Harry Breaker Morant was known for his work as an Anglo Australian drover, horseman, bush poet and soldier. His skill with horses earned him his nickname the Breaker. He was well educated and intelligent, and became a published poet with a bulk of his work appearing in The Bulletin.
Harry Breaker Morant was born in Devon England, in the early 1865. He spent his childhood working in the Union Workhouse near Bridgewater England, where his mother was employed.
He is claimed to be the son of Admiral Sir George Digby Morant of the Royal Navy, but the Admiral is said to have denied it. Breaker Morant, through unknown circumstances, came into the care of a rich Scottish author, soldier, hunt – master and golfer George White-Melville.
Breaker Morant immigrated to Australia in 1884 and settled in outback Queensland. Over the next fifteen years, he worked in Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia; he made a name for himself as a hard drinking, womanizing bush poet and gained a reputation as a fearless and expert horseman.
Seeing it as a chance to return to England, Breaker Morant enlisted with the second contingent of the South Australian Mounted Rifles, in 1899. After training he was appointed Lance Coropral, and his regiment departed for Transvaal in South Africa on February 27 1900.
Breaker Morant’s court martial took place on several stages. The main charges were that between July and September he had incited his co accuesed, Handcock, Lt George Witton and others under his command to kill about twenty people, including the Boer War commando Visser, the German Missionery Hesse, a group of eight Boer POW’s, and Boer civillian adults and children.
The first case was the murder of Visser, and no announcement of the verdict was made. The eight Boer case took place next on January 31st 1902, where Eight Boers were shot allegedly after surrendering, and the last case was the German Missionery Hesse, which started on February 17.
While the trial was underway, Boer commando’s launched a surprise attack on Pietersburg. Surprisingly Morant and his co accused were released from their cells and given weapons. They fought bravely, but had to resume trial.
Although Major Thomas did his best to defend them, Breaker Morant and Handcock were found guilty, and sentenced to death by firing squad. George Witton was also sentenced to death but was commuted to life in prison.
At 5am on February 27th 1902, Breaker Morant and Handcock were led out of the fort at Pretoria. They were asked to be blindfolded, but both refused. Shortly the Cameron Highlanders fired, and both died in an instant.
Breaker Morant was a great man, and has helped make Australia what it is today.
2007-03-13
11:02:31
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