Scapegoats of the Empire: The True Story of Breaker Morant's Bushveldt Carbineers

by George Witton, Edward Witton

According to persistent rumours, the Australian government suppressed the book because its untold story of a slice of colonial history was an embarrassment to the British Empire. Opens a window on the Boer War, politics of the empire, and the life of enlisted soldiers of the time.
George Witton's Scapegoats of the Empire was published in 1907; however, only seven copies of the book survived. According to persistent rumours, the Australian government suppressed the book because its untold story of a slice of colonial history was an embarrassment to the British Empire. George Witton wrote the book to show that he, "Breaker" Morant and Handcock, who fought in the second Boer war as members of the Bushveldt Carbineers regiment of the British army were scapegoated by the British authorities in South Africa. They were court-martialled for the war crime of summarily executing twelve Boer prisoners of war, which they admitted. However, they claimed that they were obeying the unwritten, but widely-known "take no prisoners" policy of Lord Kitchener. Both Morant and Handcock were executed by firing squad in February 1902, allegedly to appease the Boer government in order to facilitate the peace Treaty of Vereeniging signed in May 1902, which ended the Second Boer War. George Witton served twenty-eight months in prison, after which he returned to Australia, and wrote this gripping account. George Ramsdale Witton (28 June 1874 - 14 August 1942) was a lieutenant in the Bushveldt Carbineers in the Boer War in South Africa. Harry "Breaker" Morant (9 December 1864 - 27 February 1902), a larger-than-life character, is a major figure in the book. He was born to parents who ran a British workhouse but passed himself off as well-educated and a member of the British upper class, creating romantic legends about his past. He went to Australia "for the colonial experience" and was variously a drover, a horseman, a bush poet and balladeer, a petty criminal and a military officer. Morant and Handcock have become folk heroes in modern Australia. Their court-martial and death have been the subject of books, a stage play, and an award-winning Australian New Wave movie by director Bruce Beresford, depicting them as Australian icons and martyrs.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, War, Memoir, South Africa, Autobiography, 20th Century

194 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1907

Reviews

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m trying to write this review a few hours after finishing the book, and I am still lost for words at the travesty of injustice and wrongful executions of Morant and Handcock. George Witton’s first hand account of the lead up, the events called into question and the laughable trial left me with a mixture of anger, sadness and incredulity. How did this happen when they were following orders from the English officers? Scapegoats is a perfect description of what they were and I believe all three deserve full posthumous pardons after reading this book. I could go on about how Witton’s story was suppressed and misreported for decades ,but Witton own words are more powerful than any I could write;

“If the publication of the truth will in some measure cause Australians, as a people, to take less on trust where their honour is concerned, and in future demand the most searching enquiries and obtain definite proof before accepting the misdeeds of others as their own, then this record of an eventful experience will not have been written in vain…”

The first hand narrative style of Witton’s writing is so descriptive that I felt like I could see the trial and hear the accused speak their statements. The brutal betrayal by the English is palpable throughout. This is an amazing primary source for historians and military history buffs. George Witton’s ashes are buried not far from me in Brisbane, near the WWI sniper Billy Sing. . I feel compelled to visit George and leave him a flower after reading of the horrific betrayal he endured after volunteering to fight for the British Empire.

Although it was 123 years ago, George Witton’s legacy is, without question, to encourage people from all around the world to keep seeking out and reading historical accounts ‘from below’, rather than accept without question the biased history ‘from above’, written and manipulated by those in power.

[Tony · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of them, a big powerful Dutchman, made a rush at me and seized the end of my rifle, with the intention of taking it and shooting me, but I simplified matters by pulling the trigger and shooting him. I never had any qualms of conscience for having done so, as he was recognized by Ledeboer, the intelligence agent, as a most notorious scoundrel who had previously threatened to shoot him, and was the head of a band of marauders. By just escaping death in this tragedy I was afterwards sentenced to suffer death.

After sentence had been passed upon Morant, the Provost-Marshal asked him if he wished to see a clergyman. "No!" he replied, in his usual fierce and curt style; "I'm a Pagan!" Handcock, hearing of this, inquired, "What is a Pagan?" Upon being enlightened, he said, "I'm a Pagan, too!" Thus these two went out of this life believing there was no God. Little wonder either!

When Morant held out his hands, he remarked, "This comes of empire building!"

Having always loved Breaker Morant (and Gallipoli too), I was thrilled to find Witton's story online. This is a wonderful account of soldiering, law, language and, yes, empire building.

[Fred · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fairly short read and it definitely helps to understand the situation if you watch Breaker Morant first. What surprised me the most was how the movie, while taking certain liberties, does a fine job of capturing what is in the book (although the movie does not go into any detail of Mr. Winton's time in prison after the trial). Because of the time the book was written, some readers may be offended by the language Mr. Winton uses. But overall, it is a unique glimpse into a moment in history and it is worth reading!

[Martin Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scapegoats of the Empire is the true story of the murder trial of three Australian army officers during Britain’s Boer War, a court martial made famous to modern movie goers by the film Breaker Morant. Its author, George Witton, was one of those officers and the only one to avoid a firing squad.

Witton was a young enlisted artilleryman in the Australian Army when he volunteered for active service in the southern African war. There are many similarities between the Boer War at the turn of the 20th century and the Iraq War a hundred years later. Both began as conventional wars with set-piece battles, then eroded into guerrilla warfare. In 1901, Witton secured a commission with the Bushveldt Carbineers, an irregular counterinsurgency regiment set up to fight the Boer guerrilla units (called commandos) on their own level.

Shortly before Witton joined his detachment of the Carbineers, its commander, Capt. Hunt, was killed and his body apparently abused by the Boers. Lt. Harry “Breaker” Morant, an expert horseman as well as a published poet, 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. Hunt had previously told his men that Lord Kitchener, the commanding British general, had issued orders not to take Boer prisoners. According to Morant’s own testimony, the Carbineers had avoided following those orders until after Hunt’s death.

Witton never knew Hunt, and barely knew Morant and Lt. Peter Handcock when the summary executions of prisoners they were charged with took place. Witton sets forth his version of the facts in plain, unelaborated writing. He shows with quotes from pre-trial and court martial testimony that Capt. Hunt had repeatedly ordered his men to shoot prisoners, saying the order came from as far up as Kitchener. Many other incidents involving the shooting of prisoners on both sides had occurred at this stage of the war, and no British soldier was ever tried for let alone convicted of murder. Kitchener’s testimony was never admitted into evidence, and the general was conveniently out of the country when the three men’s verdicts were handed down so their fates could not be appealed directly to him. Morant and Handcock were sentenced to death by firing squad. Witton’s death sentence was commuted to life in prison. He was released and returned to Australia three years later.

While reading this book, it occurred to me Kitchener may very well have lead some junior officers to believe he wanted prisoners summarily shot without actually meaning to give such an order. It wouldn't be the only time in warfare when a senior officer’s blustering lead to war crimes. During WWII’s Sicilian Campaign, there were several incidents of American soldiers shooting German and Italian prisoners, and even civilians. When questioned, they all said they believed the order to shoot prisoners came from Gen. George Patton during one of his many firebrand speeches (as seen at the beginning of the movie, Patton). Patton quickly ordered a cease and desist order, but never took responsibility for the meaning of his own words.

Ironically, at the same time the British were fighting the Boer War the United States was involved in its first empire-building, counter-insurgency conflict in the Philippines. Many of the same crimes that Witton and his comrades were accused of also occurred during the so-called “Philippine Insurgency.”

In Australia, it was and still is widely believed that Witton, Morant, and Handcock were indeed scapegoats for the British Empire. At the time of their courts martial, Germany was considering entering the war on the side of the Dutch Boers because of alleged British atrocities, which included the first use of concentration camps. Convicting the three Australians mitigated the only substantial excuse the Germans had to side with the commandos. No British officer was ever tried for shooting Boer prisoners, though such executions were known to have occurred. As late as 2013, petitions were made to have all three men posthumously pardoned. None have succeeded—so far.

[notgettingenough · Rating 4 out of 5]

Earlier this month a royal pardon on behalf of Breaker Morant was refused.

This edition of the book came out in 1907 and was immediately mostly destroyed by the government. So were the next edition or two printed that year. In all probably only a few copies of this book exist*. In Australia in 2008 a copy of the first edition sold for approximately $5000.

You can read the book online at Gutenberg. Even better see the movie!

*There are facsimiles.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite its flat narrative style, this book is a compelling read. I noted its title in the credits of the film "Breaker Morant." Suppressed in the interest of imperial relations by the Australian government after its initial publication in 1907, whether by "accident" or intent, Witton's story was still known to the 100's of thousands of Australians who petitioned Parliament and the King for his release from a British prison following the execution of his fellow officers in the Bushveldt Carbineers. Renewed interest after the award-winning 1980 film led to further discoveries that Witton and the others were indeed scapegoated by the highest levels of British command, up to and including Kitchener. The contemporary parallels are chilling.

[David Gilchrist · Rating 5 out of 5]

An horrific account of the British Army,s methods and denials,,the take no prisoners is a trend that continues to these days, with soldiers being thrown to the wolves when it suits the establishment.

[Shachar · Rating 3 out of 5]

I watched the 1980 Breaker Morant film a year ago, and was struck by the unending revelations and rollercoaster nature of this journey was. I went in blind, and was incredibly confused to find that (1) the story took place in South Africa, (2) that it was actually a legal drama, and (3) the heroism attached to men that I saw as committing incredibly heinous and vile acts. I filed the film away into some mental drawer, and continued with my consumption of other films.

It wasn’t until this year – when I was advised to look for a legal case connected to the Boer War for one of my research papers – that I came across Breaker Morant again. “Surely, this Pietersburg trial cannot be the same trial that was covered in the film I watched last year!” I thought. But it was. Of all the atrocities committed during the Boer War, including the British-run concentration camps, the one real “trial” was about three Australian nationals who had volunteered to serve in the British imperial army. I became that much more interested when questions of nationalism came into play, when I saw that Morant was considered a national hero for decades. Juxtapose that sentiment with the South African response to these killings, and you have a damn good story.

I read Scapegoats of the Empire for this paper – which has yet to be written. Witton himself is an incredibly fascinating figure (moreso than Morant, I would argue). He was truly a born and bred Australian, but felt strongly enough about Britain to volunteer for the war, and was disappointed when he was initially passed over. I found his narrative mostly very readable, though his racism and defense of some of the Bushveldt Carbineers’ actions were incredibly unappetizing. There are a lot of great gems here, though, and I hope that with this primary source, I may create an equally compelling narrative.

[Johannes J Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

The innocents that got killed exonerated

There are many books about the Boer English war. I did not read a single one that satisfy me that the English started it with just cause or fought in a just and fair way. Neither have I found English journalism impartial. Now I read this book and found the English were simply arrogant beyond believe at the time. May be that is a reason why they prefer to blot out this event from their social combined conscious. The book fills a gap if you are interested at history of 1999 to 2005

[Mick Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I watched 'Breaker Morant' the other day. Had never watched it before. Wanted to know more and found this book on Gutenberg Aus. Quick read, being not very long. Still reading other stuff about the events. It strikes me that there are others who should also have been punished. Robertson and Taylor almost definately. Not entirely convinced Kitchener had no part to play in the actions of those below him.

[George Kasnic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Primary source history, the author tells his story. It actually shows little bias. Rising from a re suit to an officer thrown into a situation where the realities of war had out run the traditions Within became a cautionary tale we learned in ROTC in the 1980's. The book is a window into the dawn of modern insurgencies from a company officer's perspective.

[R.E. Conary · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you've only seen the movie, Breaker Morant, or the book, The Breaker, by Kit Denton, then you won't know the whole story til you've read Scapegoats of the Empire.

[Clive · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although it is not a uniquely British endeavor but a common human trait, exhibited out of primitive insecurity, British colonialism set the bar for justifying greed and amorality under the guise of civilisation.

[Chris Mayor · Rating 5 out of 5]

The basis for one of my favourite films but the book is so much more. This details how three officers fighting in the Boer War are used to prevent Germany entering the war... just over a decade before the Great War started.

[Ebook Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book, the e-book version can be found at:
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/scap...

[Johnny · Rating 5 out of 5]

a nice quick read about a travesty of justice and how malleable the rules of war can be.

[Ed Eleazer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is somewhat dry, but that is one of its strengths. Witton, who had every right to feel abused by the system, presents a clear and precise description of the courts martial of Morant, Handcock, and himself, one which adheres quite well to the writer's dictum "show,don't tell." By describing the scene as it existed in South Africa at that time, and all the cultural artifacts visible in the media, Witton shows us just how illogical it was to find the three guilty of "war crimes." The phrase "like giving out traffic citations at the Indianapolis 500," frequently springs to mind. Only 60% of the book, though, is devoted to the courts martial and their results. The other forty percent is a scathing indictment (again, shown) of the British penal system circa 1902. For that, and the copies of official documents of the era alone, this book is a rewarding read.

[Stefan Le · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although it is easy to simpethise with witten and his friends and blame the army, it should not be forgotten that they were guilty. England did use them as scapegoats for her dirty cause, that is true, but this does not justify their deeds. The punishment was correct, although the motivation was crooked. Although the blame game is played here, juctise was served....in a crooked way. Witten and the likes is no hero in my book. They plainlynreceived what they had dealt to others, unfair treatment, wich makes it fair in the end.

[Kevin K. Gillette · Rating 5 out of 5]

The film "Breaker Morant," which is based on this book, is one of my all-time favorites, so I had to get a copy and see for myself how the sole survivor of the "kangaroo court" reported on the events. The presentation is somewhat stodgy, and understandably it is centered far more on Witton's own experience than that of Harry Morant and Lieutenant Handcock. However, that said, it makes a fascinating read, and one I highly recommend for any student of British colonialism and the Boer War.

[Ashley · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book had the potential to be really interesting, but was really dry. Enjoyed it because I watched the movie "Breaker Morant."

[Kerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent first hand account of the Breaker Morant story from one of the participants. Have since read everything I can about this event in our history.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a great movie. It's a great book!