Scapecoats of the Empire

This is the true story of three Australian army officers and the events that led to a murder trial during Britain's Boer War in the 1880's. Its author, George Witton, was one of those officers serving with the Bushveldt Carbineers, an irregular counterinsurgency regiment set up to fight the Boer guerrilla units on their own level. Shortly before Witton joined his detachment of the Carbineers, its commander, Captain Hunt, was killed and his body apparently abused by the Boers. Lt. Harry "Breaker" Morant took over command. Bereaved over the death and mutilation of his senior officer and close friend, Morant decided to follow Hunt's earlier orders to execute prisoners, including some who took part in Hunt's death. However, Lord Kitchener, the commanding British general, had issued orders not to take Boer prisoners. Witton never knew Hunt, and barely knew Morant and Lt. Peter Handcock (also an officer with the Carbineers) when prisoner executions took place. Capt. Hunt allegedly ordered his men to shoot prisoners, saying the order came from as far up as Kitchener. But, the General's testimony was never admitted into evidence, and he was conveniently out of the country when the three men's verdicts were handed down. With quotes from pre-trial and court martial testimony, Witton sets forth his version of the facts in plain, unelaborated writing.