PAST EVENTS

At our get-together on 14 July we had a "film evening" at which, through the courtesy of fellow-member Midge Carter, a video film "Breaker Morant" was shown. Who was Morant? How was it that his military career, begun with such eager patriotism, had ended so dishonourably in front of a firing squad? Why resurrect this lamentable affair after 80 years? Well, some Australians want to, because Harry "Breaker" Horant has become something of a folk hero. Now the Australlan director, Bruce Beresford, has immortalised Morant on film.

"Harry Morant, a Englishman of good family, had gone to Australia where he showed a flair for breaking in wild horses and an aptitude for writing doggerel which was published under the pseudonym "The Breaker". When the South African War broke out he joined the Australian second contingent. He was commissioned into the Transvaal Constabulary and, on April Fool's Day, 1901, joined the Bushveldt Carbineers as a lieutenant.
- A likeable, impulsive man, his closest friend was Captain Hunt of the same regiment, formerly of the 10th Lancers.
- Lieutenant Peter Handcock was an outback Australian, who was a farrier sergeant in the New South Wales Mounted Infantry, a Railway policeman in Pretoria, and finally a veterinary lieutenant in the Bushveldt Carbineers.
- George Witton, of Lancefield, Victoria, had been a gunner in the Victorian Permanent Artillery. He joined the 4th contingent Imperial Bushmen (Victorian) as quartermaster-sergeant for service in South Africa. On July 13, he started duty as an officer in the Bushveldt Carbineers.
- This irregular regiment had been raised to deal with guerillas active in the wild, remote northern Transvaal after annexation on October 25, 1900. Its headquarters was in Pietersburg but Hunt, Morant and the others, were with a detachment stationed in the remote Spelonken area, about 150km to the north, where they tended to be a law to themselves.
- There was a lot of hatred in the air in those days, of course. Hot-headed Morant seethed at the murder and mutilation, as he believed, of his best friend, Hunt. Subsequently one (Visser) and then eight Boer prisoners, were shot on his orders. The German missionary, C.H.D. Hesse, was found murdered.
- On October 23 a court of inquiry was held in Pietersburg. On January 16,1902, Morant, Handcock, Witton and Lieutenant Picton,DCM, were court martialled on charges of complicity in the murder of Visser and the other men. Notwithstanding the efforts of their defending officer, Major J. F. Thomas, they were found guilty. The first three were sentenced to death by being shot. Picton, guilty of manslaughter, was cashiered.
- On February 26 they were informed of their fate. Despite recommendations to mercy, Kitchener confirmed the sentences on Morant and Handcock. Witton's sentence was commuted to penal servitude for life.
Next day Morant and Handcock faced the firing squad. They lie buried together beneath a cross in Church Street West Cemetery, Pretoria. What of George Witton? Following a great deal of agitation, he was pardoned. On November 12, 1904, he returned to Australia to get on with his life, and to write his book Scapegoats of the Empire." (With acknowledgement to Keith Sutton, "Despatch" Volume XVI No.5 (Nov 1980), Monthly Journal of the New South Wales Military History Society.)

FUTURE EVENTS

LADYSMITH HISTORICAL SOCIETY: A.G.M. AND FIELD OUTING.

Friday 26 August 1983. Annual General Meeting and launching of the book on the Hlubis of Natal and Zululand written by Dr. John Wright and Mr. Andrew Manson, commencing at 18h00 at the Royal Hotel Buttery.

Saturday 27 August. Visit to Hlubi Historical Sites in the Giant's Castle area. Meet at 09h30 on the Giant's Castle road at Henderson's cottage, (there will be a sign on the road). It is about 3km before the gate to the Reserve and about 45 minutes travelling from Estcourt. Walk to Langalibalele's grave and talk by Dr. Wright. Thence to Giant's Castle picnic site for lunch (bring your own lunch) and talk by Mr. Paul Miles on the "Bushmans Pass fight.

Saturday evening at Ladysmith, slide talk on "Colonel Durnford" by Cmdt. 'SD' Bourquin (Time and venue still to be decided).

Sunday 28 August. Visit to Zulu War sites, particularly Isandlwana.
The tour will leave the Royal Hotel, Ladysmith at 09h00. (Bring picnic lunch).

(Anyone wishing to attend the two evening meetings should advise the Secretary of the Ladysmith Historical Society, P.O. Box 380, Ladysmith, 3370 of this fact and the number of persons attending.)

MONTHLY NEETINGS

AUGUST 11TH FILM EVENING "THE FALKLANDS WAR" This BBC TV documentary film lasts 2 hours so the meeting will commence at 8 p.m., SHARP.

SEPTEMBER 15TH Hajor Darrell Hall will present a slide talk entitled "The Western Front - Then and Now". This will be preceded by a MGH "short" !!!
(PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS MEETING WILL BE HELD ON THE THIRD THURSDAY IN SEPTEMBER).

The venue for' meetings will be the Lecture Room, 'SB' Bourquin Building, the Port Natal Administration board's head office, on the corner of Jan Smuts Highway and Buro Crescent, Mayville. Glasses and ice will be supplied so please bring your own canned or bottled refreshments. Interested persons are welcome to come along.

WELCOME
A warm welcome is extended to new members Mr. and Mrs. Colin Hamlinton and Messrs. Keith Nicol and C.G. Gearing.

FOR SALE
A 15 volume set of books on the role of the American Navy in the Second World War. If anyone is interested in purchasing these books please contact Mrs. Joyce Melrose, Telephone (031 mmmmmmm).

(Mrs) Tania van der Watt,
Secretary, Durban Branch,
S.A. Military History Society,
Box 870, HILLCREST, 3650.
Tel. (031) vvvvvv