack of the use of primary sources of legal information on the case, and the events leading up to it.
The Records of the Cape Military Forces were kept in Cape Town after the formation of the UDF. The BVC court-martial files were definitely in the Cape Town archive’s, being seen and recorded by Dr F.K.Mitchell, and D.R.Forsych in the 1980’s, both meticulous and painstaking researchers. The writer examined 1997, the report by the CO of Beddy’s Scouts, the copy held in The Cape Archives. With the breakup of the Cape Province into three separate governments, and the general breakdown in government oversight on such records (much stolen or disposed of), it would probably be totally impossible to find them, that is if they still exist?
Craig Wilcox, in his authoritative (Australia’s Boer War. Oxford University Press, Melbourne, 2002) history of Australia’s involvement, that dealing with the BVC case finds no reason to challenge the court’s original decision (p.276-96). He shows though, that in this war crime there are Australian heroes who should be celebrated; the Australian junior ranks who served under Hunt and Morant, who disgusted by the conduct of their officers. Led by Robert Cochrane, they blew the whistle, testified against the perpetrators and assisted in bringing the killings to an end. In doing so, they risked their lives because Morant murdered witnesses. Australians should honour them.
NOTES :
1. Medals to the Bushveld Carbineers and Pietersburg Light Horse. With the change in title, some confusion arose as to how the medals should be named. QSA Medals can be found named both titles. As many of the BVC and Pietersburg Light Horse had served in other units, medals to these two units are rare. Only 57 QSA Medals issued named to the ‘Bush Veldt. Carbs. (sic), B.V. Carbs. or Pietersburg L.H.’ A total of 660 names appear on the BVC/PLH Nominal Roll between the dates of February 1901-June 1902. The writer sold in 1982, a medal and documentation of a man in the BVC who had made a formal statement re the torture and murder of a Boer by Morant and his clique, for which they not charged. QSA Medal clasps CC, OFS, Tvl SA01, SA02, (325 Tpr J. Kleinscht, Piet’bg L.H.), last seen sold Spinks Auctions, London, October, 1999, £3,000 (and another in possession?)
Offered to the writer in 1980, QSA four clasps TH, OFS, Tvl, RofL, to Br (Bearer), Natal Vol: Amb, C., Ernest Octavious Goatley, he recorded on the BVC nominal roll as No 540 Squadron Quartermaster Sergeant and the KSA two clasp recorded issued from Pietersburg Light Horse Roll, it missing. Enlisted October 1899, aged 45, in the the Imperial Bearer Corps, then BVC. He had been awarded the CGHGSM clasp Transkie, Usher’s Rangers, this missing. Discharged July 1902, died aged 72. The QSA had its suspension badly replaced, and all four clasps were poor quality copies. So one ‘bodgie’ QSA, the vendor wanted 2,200 A$ (serious money then) for it, but what made it attractive was a ten page report made made by the recepient prior to the court martial, describing in a accurate educated manner, the events which he had witnessed, seperate to the official charges placed, and the others reported, but I rejected it, a lot of money for what was ten tatty pages of his comprehensive statement, and other documents. When sold at City Coins, Cape Town in 2014, all that there was, just the same ‘bodgie’ QSA Medal.
2. Pietersburg renamed Polokwane 2001.
3. ‘Bushveld’ originates from the Afrikaans ‘bosveld’; ‘bos’ meaning ‘bush’, and ‘veld’ ‘field’. It pronounced “bushfelt”, commonly spelt as Bushveld. Today a generic term meaning the wild, open and unpopulated spaces of Sub-Saharan Africa. Its shortened form just ‘bush’, and a common term describing such areas in Australia, Canada and NZ.
4. A highly successful member of the legal profession, King’s Councillor 1907. most of his army service as a intelligence officer, 1915 to his death successfully commanded Folkstone Port Lines of Communication. Ten million men went through there without a major hitch, due to his competence. Died as a result of the Spanish Influeneza.
5. In the 1980’s the US Army in its officer and SNCO training of law in the field of battle, gave the Bushveld Carbineers case as one of the examples used in dealing with how such units lose control. A further case study, to their credit being their own My Lai Massacre in South Viet Nam 1968.
6. The writers paternal grandfather, then a sergeant in The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders had acted as one of the court orderlies, during the court-martial, he recovering from Enteric Fever received whilst on column. A very bright, intelligent and competent man who retiring as a Lt Col after the 1914-18 War (having commanded a battalion, and as a Provost Marshal on a number of occasions), was Chief Constable of a number of minor police forces in the North West of Scotland, and then set up the Transport Police for the private rail systems in Scotland prior to War 1939, and during it (he also sat on the Provost’s Bench). He had extremely vivid memories of the court martial, and had at the time recorded his impressions and the evidence given during it. He considered that the trial was conducted correctly in accordance to the Regulations of the time, and that all the accused were given equally correct legal service. His personal opinion being that the correct decision was given by the court, with the correct sentence given. There was no need to detail men from The Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders for the firing party, many volunteered.
The only problem that he had was, why had not the numerous other offences (for which there strong evidence) not been given as charges for the court-martial, a number of which were also capital offences, he having seen the files. Asking the Judge Advocate General as to the reason why. His response being that the charges laid and their evidence were strong, in time of war, the need to charge every offence in court would take too many, for far too long, away from their military duties, and the other defendents concerned had previously pleaded guilty to charges.
7. The executions were carried out 27th February, 1902. They buried in a single grave, in the civilian section of Pretoria’s Church Street cemetery, 50m from the official War Graves section. The grave site was desecrated in the 1980’s, and all human remains within it removed. The SAP carried out a comprehensive investigation, their result being that the remains of these executed men had been taken for use in Muti, as they even more potent than the bones of men killed by violence (see Note 4 to Albany Mounted Sharpshooters). It such a problem in the country, The Witchcraft Suppression Act 1957, created (and remains in 2021) with specific mention of this type of crime. In the 1990’s the Australian Commonwealth Government paid for the site to have placed on it, grave markers and covering, it known that the site was empty! It falsely stated the remains of Morant, buried in the heart of Afrikanerdom, Hero’s Acre, Pretoria!
8. The author of ‘The Bushveldt Carbineers and the Pietersburg Light Horse’, W.Woolmore (p.111) wrote, “Colonel Hall, who could have been a crucial witness for the defence, was transferred to India with indecent haste before the courts martial began. Additionally, Colonel Hall’s presence at the court martial may have been an embarrassment to the prosecution’s case as ex-Capt James Robertson, who had turned King’s evidence, had left the army in disgrace only a few months earlier following a demand by Colonel Hall for his resignation.” Robertson left the Army due to a allegation that he had sexually molested a woman, during a investigation into it, his acts regarding to the BVC indiscipline came out, late July 1901. Due to this Hall had directed Capt W.Beddy CO of Beddy’s Scouts (operating alongside the BVC) to investigate, his report was confirmation for the letter received.
Francis William Hall CB, MVO (1852-1919) was not transferred with indecent haste, he a highly competent officer of artillery, with some eight years of experience as a instructor of artillery at The School of Artillery, Woolwich, and having responsibility for tactical development. Had been specifically sent to South Africa because of his ability, he commanding the Royal Artillery at the Battle of Modder River, at Magersfontein in 1899, and Paardeburg February 1900. It arranged before the arrest of the BVC’s, on the direction of Lord Roberts, he to go to India and advise the artillery of the Field Army in modern artillery techniques. Awarded the Companion of The Order of the Bath, and three MID for South Africa, one from Lord Methuen for Magersfontein “I again recognise the business-like manner in which Lieut.Col. Hall, commanding RA, carries out his duties in the field”. Medals sold Noble, Sydney, 2021.
9. Senator Nicola Roxon, Liberal replaced Robert McClelland, Labor, as Australian Attorney General 12th December, 2011, he had been vigorously supporting this case. 9th May, 2012, she informed that the Australian Government would not pursue the issue further with the UK, there was no doubt that the three men had committed the killings for which they were convicted, and the government’s position was that pardons are appropriate only when an offender is both “morally and technically innocent” of the offence. She also noted the seriousness of the offences involved, explaining “I consider that seeking a pardon for these men could be rightly perceived as “glossing over very grave criminal acts.”
TEXTS :
BLESZYNSKI Nick. Shoot Straight You Bastards! The truth behind the killing of ‘Breaker Morant’. Random House, Sydney, Australia, 2002. Illustrated card cover, xliii, 386p., photographs, maps, index. A spirited defence of Morant, with its author having only used secondary sources for the defence with no attempt to research primary sources. Only the written texts supporting the case for their innocence used, not used, any form of primary official sources.
BRIDGES Barry. Lord Kitchener and the Morant-Hancok Executions. Journal of the Royal Australian Historical Society. Volume 73, June, 1987, pp.24-40. Based on his D.LItt et Phil thesis, University of South Africa. Has little knowledge of the army and its law of the period, and he did not (even though in Cape Town) use any primary sources.
CARNEGIE Margaret and SHIELDS Frank. In Search of Breaker Morant, Balladist and Bushveldt Carbineer. Published by authors, Armidale, Australia, 1979. Hard cover with dustjacket,, 227p., photographs, map, index. The story seen through ‘rose tinted’ glasses.
DAVEY Arthur, Editor. Breaker Morant and the Bushveld Carbineers. Van Reibeeck Society, Second Series No 18, Cape Town, 1987. Hard cover with dustjacket, lxv, 238pp., photographs, maps, index. A authoritative, well researched text, that lays the whole story out in a non-biased manner, using the records of the Cape Archives
DENTON Kit. The Breaker. Angus & Robertson, Sydney, 1973. Hard cover, dustjacket, 268p. A historical novel based on the events, reprinted a number of times also as ‘Breaker Morant’. The 1982 film ‘Breaker Morant’ is “not” based on this novel, but on the 1978 Australian play “’Breaker Morant: A Play in Two Acts” written by Kenneth G.Ross who admitted he had used the novel as inspiration, the films director Bruce Beresford in subsequent years stated that he was ashamed to have depicted war criminals as heroes, co-wrote the screenplay with Ross. Meeting Kit in Sydney, 1974, I took him to task over the novel, we had a productive working relationship to his death in 1997. DENTON Kit. Closed File. The true story behind the execution of Breaker Morant and Peter Handcock. Rigby, Adelaide, Australia, 1983. Hard cover, dustjacket, 160p., photographs, maps, index. An attempt to clear up the confusion given in his The Breaker, for which he had employed a British woman as a researcher for the affair using The Public Records Office in London. She found little, informed that there a ‘closed file’ held by the former War Office, retitled Ministry of Defence (Army). In fact, this file, which was not closed, gave reference to the complete records on the Court Martial, and events and investigations relating to it, being held in the Cape Archives, Cape Town, as they were Cape Colonial soldiers. Also linked to other War Office files, pertaining to the court martial, not its content.
LEACH Charles. The Legend of Breaker Morant is DEAD and Buried. A South African version of the Bushveld Carbineers in the Zoutpansberg May 1901-April 1902. Author, Louis Trichart, SA, 2012. Illustrated card cover, xxv, 220pp., photographs, maps, drawings, index. A competent, well researched and illustrated text, he using certain documents from the Cape Archives, Cape Town, and Africana Museum, Johannesburg records.
MEREDITH John, Editor. Breaker’s Mate : Will Ogilvie in Australia. Kangaroo Press, Sydney, 1996. Illustrated card cover, 276p., photographs, index. Deals with a Scot, he a close friend of Morant in the colony of South Australia in the 1890’s. Gives a good idea of the depravity of the man, and makes a very strong case for his involvement in murder and homosexual rape in South West Queensland in the immediate period before his departure for South Africa. In regard to his horsemanship, describes his brutal treatment of animals, one being he routinely wore Mexican spurs, six roweled, sharpened and rotating. Ogilvie’s very comprehensive papers, which relate to his experience of Morant in South Australia, and Bourke in New South Wales, held in Edinburgh, Scotland.
SCHOEMAN Chris. Brothers in Arms. Hollanders in the Anglo-Boer War. Zebra Press, Cape Town, 2011. Hard cover, dustjacket, xiii, 243pp., photographs, index. In part deals in a factual and dispassionate manner with the murder and torture of citizens of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and native born Boers by Morant and his cohorts.
WEST Joe, ROPER Roger. Breaker Morant The Final Roundup. Horseman, Bush Balladeer, War Criminal. Amberley Books, London, 2016. Hard cover, dustjacket, 400p., photographs, map, index. Well researched, and presented in a well reasoned and clear narrative.
WITTON George Ramsdale. Scapegoats of the Empire. D. W. Paterson Pty Ltd, Melbourne, 1907. Reprinted Angus & Robertson, Sydney, 1982. This reprinting was inspired by the success of Bruce Beresford’s film, the copyright well expired, minor publishers produced many copies. Hard cover, dust jacket, 247p., photographs. It claimed by the supporters of Morant that only seven copies of the original book survived in various Australian state libraries and in the possession of Witton’s family. Although unsubstantiated, it was long claimed that the book was suppressed by the Commonwealth Government of Australia at the request of the Colonial Office in London, and most copies were destroyed; another explanation given why so few, is that most of the copies were destroyed by an accidental fire at the publisher’s warehouse. This writer had pre-1982 over the years purchased three copies of the original print, and physically seen a further 11 in private possession, while a further 23 copies were known held in public access outside of Australia (using the Old War Office Library indexing), so at least 37 extant pre-1982, with electronic technology since, found another seven found held in public access within Australia! To enhance this, in 2016 this writer was loaned; by a unknown writer, a revised print, D.W. Paterson Co., Printers & Publishers, Melbourne, 1907. Second Edition. Decorated hard cover, 240pp., and two pages of press reviews of the first edition, photographs. In the further reduction of seven pages, it can be seen significant changes in the text, the blame being placed firmly on Morant!
Cecily Adams identifying herself as the copyright owner, she Witton’s cousin of Castlecrag, a Sydney suburb, for Scapegoats of the Empire 1st edition (following his death in 1942, she aware of additional documentation written by Witton, he had always refused to make public. She arranged in 1989 for a edition to be published by Adlib Books, Bath, UK, through an arrangement with Angus & Robertson, publishers of Sydney (no ISBN recorded). The writer has never seen this, nor has anyone else consulted, and no copies have ever come on the second hand market, further no copies held in public domain in Australia.
WILCOX Craig. Australia’s Boer War : The War in South Africa 1899-1902. Oxford University Press, Melbourne, 2002. Hard cover, xviii, 541p., photographs, drawings, maps, index. In it the author gives a good description of the whole sorry business. This is further amplified by his article “Breaker Morant : The Murderer as Martyr” pp.29-49, in STOCKINGS Craig A.J., editor. Zombie Myths of Australian History : The Ten Myths that will not Die. NewSouth, Sydney, 2010. Illustrated card, 288p. A good clear chapter on the events.
WOOLMORE William. The Bushveldt Carbineers and the Pietersburg Light Horse. Slouch Hat Publications, McCrae, Melbourne, Australia, 2002. Hard cover with dustjacket, 320p., photographs, drawings, maps, index. A nicely produced text with good photographs, unfortunately it follows the belief that Morant was unjustly executed, and that those with him were misunderstood, in having believed legal orders given! The rape, torture, killing of minors etc., the threats to kill those who would not conform, are not explained.
Robert Eales. ‘Should Breaker Morant be Pardoned?’ SAMHS, Journal, Volume 15, No 2, December 2010. A very good article, discussing both sides in non-biased manner, coming to a conclusion not based on emotion.
Philip Stigger. The Disappearance of White Irregular Regiments, ‘Breaker’ Morant, and the demise of Recruiting for Rank. Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research,Vol. 74, No. 298 (Summer 1996), pp. 90-95.
Shirley Walker. ‘A Man Never Knows His Luck in South Africa’: Some Australian Literary Myths from the Boer War”. English in Africa, Vol. 12, No. 2 (Oct., 1985), pp. 1-20 (20p.). Rhodes University. Gives a good account of the BVC.
Over the years there has been a number of popular ‘trashy’ books written on the sorry affair, the latest in Australia in 2022, by a author whose specially is in putting out such books on the Nation’s history. And people believe such books!
From No 993 MAFEKING RAILWAY VOLUNTEERS.
NOTE 2. The writer had in his possession until sold in the early 1980’s, a medal pair to Alfred Henry Royal, QSA Medal clasps DoM, OFS, Tvl, SA01, SA02 named ‘Mafeking Town Gd’, and British War Medal named ‘Railway Regt’. Recorded as Engine Driver on the Railway Volunteer’s QSA Roll, also on the Town Guard Roll, the QSA recorded as issued off that Roll. Subsequently enlisted Bushveld Carbineers, Cape Town, 6th April, 1901, No. 233, Squadron Quarter Master Sergeant, with former service in Railway Volunteers. He one of those who had fled for his life, and his thorough report of atrocities committed by that corps recorded in Capt Beddy’s report (see No 157). He subsequently served to the war’s end as No.32773 Quarter Master Sergeant, Pietersburg Light Horse. Railway Regiment 1914-18 War service in the Union and South West Africa only.
No 157 (was 42) BEDDY’S SCOUTS, misspelt in a number of records as ‘Beddies’, and on QSA Medals named ‘ Beddies. Scts.’. A small corps (with a number of surrendered Burghers) raised by Capt W.Beddy at Haenertsburg, North Transvaal, for patrol service in the extreme North, the same wild district in which Bushveld Carbineers (1) had worked until disbanded (which it did far more effectively, and excited no similar controversies). They made a number of captures of small parties of Boers between January-April, 1902. At Spelonkin on 23rd March, 1902 their post was attacked by a very large Boer force, but held out; Capt Beddy and several men were wounded. On 16th April they had fighting at Haenertsburg, and suffered some losses. On 23rd April, 1902, serving with Lt Col H.C.Denny’s Column (2), ambushed near Vliegenpan farm by Commandant Beyer’s Commando, Beddy was killed. He received a Mention, in Lord Kitchener’s final despatch, 23rd June, 1902, under the heading, ‘Intelligence Department’.
NOTES :
1. A number of the Carabineers fled to Beddy for protection from Morant and his cohorts, with Beddy’s commissioned to investigate and deliver a report on the criminal activities of the Corps with collected sworn statements, the copy held in The Cape Archives, seen and examined in 1997. Whilst presented to the court-martial, it was not called for, Colonel Denny had been the President of the Bushveld Carbineers court-martial.
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