Renewed controversy in Australia over Boer War executions
BOER War soldier Harry "Breaker" Morant was the victim of a cruel and calculated conspiracy by his British commanders, a Parliamentary committee has heard.
More than 100 years after Morant and his co-accused Peter Handcock were executed, the descendants of the men yesterday sought the help of Parliament to pardon the men.
But historians said they were guilty of murdering Boer prisoners, civilians and a German missionary - and their crimes should not be forgiven.
"Morant and his colleagues started randomly killing these people, we really don't know why, but it is incontrovertible that that's what they did," Professor Craig Wilcox said at the committee yesterday....
Professor Wilcox, who wrote Australia's Boer War, said there was no evidence of an order to kill prisoners from Lord Kitchener and pardoning the men would create great anguish for the descendants of those killed.
"What about the descendants of the people that they killed," Professor Wilcox said said. "I've looked into their eyes, I've talked to them."
War Memorial historian Ashley Ekins also opposed a pardon.
"These men were all guilty of cold-blooded murder of prisoners of war," Mr Ekins said....
Read entire article at Daily Telegraph (AU)
More than 100 years after Morant and his co-accused Peter Handcock were executed, the descendants of the men yesterday sought the help of Parliament to pardon the men.
But historians said they were guilty of murdering Boer prisoners, civilians and a German missionary - and their crimes should not be forgiven.
"Morant and his colleagues started randomly killing these people, we really don't know why, but it is incontrovertible that that's what they did," Professor Craig Wilcox said at the committee yesterday....
Professor Wilcox, who wrote Australia's Boer War, said there was no evidence of an order to kill prisoners from Lord Kitchener and pardoning the men would create great anguish for the descendants of those killed.
"What about the descendants of the people that they killed," Professor Wilcox said said. "I've looked into their eyes, I've talked to them."
War Memorial historian Ashley Ekins also opposed a pardon.
"These men were all guilty of cold-blooded murder of prisoners of war," Mr Ekins said....