Breaker Morant Page #3

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

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

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.

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