'Breaker' Morant (1980) - full transcript

[Wind Whistling]

♪♪ [March]

♪♪ [Continues]

♪♪ [Ends]

Hurry up, man.

♪♪ [Band: March]

- ♪♪ [Singing In Native Language]
- [Soldiers Chanting]

Right, left, right, left, right, hey.

Party, right wheel!

♪♪ [Continues]

This court of inquiry
has completed its investigation.



Do you wish to make any statement
or give any evidence?

Harry Harbord Morant,
Lieutenant, Bushveldt Carbineers.

I enlisted in South Australia.

I was with the second contingent
for nine months...

and was promoted to sergeant
in that corps.

I received my commission when I transferred
to the Transvaal Constabulary.

I returned to England
on six months' leave...

and with the help of my friend
Captain Hunt...

patched up a quarrel-
an old quarrel with my family.

I had intended to go back to England
to live after the war.

On my return
to South Africa...

I fought at Karee Siding...

and at Kroonstad under Lord Roberts.

I also fought with General French's
cavalry brigade at Diamond Hill.



After that, there were
requests for volunteers...

to join the Bushveldt Carbineers
in the Northern Transvaal.

I joined on April 1, 1900.

April Fools' Day.

In the Carbineers,
I was responsible...

for the capture of Boer
commando leader Kelly.

I was recommended
for a DSO.

I take full and entire responsibility for the -

the events at Fort Edward.

I was, however, acting under orders.

I was also deeply disturbed
by what happened to Captain Hunt.

There's no sentries.

Either they're asleep
or there's no one there.

- No horses either.
- No.

Ask him if he's sure
if the information is correct.

[Speaking Dutch]

[Responding In Dutch]

They have returned from the Cape Colony.
They are very weak.

Stay here with three men
and this Boer.

Keep the horses quiet.
Cover us.

Is not good, Captain.

- [Gunfire]
- [Soldiers Shouting In Dutch]

Get back! Get back!

[Shouting In Dutch]

- Fall back!
- [Horse Whinnying]

Fall back!

Mount up! Mount up!
Let's get out of here!

Can't you send them back?
For Captain Hunt.

[Gunfire Continues]

[Shouts In Dutch]

Hey, watch it, Peter!

- Just a stone bruise. He'll be all right.
- You reckon that's all it is then?

Yeah, if he limps again,
swap another horse for him.

[Man]
Patrol's back!

Get the Breaker.
Get the Breaker!

- [Whinnying]
- That's my horse!

What happened?

[Man]
Find the captain!

Right. You men. Break.

- Where's Captain Hunt?
- They were waiting for us.

- There were many men. Captain Hunt was shot.
- There was nothing we could do.

Bullets whizzing around us like blowflies.
Lost five men.

George, get saddled up.
We're going out on patrol. Saddle up.

There was nothing we could do.
They must have known we was coming.

"Known"?
Of course they bloody knew.

You can't trust these blokes.
How many sides you fighting on, mate? Eh?

Just 'cause you sign a bit of paper
don't mean the war's over.

Well, Mr. Taylor, sir, so much
for your damned intelligence report.

Eight Boers, exhausted.
That's what you said.

Horses with fever, you said.
What do you say now?

[Man] Look, I told ya.
They were waitin' for us.

I say avenge Captain Hunt.

- [Doors Opening]
- [Chains Rattling]

♪♪ [Band: March]

♪♪ [Continues]

[Man] Prisoners and escort!
Quick march!

[Soldier]
Party, left!

March!

Company, halt!

- ♪♪ [Continues, Faint]
- [Soldier Shouting Commands, Faint]

Come in.

The court of inquiry has come to
a recommendation on this matter.

About time.

It has been decided to proceed with
a military court-martial here at Pietersburg.

You will remain under close arrest.

Major Charles Bolton to see
Lord Kitchener and Colonel Hamilton.

[Knocking]

This way, sir.

Charles, my dear chap.

Good to see you again, sir.

- You come highly recommended, young man.
- Thank you, sir.

I have a rather important prosecution
I want you to handle.

Yes, sir.

Charles, you've heard
of the Bushveldt Carbineers?

Yes, I have, sir. A special force raised by Lord
Kitchener to deal with the Boer guerrillas.

Correct.

Colonials, most of them.

Australians.

I understand they've been
quite effective, sir.

Very effective.

We've just arrested three of them...

for shooting Boer prisoners
and a German missionary.

I've received, Bolton,
a telegraph message from Whitehall.

The German government
has lodged a serious protest...

about the missionary in particular.

Yes, sir.

The kaiser, as you know,
is our late queen's grandson.

The fact is that Whitehall feels...

the Germans are looking
for an excuse to enter the war.

On the Boers' side, of course.

We don't want to give them one.

Needless to say, the Germans
couldn't give a damn about the Boers.

It's the diamonds and gold
of South Africa they're interested in.

They lack our altruism, sir.

Quite.

Here's the report
of the preliminary inquiry.

The evidence against the Australians
is overwhelming.

- Who is handling the defense, sir?
- We expect no difficulties there.

Selected one of their own chaps, a major
from the New South Wales Mounted.

[Speaking Native Language]

Still can't get used to it.

Court-martial.

On the ship coming over here the blokes used to
joke about who'd be the first to get a VC.

Scratch yourself
from that race, mate.

My father said the war
would make a man of me.

Everybody's father says that, George.

- It's really -
- Ironic?

Ironic.

Ironic.

He believes in the British Empire, you know.
We all do in my family.

That's why I volunteered -
to help keep the empire together.

Yeah? Well, I volunteered because there's a
depression back home and I've got a wife and kid.

You believe in the empire, Harry.

Do I?

[Handcock]
Don't reckon he does, mate.

Major J.F. Thomas.
I'm your defending officer.

- George Witton.
- Harry Morant.

New South Wales Mounted.
What sort of a lawyer are you?

They haven't locked me up yet.
What sort of soldier are you?

They're looking after you here?

Looks a bit Spartan.

[Morant] Well, it's not exactly
the Hotel Australia.

[Handcock]
More like a coffee palace. No grog.

They gave you the report
on the preliminary inquiry?

- Yesterday.
- Yesterday?

- But the trial starts tomorrow.
- Yeah, we thought you were gonna miss it.

You don't know anything about us.

Only what's in the preliminary report.

And that, gentlemen,
is not very flattering.

[Man Shouting Command]

- ♪♪ [Band: March, Faint]
- As a matter of interest...

how many courts-martial
have you done?

- None.
- None?

Jesus, they're playing
with a double-headed penny.

Would you rather conduct
your own defense?

But you have handled a lot
of court cases back home, sir?

No.

I was a country town solicitor.

I handled land conveyancing and wills.

Wills. Might come in handy.

I'm going to need a lot of information.

Do you think they're going to
imprison us or cashier us, sir?

- My father, if he found out-
- Haven't they told you?

There are several murder charges.

The penalty is death.

[Man]
Long as the waves shall roll...

[Man]
Long as the waves shall roll...
[Man]
Long as the waves shall roll...

[Man]
Long as the waves shall roll...

long as fame guards us whole...

and men through heart and soul
thrill to true glory...

their deeds from age to age...

shall voice and verse engage...

swelling the splendid page...

of England's story.

Bravo. Bravo.

It's a matter of discipline
and tradition.

Do you think this business could've happened
with any contingent other than the Australians?

- But Morant's not an Australian.
- You're splitting hairs.

He's been out there 15 years or so.
Learned all their bad habits.

Ah. I never thought
you colonials got lost, Major.

I've been at the prison, sir.

Major Thomas. Major Bolton.

Uh, Captain Nicholson.
Lieutenants Reed and Baxter.

Miss, uh -

Oh, Meintjes, Van Rowan and Huisman.

- How do you do?
- [Speaking Dutch]

On.
[Speaking Dutch]

- Ja?
- Mmm.

I understand your Mr. Morant
is something of a poet, Major.

That's right. He wrote for
a paper called The Bulletin.

- Mmm?
- In Sydney,

- Ah.
- [Translating Into Dutch]

A Tennyson of the Transvaal.

The Byron of the Bushveldt Carbineers.

Why is it he's referred to
as Breaker Morant?

Ladies' man, perhaps?
A breaker of hearts.

- No, he was a horse breaker.
- Oh.

- I understand the best in Australia.
- [Translating Into Dutch]

Quite a Renaissance figure.

I daresay, if everything goes well...

he could, uh, come
and recite for us one night.

- [Door Opens]
- Ah.

In the meantime,
this refined-looking fellow...

is an ex-opponent of ours who has
wisely signed the non-combatants' pledge.

They say he has a fine voice.
Only speaks Dutch though.

So, Mr. Baxter and ladies,
you'll have to tell us what it's all about.

♪♪ [Piano]

♪♪ [Singing In Dutch]

A few things to clear up.

- How many men at Fort Edward?
- Oh, about 50.

Sometimes more, sometimes less.

- And most of them were Australians?
- We told you all this last night.

- About 45 of them were.
- Gentlemen!

Uh, the -
the intelligence officer, Captain -

- Taylor.
- Uh, Taylor, yes.

- What did he have to do with this?
- Nothing.

Well, then who do you think
filed the report that led to your arrest?

Don't know, but it wasn't Taylor.
He was a good bloke.

Bring in the accused.

This court-martial
is convened by order of-

I'd like to ask for an adjournment, sir.

An adjournment?
We've only just arrived.

Yes, sir. I only just arrived
in Pietersburg yesterday.

Doesn't give me much time to prepare a defense.
The prosecution's had six weeks.

The prosecution has witnesses who have
traveled more than 60 miles for this hearing.

Do you expect us to keep them
waiting around at taxpayers' expense?

- Yes, sir. I need time -
- Quite out of the question, Major, uh -

Thomas.

This court-martial
is convened by order -

Yes, Major Thomas.

This court-martial
is unconstitutional, sir.

Um - Ah.

The, uh -
[Clears Throat]

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 and Aspell,
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...

by the name of 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?
- ♪♪ [Bugle Calling]

Not guilty.

Not guilty.

Not guilty.

Not guilty of all three charges?

Yes, sir.

Your first witness, Major Bolton.

Call Mr. Donald Robertson.

Robertson. Who's he?

We talked 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 -

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. if you would like
to take the witness chair.

[Soldiers Shouting Outside]

[Soldier]
Left! Left! Left, right, left!

Captain Robertson, you were
in the regular army for 20 years.

Yes, sir.

I was with the Tenth Hussars...

before taking command of
the Bushveldt Carbineers in the Transvaal.

And how was discipline
in the Carbineers?

Uh, 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?

Oh, there were so many.

They'd only salute
the officers they liked.

- Reckon you didn't get too many salutes, mate.
- 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.

[Mouths Words]
Shut up.

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 unsoldierly behavior...

of the Bushveldt Carbineers.

Objection overruled.

[Bolton]
Thank you, sir.

Would you go on, please,
Captain Robertson?

I had to reprimand Handcock here...

for what I considered to be
a serious breach of the rules of war.

And what was that?

He placed prisoners of war in open wagons
in front of train engines.

They could have been shot at
by their own side.

Thank you. Thank you.
That'll be all, Captain Robertson.

[Thomas]
Uh, just hold your horses there.

[President] Do you wish to cross-examine
the witness, Major Thomas?

Yes, sir. Yes, I do.

Um-

Good.

Now, tell me - Uh, tell us...

when, uh -
when you joined the Carbineers...

what were you told they'd be doing?

Fighting the enemy.

Yes, but, uh -
but I mean, how?

It was a new kind of corps, wasn't it?

That's right.

We had to fight behind the lines
against the Boer commandos.

Commandos?

That's a new word.

That's a Boer word, isn't it?

What does it mean?

Uh, commandos
had to live off the land...

use hit-and-run tactics,
surprise attacks, that sort of thing.

The Boers did it, so it was
the only way we could fight back.

Right.

And, uh -
[Sniffs]

It must have been very difficult...

to, uh, maintain discipline
under these sort of conditions.

Well, it was with the Australians.

But you tried?

Aye.

Uh, like when you reprimanded
Lieutenant Handcock...

for putting the war prisoners
in the carriages...

in front of the engines?

I told him we didn't do
that sort of thing.

But, uh, in the Carbineers, I mean...

you were doing a lot of things
that you'd never done before.

Well, that's right, but there's a limit.

[Clears Throat, Sniffs]

What was
Lieutenant Handcock's reason...

for placing these carriages of prisoners
in the front of trains?

The Boers had been mining the lines
and blowing up a lot of trains.

He thought it might stop them.

Did it?

Did it?

Well, yes, they did stop blowing up the trains,
but I don't think that's the -

Tell me, when you were
in command at Fort Edward...

before the late Captain Hunt
and Lieutenant Morant took over...

what did you do with Boer prisoners?

- How do you mean?
- Well, Fort Edward's only a farmhouse.

There aren't any facilities
for them there.

What did you do with them?

We sent them down here
under guard to Pietersburg.

I see.

How many of them did you send
down here to Pietersburg?

Fifty. Seventy.

I - I really couldn't say.

I've been informed
that during your command...

only 29 prisoners
were sent to Pietersburg.

So what did you do
with the others?

I mean, it's quite a discrepancy,
isn't it, between 50, 70 and 29!

Objection, Mr. President!
This man is not on trial.

He bloody ought to be.

[President] Extraneous comments
prejudice your case, Lieutenant Handcock.

- What in hell does that mean?
- Objection allowed.

Was there a policy to shoot prisoners
in the Bushveldt Carbineers?

Mr. President!

The defending officer is attempting
to incriminate the witness.

Major Thomas, objection allowed.
The witness is not on trial.

Sir, I am trying to
establish the credibility -

I'm sorry, lack of all credibility -

Objection allowed!

You are incriminating
the witness, Major!

All right. Oh, uh...

just one more question.

Did you discontinue the practice...

of placing prisoners in open carriages?

No.

No, I didn't.

Well, why not,
if you objected to it? Eh?

Could it have been that the practice,
though irregular...

was effective
in controlling Boer attacks?

Yes.

That will be all, Mr. Robertson.

- You may stand down, Mr. Robertson.
- Good on you, mate.

I will proceed now, sir,
with the extraordinary events...

following the death of Captain Hunt and
the subsequent murder of the Boer prisoner -

[Thomas] Objection.
This has not yet been proved.

[President]
Objection allowed.

The subsequent death
of the Boer prisoner Visser.

Sergeant Major Drummond...

following your patrol's
return to Fort Edward...

Lieutenant Morant ordered a force to return
immediately to Viljoen's farmhouse.

Yes, sir. He didn't even
let us have a feed.

[Speaking Dutch]

[Morant]
George, check the house!

[George]
Five men with me!

Is it Hunt?

What's left of him.

We'll rest the horses for a couple of hours
and then we'll go after them.

They got nearly two days' start,
and we don't know the direction.

They'll have gone to the Waterberg.

Where else can they go?

Christ.

We rode another couple of days
up onto the high veldt, hardly ever stopping.

Morant was right
about where they'd gone.

We'll get them now.

- We ought to wait an hour. it'll be dark then.
- We'll get them now!

♪♪ [Singing In Dutch]

- [Gunfire]
- [Shouting In Dutch]

We got a few of them,
but most of them got away.

Alan! South bank!

Hough! North bank! Hurry it up!

Tanner, you and Warder
get that body off the tent.

All right, you blokes, get some of this
Boer coffee into you while you can.

Are we gonna follow them
into Ploytsky's territory?

I'm buggered if I know.

What do you think you're doing?
Come on. Get out of there. Get out.

Come on. Get out of there.

[Grunting]

Harry!

Get on there.

You're in trouble, mate.

Get up.

He's wearing Hunt's uniform.

Get up there.

Je naam.
Ask him his name.

- Wat is je naam?
- Visser.

Dennis Visser.

You were at the farmhouse.

You killed Captain Hunt,
the British officer.

- [Translating Into Dutch]
- [Dutch]

He says no, he didn't kill him.

What do you mean, you didn't kill him?
You're wearing his bloody jacket.

Blast you, you're wearing his jacket.
What do you mean, you didn't kill him?

This man killed Captain Hunt.

He will be executed immediately.

I want an eight-man firing squad -

[Speaking Dutch]

Well, I reckon we oughta
take him back to Fort Edward.

- [Dutch]
- [Dutch]

I want to be on the firing party,
Lieutenant.

He killed Captain Hunt.

If he did not,
he would not have his uniform.

- Please, Lieutenant.
- [Pleading In Dutch]

Most of the blokes
aren't too keen on this.

Why don't you have a yarn with him?
He might make some notice of you.

[Morant] You killed him!
You're wearing his bloody jacket, man!

- Harry -
- He's to be executed, George.

Captain Hunt had bullet wounds
only in the shoulder and the leg.

They mutilated him!

They mutilated him with knives
while he was still alive.

Well, he'll never get to heaven
if he doesn't die.

- Yeah.
- He's gonna sleep real good tonight.

Up top.

[Groaning]

- Get up. Come on.
- [Protesting In Dutch]

- [Thunder Rumbling]
- Come on, boy, get up.

[Groaning Continues]

Ready!

Aim!

- Fire!
- [Gunshots]

[Bolton] Did you object to Lt. Morantis
treatment of the prisoner?

[Drummond]
Yes, sir.

Do you consider that the prisoner
was given a fair trial?

No, sir, not in the state
Lieutenant Morant was in.

He was, well, like a madman, sir.

[Bolton]
Thank you.

Thank you,
Sergeant Major Drummond.

[President]
Any questions, Major Thomas?

You are aware
that Lord Kitchener issued orders...

that Boers caught wearing khaki
were to be shot?

- [Whispering]
- Well, uh...

yeah.

Major, Lord Kitchener's
order only applied...

if they were wearing khaki
with an intention to deceive.

- That's the first I've heard of that.
- It's obviously how they're interpreting it.

More likely he was trying to keep out the cold.
The Boers were real short of supplies.

You are a regular soldier and were one
of the first to join the Bushveldt Carbineers.

- You served under Captain Robertson?
- That's right.

Would you agree
that discipline had improved...

once Mr. Robertson was removed
and Cpt. Hunt and Lt. Morant took over?

I suppose.

Try yes or no, Sergeant Major.

Yes.

Morant and Handcock
broke up illegal stills, did they not...

and forced troopers
to return stolen cattle?

Yes.

There were, in fact,
dismissals from the corps.

Did this cause resentment
against Morant and Handcock?

Well, a bit.

It's natural.

And some of those dismissed
are now witnesses for the prosecution?

Yes.

Were not you yourself reprimanded
for holding stolen cattle?

I explained that. I came across them
while I was on patrol.

I only impounded them, that's all.

[Thomas]
I have no more questions.

You may stand down,
Mr. Drummond.

You couldn't lie straight in bed,
Drummond.

- I don't have to take that from you.
- You wanna do something about it?

Come outside and I'll knock
your bloody head off.

Control yourself, Mr. Handcock,
or you'll find yourself in serious trouble.

You find that amusing?

Well, I was just wondering
how much more serious things could be.

Any time, mate.

[Speaking Dutch]

[Bolton] Since signing
a non-combatant agreement...

you'd been acting as guide and interpreter
to the Bushveldt Carbineers?

Yes.

Please tell the court exactly what happened
after the capture of the Boer prisoner.

No one wanted to go
on the firing party...

so he said if we did not,
he would shoot the prisoner himself.

Hmm.

Mr. Botha, do you consider that
the prisoner, Visser, received a fair trial?

Objection. The witness is obviously
not qualified to answer.

[Bolton]
I will rephrase the question.

Was the trial of Visser in any way
similar to this court-martial?

Oh, no, no, nothing like this -

I repeat, the witness is not in the British Army.
He is not qualified to answer.

I believe the question is pertinent.

You may proceed, Major Bolton.

I have no more questions,
Mr. President.

But I would like to add
that I am being generous...

in even using the word "trial" or "court-martial"
in relation to the killing of Visser.

It was a conspiracy.
It was a consultation.

It was a measure to mature a criminal purpose,
but it was not a court.

Trooper Botha, didn't you volunteer
to shoot the prisoner, Visser?

If word got round town he was offerin' to shoot his
mates, his life wouldn't be worth half a crown.

- You volunteered, Trooper Botha.
- No.

No, I only obeyed orders.

That is a lie.

[Thomas] Didn't all the troopers
in the firing squad volunteer?

No. No, I was commanded.

You knew Cpt. Hunt had told Its. Morant
and Handcock not to bring in prisoners -

- No.
- but to shoot them!

I did not.

I knew nothing of such orders.

Sentry, halt!

Sentry, order arms!

Number one sentry, step forward!

[Footsteps]

Lieutenant Morant...

Captain Hunt
was a particular friend of yours.

Yes.

I mean -

I was engaged to his sister in England.

So his death
was very disturbing to you?

Well, it was more the way he died.
He was mutilated.

You were present at the action
where Captain Hunt was killed?

No.

Well, then how do you know
he wasn't killed in a fair fight?

Because I saw his body.

Some time later. You can't possibly know
how Captain Hunt met his death.

So you cannot produce any evidence
to connect Visser with it.

So then, why did you
order him to be shot?

It is customary during a war
to kill as many of the enemy as possible.

And was your court at the trial of Visser
constituted in any way like this?

- What rule did you shoot him under?
- [Morant] Like this?

Oh, no, sir, no.
It wasn't quite like this.

No, no, no, sir,
it wasn't quite so handsome.

And as for rules, we didn't carry
military manuals around with us.

We were out on the veldt,
fighting the Boer the way he fought us.

I'll tell you what rule we applied, sir.

We applied Rule 303.

We caught them
and we shot them under Rule 303!

[Gunshots]

♪♪ [Harmonica]

♪ Farewell till I harbor ♪

♪ And farewell, my Jean ♪

♪ Where hearts and with thee ♪

♪ I have many days been ♪

♪♪ [Singing Continues, Faint]

[Door Lock Turning]

Did you get a reply
from the consulate?

No.

Either the English aren't sending the telegrams,
or the Australians are ignoring them.

How's your eyesight, Sergeant?

Very weak, sir.

- Thank you.
- You're the best witness the prosecution's got, Harry.

Better watch your temper.

Yes, I'm sorry.

It's, um, my great failing, my impetuosity.
Most un-British.

[Handcock Laughs]

Better watch yourself too.

This is a British court-martial,
not a back block's pub.

Peter.

Well, we've got a few witnesses
of our own tomorrow anyway.

Not many.

Just about anyone with a good word for us
has been sent to India.

Come on.
Read it to us, Harry.

Oh, Peter, come on, come on.
You know you loathe poetry.

- Well, there's not much else to bloody do around here, is there?
- Come on, read it.

"Oh, those rides across the river...

where the shallow stream runs wide...

when the sunset's beams were glossing...

strips of sand on either side...

we would cross the sparkling river...

on the brown horse and the bay...

watch the willows sway and shiver...

and their trembling shadows play.

'Tis is a memory to be hoarded...

oh, the foolish tale and fond...

till another stream be forded...

and we reach the great beyond."

I don't want to die.

Well, every life ends
in a dreadful execution, George.

Yours will be much quicker
and less painful than most.

And a lot earlier than most.

♪♪ [Band: March]

♪♪ [Band: March]
♪♪ [Band: March]

♪♪ [Band: March]

- [Gunshot]
- [Horses Whinnying]

I swear by almighty God -

- [Chattering]
- ♪♪ [Resumes]

- [Chattering In Dutch]
- [Man] Make way there. Make way.

Used to be with the Carbineers.
Boers aren't too fond of turncoats.

Captain Taylor, you were
with the Bushveldt Carbineers...

but not actually
a member of the corps.

That's correct.

I joined the Carbineers
as intelligence officer...

at the request of Lord Kitchener.

I had lived in South Africa
before the war...

and spoke some of the native languages,
as well as Dutch.

And were you senior
to Lieutenant Morant?

I was senior, yes.

But the day-to-day running of the corps
was left to Lieutenant Morant.

Although he sometimes
referred matters to me.

And what is your opinion
of Lieutenant Morant?

A good fellow.

One could not help liking him.

He was a little hot-headed...

inclined perhaps to do things
on the impulse of the moment.

But the men obeyed him.

He's a good soldier.

Did you know Captain Hunt well?

Hunt? Yes. Yes, I did.

Did you know of any orders
to shoot Boer prisoners?

There was an understanding.

[Taylor]
Kitchener's quite right, you know.

Lord Roberts is far too correct
for this kind of a war.

All the internments, deportations
should be all over in a matter of months.

- You'll be going home?
- Me? Oh, I don't think so.

There should be
a few opportunities here.

- Nothing'd keep me in South Africa.
- [Hoof beats]

G'day. How'd you do?
Pretty good by the look of it.

No stopping me now, Peter.

Go well, Harry?

Oh, not bad.
One dead, one wounded.

Mind you, about 13 of them.

Crept up on them
while they were asleep.

This lot - This lot surrendered.

[Hunt] God, Harry.
Got no facilities for prisoners.

Can't even feed them.

Taylor... execute those men.

Naismith, Dengate, Seary.
You too, Grey.

McDonald. Nichols.
Form a squad.

[Speaking Dutch]

Simon, I thought the proclamation...

only applied to Boers
caught wearing British khaki.

New orders from Kitchener.

Colonel Hamilton's
confirmed it to me himself.

No prisoners.

The gentleman's war is over.

Here, break your teeth on this.

[Gunshots]

[Gunshot]

[Gunshot]

Had Mr. Morant executed any Boer prisoners
prior to the death of Captain Hunt?

No, he did not.

He had, then, disobeyed orders.

Strictly speaking, yes.

And he is now on trial
for later obeying those same orders.

I object, sir.

The manual of military law states...

"Persons captured under arms
against British forces in the field...

shall be placed
within the jurisdiction...

of the nearest provost marshal
or garrison commander."

- They were not the orders under which we operated.
- Indeed.

- You saw a copy of Lord Kitchener's new orders?
- No.

- Sanctioning executions?
- No.

But they were common knowledge.

- I told you, they were verbal orders from Pretoria.
- And no one can substantiate them.

- Captain Hunt relayed them.
- Captain Hunt is dead.

Order. This evidence
is completely irrelevant.

Irrelevant?

Irrelevant when I have established
that it was common practice...

among the Bushveldt Carbineers
to shoot prisoners?

Why would an officer of Captain Hunt's
spotless reputation invent an order, sir?

We all admire your zeal in defending
your fellow Australians, Major Thomas.

But intemperate speech and wild
accusations do not further your cause.

Captain Taylor...

did you know of any other incidents
similar to the Visser case?

I once saw a Boer dealt with in the
same manner for wearing British khaki.

- Shot?
- He was shot, yes.

You are still introducing
irrelevant material.

Sir...

I wish to establish...

and I have made the point before
in connection with Mr. Robertson...

that a precedent in this war
has been well and truly set.

Sir, I would like to point out
to my learned colonial colleague...

that the fact of a crime
being previously committed...

in no way pardons the behavior
of Lieutenant Morant and his friends.

I have no more questions.

You are, are you not,
the same Captain Taylor...

who has yet to be court-martialed
for the murder of six Boer prisoners?

I am.

Would it not be in your best interest...

to suggest that orders were given
that Boer prisoners be shot?

Are you saying I'm lying, Major?

- Just answer my questions, Captain.
- You answer mine.

You are answering questions,
Captain Taylor.

Major Bolton is asking them.

I suppose it could appear that way.

Thank you.
That'll be all, Captain Taylor.

[Soldier Shouts]
Lights out!

M: [Bagpipes]

Three cheers for his majesty...

King Edward VII.

Long may he reign!

- Hip, hip -
- [Soldiers] Hooray!

- Hip, hip -
- [Soldiers] Hooray!

- Hip, hip -
- [Soldiers] Hooray!

[Woman] I think it's wonderful,
George going to South Africa.

- [Man] Join the army and see the world.
- [Woman #2] But he's so young.

George. George.

[Man] The rest of us
are too old, eh, George?

George Witton.
Honor, glory and a safe return.

[Guests Echoing] George Witton.
Honor, glory and a safe return.

[Cooing]

I'm not much of a letter writer,
you know.

If you ever heard from me,
it'd probably be bad news.

[Cooing Continues, Fades]

♪♪ [Piano]

[Morant]
♪ When I have lived ♪

♪ Long years in vain ♪

♪ And found life's garlands rue ♪

♪ May be that I'll ♪

♪ Come back, dear girl ♪

♪ At last ♪

♪ At last ♪

♪ To you ♪

♪ May be that I'll ♪

♪ Come back ♪

♪ Dear girl ♪

♪ At last ♪

♪ At last ♪

♪ To ♪

♪ You ♪♪

♪♪ [Ends]

[Dutch]

- What did you say?
- [Dutch]

- I can't understand you.
- [Dutch]

One week from tonight, eh?

[Soldier Shouting In Dutch]

- Our blokes come to rescue us?
- [Shouting]

- Don't be bloody silly.
- ♪♪ [Bugle]

It's a Boer attack.

- [Horses Whinnying]
- [Gunfire]

[Shouting In Dutch]

[Shouting Continues]

[Gunfire Continues]

I'm not sure I like you blokes enough
to help you.

- [Gunshot]
- [Screams]

[Shouting In Dutch]

[Shouting]

That broke the monotony,
didn't it?

[President]
Irrelevant.

The defendants were called upon
to do their duty, no more.

[Thomas]
Sir, the Duke of Wellington stated...

"The performance of a duty
of honor and trust...

after knowledge of military offense...

ought to convey a pardon."

What on earth does a statement by
the Duke of Wellington to do with military law?

I will tolerate no further mention
of this morning's events in this court.

But, sir, the Duke of Wellington
influenced nearly all our military law.

- Why bother, Major? Why bother?
- Order!

We will proceed with the second charge
concerning the six Boer prisoners...

killed at Fort Edward
on the 23rd of August, 1901.

[Morant]
Anyway, it was dark, pitch dark.

Not even the moon.
Couldn't see a thing.

But a bet is a bet,
and £50 is a hell of a lot of money.

Mind you, I'd had a few drinks.
Quite a few drinks.

Anyway, there's the fence.
Cast iron, seven foot high. Hmm?

Spikes on the top.
You know the kind.

It was so dark, I couldn't even see it.
So we put some candles right on the top-

- And you cleared it.
- You've heard it before.

- We've all heard it before.
- Yes, I cleared it and I won the bet.

And I paid off all my debts in -
Where the hell was it?

- Canada.
- Yeah, Canada. Thank you very much.

- He ought to be on the other side.
- Why is that?

- Well, he's a big enough bore, ain't he?
- [Laughs]

There's a group of Boers coming in.
They've got white flags.

That's an old one. We get within a 100 yards,
and they blow our bloody heads off.

Not this lot. They look really shabby.

Well, in that case,
they'll have a few free feeds...

go back out into the veldt
and snipe at us.

[Morant] Sergeant Major Drummond,
take your troopers.

- Corporal Sharp, take your post.
- Sir! Right, sir.

[Shouting In Dutch]

Stay still.

Still!

They're part of the group
that killed Simon Hunt.

- How can you be sure?
- Kelly's commandos.

The rest have disbanded
or moved into Portuguese territory.

Execute them.

- Aren't we supposed -
- This is a guerrilla war, not a debutante's ball.

- There are no rules here.
- Blast that man.

George, tell Handcock to get a squad
together after the old man's left, will you?

Go on.

We've got to get
a firing squad together, Peter.

All right.

- It's wrong, mate, and you know it is.
- Don't argue the toss with me, mate.

I just follow orders.

Hey, look at this.

I got these from that lot.

Dum-dums.

Ever seen what they can do?

Put a neat little hole here.

And out the back, boom.

All gone, nothing.

Don't talk to me
about what's right or wrong.

Whoa.

- Morning, Lieutenant.
- Morning, Mr. Hesse.

- Who are those men?
- Boer prisoners, sir.

I'd rather you didn't speak to them.
You moving on today, sir?

As soon as I get some water from your men,
I'll proceed for Leydsdorp.

Leydsdorp?

- Boer guerrilla country, sir.
- Ah, yes.

But they do not bother
with a harmless old man...

who is spreading the word of God.

[Speaking Dutch]

But the white flag.
They came in under a white flag.

You'll remember the order
from Pretoria high command.

If they show a white flag,
we don't see it.

- I didn't see it.
- Harry!

You never gave a damn for orders
if you didn't agree with them.

You're just doing this
to avenge Captain Hunt.

You're probably right, lad.

It won't bring him back,
but it's the next best thing.

Mr. Hesse, sir,
you spoke to the prisoners.

I gave you strict instructions not to, sir.

I'm sorry, Lieutenant Morant.

They called me
to say prayers for them.

The Boers are really just men.
I could not refuse.

[Wind Whistling]

[Speaking Dutch]

- Ready!
- [Guns Clattering]

George!

[Gunshot]

- Fire!
- [Gunfire]

[Thomas] I propose to settle,
once and for all, sir...

the matter of whether or not orders
were issued to shoot prisoners.

Do you, Major Thomas?

Major Bolton has proved
there were no standing orders...

and Captain Hunt is dead.

A formal request that Lord Kitchener
attend this court-martial.

- Kitchener?
- Lord Kitchener?

He can tell us himself
whether or not such orders were issued.

You are impertinent, Major Thomas.

Are you suggesting that the most senior
soldier in the British Army...

a man venerated throughout the world...

would be capable of issuing
an order of such barbarity?

I don't know, sir.

But I do know...

that orders that one
would consider barbarous...

have already been issued in this war.

Before I was asked
to defend these men...

I spent some months
burning Boer farmhouses...

destroying their crops...

herding their women and children
into stinking refugee camps...

where thousands of them
have died already from disease.

Now, these orders were issued, sir.

And soldiers like myself
and these men here...

have had to carry them out
however damned reluctantly!

There is no precedent for this request.

There's no obligation whatever
for Lord Kitchener to attend this courtroom.

Oh?

"The accused is allowed full liberty...

to cross-examine
any witness against him...

and to call any witnesses
or make any statement in his defense."

May I join you?

Well, our little case seems be attracting
quite a lot of interest.

Oh, yes, there've been requests...

of some of those correspondent fellows
to attend the court.

All turned down, of course.

Of course.

I've been wondering if you realize...

how anxious your own government is
for a conviction.

- What do you mean?
- You've just become a commonwealth.

Your prime minister, Mr. Barton...

wants to dissipate
any lingering impressions...

of a frontier colony, frontier behavior.

You can be quite sure
a quick conviction of these men...

will meet with Australian approval.

And of course,
Morant and his friends are guilty.

Are they?

Why not arrest the firing squad?
They did the actual killing.

But they were only following
Morant's orders.

That's right, just as Morant
was following orders.

You do realize, of course, that when high
command denies that the orders are issued...

your whole case will collapse.

Perhaps your request
that Lord Kitchener attend this court...

is not in your clients' best interest.

- I hadn't thought of that.
- Then you will withdraw the request?

No.

It seems quite simple to me.
I don't know how it's come to this.

You said our fellow there,
that damned Irishman-

Captain Taylor, sir. Anglo-Irish.

Taylor, yes, Taylor. Assured you the case
against the Australians was overwhelming.

Now he seems to spend most of his time
giving evidence on their behalf.

Certain proprieties
have to be observed, sir.

And Taylor fought with Morant.
It creates a bond.

I don't think he's the problem.

Major Thomas is putting up
an unexpectedly good defense.

Two of the court members are showing
some sympathy for the Australians.

I dare say, it's too late
to transfer them to India.

I did mention it one time, sir-

the complexities
of charging soldiers with murder...

while they're actually in the field.

Good God, Johnny, I'm not trying
to prove some academic point.

I'm trying to put an end
to this useless war.

The Boer leaders
must see in this court-martial...

a demonstration of our impartial justice.

If these three Australians
have to be...

sacrificed to help bring about
a peace conference...

small price to pay.

I quite agree, sir, though I doubt
the Australians shared our enthusiasm.

You go to Pietersburg, Johnny.

You deal with the order
to shoot the prisoners.

What do I say?

I think you know what to say.

- [Officer] 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, sir. If you'd like
to take the witness chair, please.

Colonel Hamilton...

last July, Captain Hunt
took two polo ponies...

to Lord Kitchener's headquarters
in Pretoria.

At which time,
you had a conversation with him...

regarding Boer prisoners.

Do you recall that conversation?

I have no recollection whatever.

I have never spoken to Captain Hunt...

with reference to his duties
in the northern Transvaal.

- You're a liar!
- Order!

You are under oath, sir.

I am aware of that.

Major Thomas, I trust you'll agree
that closes the issue...

of the alleged orders
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 doth accomplish thy will...

by war as well as by peace.

Order the minds
of statesmen and generals...

that they may ever love
righteousness and equity.

I used to hate Sundays in Melbourne.

No trams or anything.

On a hot day, couldn't even get down
to Saint Kilda 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 selections
from Pilgrim's Progress.

"How glorious it was
to see the open region...

filled with horses...

and trumpeters and pipers...

singers, players."

Et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.

Sunday was a good day for chasing
a few tarts around Bathurst.

[Morant Chuckles]

- Everyone else was in church.
- ♪♪ [Men Singing]

I used to whip down the river bank
for a bit of smooching.

Worst thing about dying -
no more girls.

Well, coming up for the home stretch.

- Any news on the other two cases?
- No, nothing.

In my view, everything hinges
on the last one -

the German missionary.

Are 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 fairy tale...

about shooting game.

Eh?

Harry?

- 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.

[President]
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 the 23rd day of August last...

that being the last day
the Reverend Hesse was seen alive...

you were on sentry duty,
is that correct?

[Sharp]
Yes, sir, that is correct, sir.

Did you - Did you see
the deceased that day?

What, sir?

The deceased. The Reverend Hesse.

Ah, yes, sir, yes.
I saw the deceased that day, sir.

It was about 10:00 in the morning, sir.

- Lovely day, sir?
- Whoa!

We could do with a drop of this weather
in London, you know?

Thank you very much, sir.
Yeah, it gets very foggy there, sir.

You know, 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.
And then he went off, sir.

- You never saw him again?
- The deceased, sir?

No, sir, not again, sir.

Did you witness anything else
which might affect this court-martial?

Yes, sir.
About a half an hour later, sir...

Lieutenant Handcock rode up
to Lieutenant Morant, sir.

It was alongside a tent line, sir.

How did Lieutenant Handcock look?

Like he was thinking, sir.

Um, like, uh -

I can't think of the -

Did he look like he was agitated?

Agitated. Yes, yes, that's it, sir.
Yes, 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. Uh, yes, sir, yes, sir.

They, sir -
Lieutenants Morant and Handcock -

they weren't like real soldiers, sir.

The troopers would actually call them
by their first names, sir.

Right to their face, sir.

Thank you, Corporal Sharp.
That'll be all.

- Thank you, sir.
- Corporal Sharp.

Sir.

Why did you leave the Bushveldt Carbineers?

I requested a transfer, sir.

Were you not made to transfer?

Were you not punished
by Lieutenant Handcock...

for stealing a Boer's property
while on patrol?

I can have your charge sheet
brought into the court, Corporal.

Yes, sir. That'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?

Uh, I-l might have said that
over a pint, sir.

You know, it'd only be the beer talking, sir.
Not me, sir.

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 towards the Boers.

Were you on good terms
with the Reverend Hesse?

Yes, cordial.

When he left Fort Edward...

you knew that he was going to report
back here to the authorities in Pietersburg.

I had no way of knowing
what he was going to do.

But it would have been in your interest,
would it not, to prevent him?

Well, I - 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.
- [Scoffs]

I find that-
that statement hard to believe.

Then I suggest, sir, 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 Lt. Handcock will not be giving evidence?

No, sir, I simply need more time
to discuss the case with my client.

I have no objections, 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, I want to know.

It's not just your life.
You'll take Morant and Witton with you.

- We've got no bloody chance anyway.
- I think you have.

They obviously regard this
as the most serious charge.

Now, if I can convince
the court members...

that you're innocent on this one...

I think you could all be acquitted.

- ♪♪ [Bugle]
- All right.

But we've 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
after the Reverend Hesse?

- I went visiting.
- Visiting?

- Visiting?
- Visiting?

Who-Who could you
possibly have visited?

Well, I went to the farms owned
by the Shiels and the Vanderbergs.

Why? Who was at these farms?

Well, nobody.
Well, only the ladies, sir.

And they received you
into their homes alone?

Well, I was quite well known to them.

You mean to tell me you were on
intimate terms with two Boer ladies?

Yeah, well, you could put it that way, sir.

Where were the husbands?

Well, one's a prisoner of war,
and the other's with the Boer commandos.

I was just checking they were all right.

♪♪ [Up-tempo]

Handcock!

Good day!

Oh, Handcock.

[Speaking Dutch]

Ooh!

- Oh!
- Pretty glad to see me, eh?

♪♪ [Continues]

[Chattering]

Mwah!
[Laughing]

You spent the full afternoon
at this lady's house?

My oath, sir.

It was about 5:00
when I got to the Shiels's place.

- Handcock!
- Good day, Mrs. Shiels. How are you going?

Hey, listen.
Can I have a cup of coffee?

I mean, I'm tired.
I've been riding all day.

[Speaking Dutch]

Okay, you talked me into it.
[Grunts]

I would like to present the court
with written depositions...

from both the ladies in question.

Lieutenant Handcock, what does
Mrs. Vanderberg mean by "entertained"?

Did you sing to her?

Sir, you can appreciate
that these ladies' reputations...

are in a vulnerable position...

and as these letters confirm...

Lieutenant Handcock's whereabouts
on the day in question...

could they not forego the embarrassment
of actually appearing in court?

- Major Bolton?
- I have no objection, sir.

I must say, I find this sort of behavior...

from a soldier in the British Army...

morally disgraceful.

These were married women.

Well, they say a slice
off a cut loaf's never missed.

[Thomas] Lieutenant Handcock's
personal morality is not on trial, sir.

Regrettably.

Who do you think
did kill the missionary?

Me.

♪♪ [Bugle]

- What about your lady friends?
- That was later.

- Does Major Thomas know?
- No.

And he's not going to.

But we've always told the truth.

Major Thomas has been pleading
justifying circumstances...

and now we're just lying.

[Shouts]
We're lying?

What about them?

It's no bloody secret our graves were dug
the day they arrested us at Fort Edward!

Yeah, but killing a missionary, Peter-

it's a new kind of war, George.

It's a new war for a new century.

I suppose this is the first time
the enemy hasn't been in uniform.

They're farmers.

They're people from small towns.

And they shoot at us from houses
and from paddocks.

Some of them are women,
some of them are children...

and some of them are missionaries, George.

- That minister was talking to the prisoners.
- I know.

I'm damned certain that Hesse was the one
who led Simon Hunt into that trap.

- Now he tells me he's off to Leydsdorp.
- Leydsdorp?

Anything could happen
on the way to Leydsdorp.

[Wind Whistling]

[Gunshot]

[Horse Whinnies]

♪♪ [Brass Band]

♪♪ ["Pomp And Circumstance"]

The main fact of this case -

that Boer prisoners were executed -

has never been denied
by the defense.

However, I feel that
there is no evidence at all...

for bringing charges
against Lieutenant Witton -

a junior officer who had no reason...

to question the instructions
of his superiors.

And his only crime...

was that he shot a Boer
in self-defense.

And further, no one denies...

the admirable fighting qualities
of the Boers...

nor, in general...

their sense of honor.

However...

those Boers fighting
in the northern Transvaal...

in commando groups...

are outlaws, renegades...

often without
any recognized form of control...

addicted to the wrecking of trains...

the looting of farms.

Lord Kitchener himself...

recognized the unorthodox nature
of this warfare...

when he formed a special squad
to deal with it.

The Bushveldt Carbineers.

Now, when the rules and customs of war...

are departed from by one side...

one must expect
the same sort of behavior...

from the other.

Accordingly...

officers of the Carbineers...

should be,
and up until now, have been...

given the widest possible discretion
in their treatment of the enemy.

Now, I don't ask for proclamations...

condoning distasteful methods of war.

But I do say
that we must take for granted...

that it does happen.

Let's not give our officers...

hazy, vague instructions
about what they may and may not do.

Let's not reprimand them
on the one hand...

for hampering the column
with prisoners...

and at another time
and another place...

haul them up as murderers...

for obeying orders.

Lieutenant Morant shot no prisoners...

before the death of Captain Hunt.

He then changed a good deal...

and adopted the sternest
possible measures...

against the enemy.

Yet there is no evidence to suggest...

that Lieutenant Morant
has an intrinsically barbarous nature.

On the contrary.

The fact of the matter is
that war changes men's natures.

The barbarities of war...

are seldom committed by abnormal men.

The tragedy of war is that these horrors...

are committed by normal men
in abnormal situations.

Situations in which
the ebb and flow of everyday life...

have departed...

and have been replaced
by a constant round...

of fear and anger, blood and death.

Soldiers at war...

are not to be judged by civilian rules...

as the prosecution is attempting to do.

Even though they commit acts...

which, calmly viewed afterwards...

could only be seen...

as unchristian and brutal.

And if, in every war,
particularly guerrilla war...

all the men who committed reprisals...

were to be charged and tried
as murderers...

court-martials like this one
would be in permanent session.

Would they not?

I say...

that we cannot hope
to judge such matters...

unless we, ourselves...

have been submitted
to the same pressures...

the same provocations...

as these men...

whose actions are on trial.

[Morant]
Steady, steady. Don't spill a drop.

Thank you.

To Bushveldt Carbineers.

Best fighters in a bad cause.

[Handcock]
Bloody oath.

Christ, where the hell
did you get this stuff?

- One of the Jock guards.
- What do you mean, "a bad cause"?

I thought we cleared up all their stills.
Hmm?

Oh, sorry, George.
Bad cause was the Boer War.

You know, half a million men fighting
a few thousand farmers.

Every bugger we kicked out of the Carbineers
came down to start business in Pietersburg.

Well, you volunteered.

Well, you can't always choose, George...

which side you're going
to fight on, can you?

And these days, it's so very easy
to be on the wrong side.

Especially if you leave Australia
one step ahead of the debt collectors, eh?

Watch your language.
Watch your language.

"When a man hath no freedom
to fight for at home...

let him combat for"- thank you-
"for that of his neighbors.

Let him think of the glories
of Greece and Rome...

and get knocked on the head
for his labors.

To do goo - To do good to mankind...

is the chivalrous plan...

and, as always, is nobly requited.

Then battle for freedom
wherever you can...

and if not shot or hanged...

you'll get knighted."

[All Laughing]

- Did you write that, Harry?
- No, no, it was a minor poet called Byron.

Never heard of him.

- Like I said, he was a minor poet.
- Oh!

- I know some good poems too.
- Oh, my God.

- [George] I bet you do.
- That surprised you, didn't it?

Yeah.

[Loud Clattering]

There once was a man from Australia...

who painted his ass like a dahlia.

The color was fine,
likewise the design...

but the aroma,
ooh, that was a failure.

Champagne
from two of the court members.

You have been officially acquitted
on the Hesse case.

You beauty!

That's it, Harry! Why don't you leave
the dust around Bathurst!

Don't get too carried away.
You might still do a couple of years.

Well, it's better than a one-way trip
to kingdom come, isn't it?

Hey, George, come here.

Let us plunder the champagne.

- Come on.
- I'm trying!

Oh!

To freedom and Australia.

[All]
Freedom and Australia!

To freedom, Australia and horses!

[All]
Freedom, Australia and horses.

Freedom, Australia, horses and women!

[All]
Freedom, Australia, horses and women.

Live every day
as if it were going to be your last...

for one day you're sure to be right.

- Can I have a word with you, Harry?
- [Handcock] Geez, I can't believe it.

- We'll be home in time for the Melbourne Cup.
- Don't count your bridges.

What do you mean by that?

You said yourself-

I wouldn't be too certain
of this verdict, Harry.

No.

And what about you?

Your trial is coming up soon, isn't it?

They don't want me.

Intelligence service,
Kitchener's staff and all that.

No, it wouldn't go down very well.

But a wild, simple fellow
like Handcock...

and a-

a black sheep.

We won't be missed.

That's right.

I can have a horse standing by for you.

Some of the guards are sympathetic.

And where would I go?

Lourenço Marques.
Portuguese territory.

You, uh, take a boat and see the world.

I've seen it.

[Man]
Escort!

Halt!

Right turn.

[Lock Clicking]

Mr. Witton, sir.

Right real quick. March.

[Door Opens]

George Ramsdale Witton,
you have been found guilty of murder...

and sentenced to death.

Lord Kitchener has been pleased
to commute your sentence...

to penal servitude for life.

Escort.

Halt.

[Soldier Shouting Orders]

Mr. Morant, sir.

Left turn.

Quick march.

Harry Harbord Morant...

you have been found guilty of murder
and sentenced to death.

Sir.

[Footsteps Departing]

Harry?

Shot tomorrow morning.

Mr. Handcock, sir.

[Soldier Continues Shouting Orders]

About, turn.

Quick march.

[Footsteps]

- Peter?
- Same as Morant.

[Man]
Escort, out!

Can I help you, sir?

- I wish to see Lord Kitchener.
- I'm afraid that's not possible.

- Do you have an appointment, sir?
- No, I don't have an appointment.

- I demand to see him straightaway.
- Major Thomas?

The death warrants have been signed.
There's nothing you can do.

Let me see Lord Kitchener, sir.

The trial was a bloody sham.

Two members of the court
recommended mercy...

for Handcock and Morant,
as well as Witton.

In which case, the casting vote
belonged to the president...

Lieutenant Colonel Denny.

Lord Kitchener's
been called away for a few days.

Out on the veldt somewhere.

Quite uncontactable.

I want a stay of execution...

so that I can send a telegram
to the king...

and to the Australian prime minister.

The sentence has been approved
by Whitehall...

and the Australian government
has expressed its support of our decision.

Forget it, Major.
It's a sideshow of the war.

I have some good news.

There's hope of a peace conference
in a couple of months.

Soon we can all go home.

Could have had the decency
to measure us first.

[Morant] Don't suppose
they've had many complaints.

I'm going to find out the grand secret.

I will face my God with the firm belief
I obeyed my orders...

and served my king as I thought best.

If I overstepped my duty...

I can only ask my people and country
for forgiveness.

Take care of my little son at all costs.

No matter what I may have done...

you and he were the source
of m y greatest joy.

[Morant]
The nightie a trifle chilly...

and the stars are very bright.

A heavy dew is falling,
but the tent is rigged all right.

You may rest your bones til! morning...

and if you chance to wake...

give me a call about the time
that daylight starts to break.

[Quiet Crying]

Harry! Peter!

- [Handcock] See you in hell, mate.
- Good-bye, George.

Why did they do it to us, Harry? Why?

They have to apologize
for their damn war, George.

They're trying to end it now,
so they need scapegoats!

- Harry!
- George!

We're scapegoats to the bloody empire!

[George]
Jesus!

[Door Unlocking]

Cheer up. Look as though
you're going to a funeral.

- Harry -
- it's all right, Major.

I've had a good run.

There's nothing for me
in England anymore.

And back in Australia...

well, they do say that, uh...

if you need a couple of stiff brandies
before you climb up on a wild horse...

you're finished.

Would you make sure
they're posted for me, please?

And see that this gets published, eh?

We poets do crave immortality,
you know.

Thank you.

- [Man] You want the padre?
- No, thank you. I'm a pagan.

And you?

What's a pagan?

Well, it's somebody who doesn't believe
there's a divine being...

dispensing justice to mankind.

I'm a pagan too.

There is an epitaph I'd like.

Matthew 10:36.

All right, gentlemen.

Well, Peter, this is what comes
of empire building.

Matthew 10:36?

"And a man's foes shall be they
of his own household."

[Morant] It really ain't the place nor time
to reel off rhyming diction...

but yet we'll write a final rhyme
while waiting crucifixion.

- For we bequeath a parting tip of sound advice for such men -
- [Shouting Order]

who come across in transport ships
to polish off the Dutchmen.

If you encounter any Boers,
you really must not loot 'em.

And if you wish to leave these shores,
for pity's sake, don't shoot 'em.

Let's toss a bumper down our throat
before we pass to heaven...

and toast the trim-set petticoat...

we leave behind in Devon.

Aim!

Shoot straight, you bastards!
Don't make a mess of it!

Fire!

[Officer]
Face forward!

Unload!

Order!

Arms!

[Morant]
♪ Britons always loyally declaim ♪

♪ About the way we rule the waves ♪

♪ Every Briton's song is just the same ♪

♪ When singing of her soldiers brave ♪

♪ All the world that's heard it ♪

♪ Wonders why we sing ♪

♪ Some have learned the reason why ♪

♪ We're not forgetting it ♪

♪ We're not letting it ♪

♪ Fade away or gradually die ♪

♪ Fade away or gradually die ♪

♪ So when we say that England's master ♪

♪ Remember who has made her so' ♪

♪ it's the soldiers of the queen, my lads ♪

♪ Who've been, my lads ♪

♪ Who've seen, my lads ♪

♪ In the fight for England's glory, lads ♪

♪ Of its worldwide glory let us sing ♪

♪ And when we say we've always won ♪

♪ And when they ask us how it's done ♪

♪ We'll proudly point to every one ♪

♪ Of England's soldiers of the queen ♪♪