Breaker Morant Page #6

to shoot prisoners.

On the contrary, sir.

I regard Colonel Hamilton's denial

as having no bearing at all on the defense.

I submit that it is, in fact,

inadmissible evidence.

A conversation

is stated to have taken place

between Captain Hunt

and Colonel Hamilton.

Which conversation was relayed

by Captain Hunt

to Lieutenant Morant.

Now it really doesn't matter from whom

Captain Hunt had his instructions.

The fact is clear from the evidence

that Captain Hunt did tell his subordinates

not once, but several times,

that no prisoners were to be taken.

This fact is admitted by witnesses

for the prosecution.

Captain Hunt's instructions

were entitled to be obeyed,

which goes to remove any suggestion

of malicious intention

on the part of the defendants.

This entire court-martial, sir,

should be dismissed.

Let us pray.

O Lord of Hosts, we entreat thy blessing

for the soldiers of our race

called to do battle in South Africa.

Be thou a strong tower for them

against the enemy.

O thou who dost accomplish thy will

by war as well as by peace.

I used to hate Sundays in Melbourne.

No trams or anything.

On a hot day, you couldn't even

get down to St. Kilda's for a swim.

-Did you have family readings?

-No.

We did.

I had to sit in a high-backed chair

wearing a white lace collar

while my father read

selectionsfrom pilgrim's Progress.

"How glorious it was to see

the open region filled with horses,

"with trumpeters and pipers,

"with singers and players..." Etcetera.

Sunday was a good day

for chasing a few tarts around Bathurst.

Everyone else was in church.

I used to whip down the riverbank

for a bit of smooching.

Worst thing about dying, no more girls.

Well, coming up for the homestretch.

-Any news of the other two cases?

-No, nothing.

In my view, everything hinges

on the last one. The German missionary.

-You sticking with that story?

-Why, what's wrong with it?

Damn it, man.

He leaves Fort Edward in a cart.

A few hours later, you leave with a rifle.

In the morning, he's dead,

and you trot out some fairytale

about shooting game.

-We don't have to give evidence, do we?

-No.

But refusal will be equivalent

to an admission of guilt.

Sir.

I was in a public house

a few nights ago, sir.

-Were you, Sergeant?

-Yes, sir.

I was standing near one of the witnesses.

In his cups, he was.

A very indiscreet gentlemen, sir.

We will proceed, gentlemen,

with the final one of the three charges.

The death of the Reverend H.C.V. Hesse.

Lieutenants Morant and Handcock

have pleaded not guilty respectively

to inciting and committing the murder.

Major Bolton.

You realize you're under oath,

-Corporal Sharp.

-Yes, sir. Right, sir.

This bloke'd say anything

except his prayers.

On August 23 last,

that being the last day

Reverend Hesse was seen alive,

you were on sentry duty. ls that correct?

That is correct, sir.

Did you see

the deceased that day?

What, sir?

The deceased.

The Reverend Hesse.

Yes, sir, I saw the deceased that day.

It was about 10:
00 a.m.

Lovely day, sir. We could do with

a drop of this weather in London.

Thank you very much.

It gets very foggy there, sir.

You can't see a foot in front of your face.

That's a hand, see?

It's a joke. Silly old bugger.

I hope you drown in your Communion wine.

I checked the deceased's pass, sir.

It was signed by Captain Taylor.

Then he went off, sir.

-You never saw him again?

-The deceased, sir?

No, sir, not again.

Did you witness anything else

which might affect this court-martial?

Yes, sir. Barely half an hour later, sir,

Lieutenant Handcock rode up

to Lieutenant Morant, sir.

It was just alongside the tent line, sir.

How did Lieutenant Handcock look?

Like he was thinking, sir. Like...

-I can't think of a...

-Did he look like he was agitated?

Agitated? Yes.

That's it, sir, he looked agitated...

Objection!

Major Bolton is leading the witness.

I will rephrase the question, sir.

Tell me, Corporal Sharp,

how did Lieutenant Handcock look?

-Agitated, sir.

-Thank you.

Is there anything else

that you wish to tell the court?

No, sir. Yes, sir.

They, sir, Lieutenants Morant

and Handcock,

weren't like real soldiers.

Troopers actually called them

by their first name. Right to their face, sir.

-Thank you, that will be all.

-Thank you, sir.

Sit.

Why did you leave

the Bushveldt Carbineers?

I requested a transfer, sir.

Were you not made to transfer?

Weren't you punished

by Lieutenant Handcock

for stealing Boer property while on patrol?

I can have your charge sheet

brought into the court, Corporal.

Yes, sir. It's true, sir.

And have you not been stating

in the hotels of Pietersburg

that you would walk barefoot

from Cape Town to Pietersburg

to be on a firing party

to shoot Lieutenant Handcock?

Might have said that over a pint, sir,

but it was only a bit of beer talking, not me.

You testified previously

that you told the Reverend Hesse not

to speak with Boer prisoners. Why was that?

He was German. It was for security reasons.

But we are not at war with Germany.

Every soldier is aware of the sympathy

that Germany shows toward the Boers.

Were you on good terms

with the Reverend Hesse?

Just cordial.

When he left Fort Edward,

you knew that he was going to report

back here to the authorities in Pietersburg.

I couldn't know what he was going to do.

But it would have been in your interest,

would it not, to prevent it?

I hardly know about that.

All I do know is that someone prevented him

and I'm still here on trial.

I suggest that you instructed

Lieutenant Handcock

to follow the Reverend Hesse

and to shoot him.

I had sent a message

to Colonel Hall in Pietersburg

informing him of my intentions

towards the Boer prisoners.

I have nothing to hide.

I find that statement hard to believe.

Then I suggest that you recall Colonel Hall

from India. He will confirm it.

I don't mind waiting.

Thank you, Lieutenant Morant,

that will be all.

Thank you, sir.

Call Lieutenant Handcock

to the witness chair, please.

I would like to request

an adjournment, sir,

until tomorrow morning.

Do I understand, Major Thomas,

that Lieutenant Handcock

won't be giving evidence?

No, sir, I simply need more time

to discuss the case with my client.

I have no objection, sir.

Request granted.

For God's sake, tell me the truth, Peter.

If you're concealing something,

I want to know it.

If you killed Hesse, l want to know.

It's not just your life.

You'll take Morant and Witton with you.

-We got no bloody chance anyway.

-I think you have.

They obviously regard this

as the most serious charge.

If I can convince the court members

that you're innocent on this one,

I think you could all be acquitted.

All right. But we got to be careful.

-I don't want these witnesses in court.

-Why not?

-Do you want to be executed?

-Of course not.

But I made a promise. Two promises.

Where did you go

when you left Fort Edward

approximately half an hour

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