I dont think there should be a pardoning, killing pow's is completely different from not taking pow's. besides the british government won't budge on the case and nor will the south african governemnt as the relative descendents of the executed boer prisoners by the bvc still stands by morant's & handcock's sentencing
Kitchener gave them orders not to take prisoners. After the war, he back-peddaled and pretended he never gave the order. It was also revealed in official documents after the war that Kitchener's own BROTHER was guilty of similar 'crimes' of summarily executing Boers, but he was never brought up on charges. Legal analysts argue that 'Two wrongs don't make a right', but clearly executing one set of men for 'crimes' and turning a blind eye to another case is not exactly justice either.
@yellowpete79 correction when we do become a republic the President's title would most likely be His/Her Excellency, The President of the Republic of the Commonwealth of Australia, The Right Honourable then the President's name.
@yellowpete79 Breaker Morant was an Englishman NOT an Australian. In a letter to The Sydney Morning Herald on 16 June 1923 Major Thomas reacted strongly to a suggestion that Morant was Australian and was adamant that “Morant was not an Australian, he was an Englishman, who came to this country for “colonial experience””.
Snobbish and European would therefor be quite appropriate for Morant.
Lt Geroge Witton admited tha "what we were guilty of, we were aquited, and what we were aquited of we were guilty of doing"
Ref "scapegoats of the empire" by Lt George Witton
Witton btw was innocent of all charges hence why he was, released years later (with the support of the dutch)- how often does the enemy support the enemy?? was good to see.
Morant on the other hand waas a common horse theif and womaniser, hence he joined up to fight so he could escape the law.
@TheLn130surf I read Scapegoats of the Empire, and I don't remember seeing what you allege about Morant anywhere in that book. As a matter of fact, according to the book (but not the movie), Lt. Handcock did not shoot the missionary and never acknowledged doing so. Just sayin.
@roadrash998 A letter from George R. Witton to Major J.F. Thomas dated
21 October 1929 held by State Library of New South Wales shows.... Witton wrote: "I consider I am the one and only one that suffered unjustly... But the shooting of Heese was a premeditated and most cold blooded affair. Handcock with his own lips described it all to me." So Handcock confessed and Witton lied in his book!
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
Morant admitted to shooting Boer prisoners-of-war after they surrendered. Anyone supporting Morant's pardon, does not understand that there is a difference between the alleged order "Take no prisoners" and the shooting of prisoners-of-war after they were taken. Under the Geneva Convention, Morant was responsible for his captured POW's. If Morant is pardoned, then Hitler and Stalin and Hussein Sadam might just as well also be pardoned.
@19370831 The events pre-date the Geneva Convention. The Hitler/Stalin comparison is hyperbolic and silly, not least because they gave commands rather than executed them, so they'd more appropriately be compared to Kitchener.
I am not sure but did the Boers wear uniforms. Also Morant and his unit worked behind enemy lines and therefor could not take prisoners.
They were just scapegoats the English officer who was to go on trial walked away free as for the German he was a spy
jonwvin 3 months ago
@jonwvin I presume you are aware that the men were actually acquitted of killing the German Missionary
irishgodfatherchris 1 month ago
This has been flagged as spam show
I dont think there should be a pardoning, killing pow's is completely different from not taking pow's. besides the british government won't budge on the case and nor will the south african governemnt as the relative descendents of the executed boer prisoners by the bvc still stands by morant's & handcock's sentencing
liverpoolmatt87 3 months ago
Comment removed
liverpoolmatt87 3 months ago
Kitchener gave them orders not to take prisoners. After the war, he back-peddaled and pretended he never gave the order. It was also revealed in official documents after the war that Kitchener's own BROTHER was guilty of similar 'crimes' of summarily executing Boers, but he was never brought up on charges. Legal analysts argue that 'Two wrongs don't make a right', but clearly executing one set of men for 'crimes' and turning a blind eye to another case is not exactly justice either.
ARKALER 8 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
They were flat out betrayed by Kitchener ... end of.
Rikitocker 10 months ago
The President of the Republic of Australia finds them innocent of murdering the German missionary.
yellowpete79 10 months ago
@yellowpete79 correction when we do become a republic the President's title would most likely be His/Her Excellency, The President of the Republic of the Commonwealth of Australia, The Right Honourable then the President's name.
irishgodfatherchris 10 months ago
@irishgodfatherchris Once I take over, I will be called what I want. The 'right honourable' sounds far too snobbish and European to me cobber.
yellowpete79 10 months ago
@yellowpete79 Breaker Morant was an Englishman NOT an Australian. In a letter to The Sydney Morning Herald on 16 June 1923 Major Thomas reacted strongly to a suggestion that Morant was Australian and was adamant that “Morant was not an Australian, he was an Englishman, who came to this country for “colonial experience””.
Snobbish and European would therefor be quite appropriate for Morant.
justice1902 8 months ago
@yellowpete79 hey he spread the word
grunt182820 9 months ago
hey every one gess what im related to lord kitchener my uncle found out threw our family records that we were related to him :D
andrewceg 1 year ago
Lt Geroge Witton admited tha "what we were guilty of, we were aquited, and what we were aquited of we were guilty of doing"
Ref "scapegoats of the empire" by Lt George Witton
Witton btw was innocent of all charges hence why he was, released years later (with the support of the dutch)- how often does the enemy support the enemy?? was good to see.
Morant on the other hand waas a common horse theif and womaniser, hence he joined up to fight so he could escape the law.
TheLn130surf 1 year ago
@TheLn130surf I read Scapegoats of the Empire, and I don't remember seeing what you allege about Morant anywhere in that book. As a matter of fact, according to the book (but not the movie), Lt. Handcock did not shoot the missionary and never acknowledged doing so. Just sayin.
roadrash998 1 year ago
@roadrash998 A letter from George R. Witton to Major J.F. Thomas dated
21 October 1929 held by State Library of New South Wales shows.... Witton wrote: "I consider I am the one and only one that suffered unjustly... But the shooting of Heese was a premeditated and most cold blooded affair. Handcock with his own lips described it all to me." So Handcock confessed and Witton lied in his book!
justice1902 8 months ago
@justice1902 Apparently so. That's too bad.
roadrash998 6 months ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Morant admitted to shooting Boer prisoners-of-war after they surrendered. Anyone supporting Morant's pardon, does not understand that there is a difference between the alleged order "Take no prisoners" and the shooting of prisoners-of-war after they were taken. Under the Geneva Convention, Morant was responsible for his captured POW's. If Morant is pardoned, then Hitler and Stalin and Hussein Sadam might just as well also be pardoned.
19370831 1 year ago
@19370831 The events pre-date the Geneva Convention. The Hitler/Stalin comparison is hyperbolic and silly, not least because they gave commands rather than executed them, so they'd more appropriately be compared to Kitchener.
nonameisacat 1 year ago
@19370831, comparing Hitler and Stalin to Breaker Morant, your an asshole.
SnakeDoctorSilver 10 months ago 4