Breaker Morant

A man named Harry lived long ago. He was a great horse rider. He was also a writer of poems.

Many years ago, Harry went to a far land. He went there to fight in a war.

Some very sad and unfair things happened during the war. Harry was part of a group that did wrong things.

He was caught and had a trial. The leaders decided he must be punished for his actions.

People still tell stories about him today. Some people think he was a hero. Others think he was not.

Harry Morant was a man with many names. He was born in England in 1864. He moved to Australia in 1883. He worked many jobs there. He was a horseman and a writer of poems. People called him "The Breaker" because he could ride wild horses.

In 1899, Morant joined the war in South Africa. He fought in the Second Boer War. He became a leader in a group called the Bushveldt Carbineers.

During the war, Morant did very wrong things. He killed prisoners of war and some civilians.

A military court held a trial for him. His lawyer said he was only following orders. The court did not believe this. Morant was found guilty of murder. He was executed in 1902.

Today, people still talk about Morant. Some see him as a hero. Others say he was a criminal. Some people think the trial was not fair. They still ask for a new trial today.

Harry Harbord Morant was a man known by many different names. He was born Edwin Henry Murrant in England on December 9, 1864. His father died before he was born. His mother, Catherine, worked hard to send him to a special school for boys. He was very good at subjects like French and German. However, he also got into a lot of trouble at school. In 1883, he moved to the Australian colonies. He lived in places like Queensland and South Australia for many years.

During his time in Australia, Morant worked many different jobs. He was a horseman, a bookkeeper, and a storeman. He became famous for riding wild horses. This earned him the nickname "The Breaker."

He also wrote poems called bush ballads. Many of his poems were published in a magazine called The Bulletin. He was a very skilled rider, but he also had many debts. He often moved to new towns to avoid paying people back. He even claimed to be the son of an English Admiral. An Admiral later said that Morant was not his son.

In 1899, Morant joined the military to fight in the Second Boer War. This war took place in South Africa. He first joined the South Australian Mounted Rifles as a corporal. Later, he became a lieutenant in a group called the Bushveldt Carbineers.

He spent much of his time as a despatch rider. This job meant he had to carry important messages. While serving in the Northern Transvaal, Morant was accused of serious crimes. He was accused of killing prisoners of war and civilians. Prosecutors said he did these things to get revenge for a friend.

A military court held a trial to decide his fate. His lawyer, Major James Francis Thomas, tried to defend him. Thomas argued that Morant was just following orders from his leaders. The lawyers claimed there was an order not to take prisoners. However, the court could not find proof that such an order existed. Morant was found guilty of several murders. He was sentenced to death by a firing squad. On February 27, 1902, Morant and another officer named Peter Handcock were executed.

Today, people have many different opinions about Harry Morant. In Australia, some people see him as a hero or a martyr. They feel he was treated unfairly by the British. A famous movie about his life was made in 1980. Other people believe he was a criminal who did wrong things. Some South Africans feel that justice was not fully finished. They believe other people involved were not punished. Some groups even try to ask for a new trial today. His story remains a big part of history.

Harry Harbord "Breaker" Morant was an English horseman and military officer. He is primarily remembered as a war criminal convicted during the Second Boer War. This conflict took place in South Africa between 1899 and 1902. Morant was executed for the murder of nine prisoners-of-war (POWs) and three captured civilians. His case remains a significant moment in military and colonial history. It highlights the complex relationship between the British Empire and its colonies.

Morant's early life began in Bridgwater, Somerset, England. He was born Edwin Henry Murrant on December 9, 1864. His father died four months before his birth. His mother, Catherine Murrant, worked as a matron at a workhouse. She managed to send him to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys. There, he won prizes for French, German, and classics. However, he also frequently misbehaved and influenced other students to join his mischief.

In 1883, Morant moved to the Australian colonies. He arrived in Townsville, Queensland, aboard the SS Waroonga. During his fifteen years in Australia, he worked many different jobs. He was a stockman, a horse trader, and a bookkeeper. He also gained fame as a bush balladist. These were poems or songs about life in the Australian bush. He earned the nickname "The Breaker" after riding a wild horse named Dargin's Grey.

Despite his skills, Morant faced many personal struggles. He often struggled with debt and was known for avoiding creditors. He was even convicted of obtaining money under false pretences in 1889. He sometimes used the name Harry Morant to hide his identity. He also claimed to be the son of an English Admiral. However, the Admiral released a statement denying any relation to him. By 1900, his circumstances were very difficult as he moved between colonies.

Morant enlisted in the South Australian Mounted Rifles in 1899. He served as part of the British Empire forces in South Africa. He initially served as a corporal and a despatch rider. A despatch rider is someone who carries important messages between units. Later, he received a commission as a lieutenant. He joined an irregular regiment called the Bushveldt Carbineers.

During the war, Morant was accused of several revenge killings. Prosecutors stated he killed Boer POWs and civilians in the Northern Transvaal. He was accused of the summary execution of Floris Visser, a wounded prisoner. He was also accused of killing eight people at Elim Hospital. These victims included four Afrikaners and four Dutch schoolteachers. His defense attorney, Major James Francis Thomas, argued that Morant followed superior orders. Thomas claimed there was an order not to take prisoners. However, the court could not prove such an order existed.

Morant and Lieutenant Peter Handcock were found guilty of murder. They were also tried for the death of Reverend Carl August Daniel Heese. They were acquitted of the Heese murder, but sentenced for the other killings. On February 27, 1902, a firing squad executed them. This event has caused great debate in modern Australia. Some see them as folk heroes or martyrs for Australian independence. Others view them as criminals who committed serious wrongs. Some South Africans believe justice was only partially achieved. They feel other responsible parties, like Captain Taylor, were not punished. This case continues to be studied in books and films today.