Breaker Morant

He is not qualified to answer. 449 00:35:49,268 --> 00:35:51,732 I believe the question is pertinent. 450 00:35:52,277 --> 00:35:54,239 You may proceed, Major Bolton. 451 00:35:54,407 --> 00:35:57,037 I have no more questions, Mr. President. 452 00:35:57,248 --> 00:36:01,048 But I would like to add that I've been generous in even using the word "trial" 453 00:36:01,258 --> 00:36:03,555 or "court-martial" in relation to the killing of Visser. 454 00:36:03,764 --> 00:36:06,729 It was a conspiracy. It was a consultation. 455 00:36:07,149 --> 00:36:11,366 It was a measure to mature a criminal purpose, but it was not a court. 456 00:36:14,710 --> 00:36:16,253 Trooper Botha. 457 00:36:16,463 --> 00:36:19,637 Didn't you volunteer to shoot the prisoner Visser? 458 00:36:23,649 --> 00:36:25,445 If word got around town he was offering to shoot his mates 459 00:36:25,653 --> 00:36:28,159 his life wouldn't be worth half a crown. 460 00:36:30,165 --> 00:36:31,375 - You volunteered, Trooper Botha. - No. 461 00:36:31,585 --> 00:36:33,632 No. I only obeyed orders. 462 00:36:33,841 --> 00:36:35,010 That is a lie. 463 00:36:35,220 --> 00:36:38,393 Didn't all the troopers in the firing squad volunteer? 464 00:36:38,604 --> 00:36:40,691 No, I was commanded. 465 00:36:40,859 --> 00:36:43,616 You knew Captain Hunt had told Lieutenants Morant and Handcock 466 00:36:43,784 --> 00:36:45,036 not to bring in prisoners, 467 00:36:45,246 --> 00:36:47,417 - but to shoot them. - I did not. 468 00:36:48,420 --> 00:36:50,591 I knew nothing of such orders. 469 00:36:56,400 --> 00:36:57,902 Company, halt. 470 00:36:59,407 --> 00:37:00,826 Company, order. 471 00:37:04,587 --> 00:37:06,590 Number one sentry, step forward. 472 00:37:20,670 --> 00:37:22,381 Lieutenant Morant, 473 00:37:22,550 --> 00:37:24,679 Captain Hunt was a particular friend of yours. 474 00:37:24,847 --> 00:37:26,601 Yes. I mean ... 475 00:37:27,772 --> 00:37:30,277 I was engaged to his sister in England. 476 00:37:30,487 --> 00:37:33,285 So his death was very disturbing to you. 477 00:37:33,828 --> 00:37:36,292 It was more the way he died. 478 00:37:37,338 --> 00:37:38,215 He was mutilated. 479 00:37:38,423 --> 00:37:42,015 You were present at the action where Captain Hunt was killed? 480 00:37:43,353 --> 00:37:44,480 No. 481 00:37:45,777 --> 00:37:48,448 Then how do you know he wasn't killed in a fair fight? 482 00:37:48,617 --> 00:37:49,661 Because I saw his body. 483 00:37:49,869 --> 00:37:50,787 Some time later. 484 00:37:50,956 --> 00:37:53,420 You can't possibly know how Captain Hunt met his death. 485 00:37:53,630 --> 00:37:57,346 So you cannot produce any evidence to connect Visser with it. 486 00:37:57,557 --> 00:37:59,769 So then why did you order him to be shot? 487 00:37:59,937 --> 00:38:03,237 It is customary during a war to kill as many of the enemy as possible. 488 00:38:03,447 --> 00:38:07,080 Was your court at the trial of Visser constituted in any way like this? 489 00:38:07,331 --> 00:38:10,380 - What rule did you shoot him under? - Like this? 490 00:38:10,798 --> 00:38:13,429 No, sir, it wasn't quite like this. 491 00:38:13,932 --> 00:38:16,520 No, sir, it wasn't quite so handsome. 492 00:38:16,981 --> 00:38:18,610 And as for rules, 493 00:38:18,777 --> 00:38:20,907 we didn't carry military manuals around with us. 494 00:38:21,075 --> 00:38:24,791 We were out on the veldt, fighting the Boer the way he fought us. 495 00:38:24,960 --> 00:38:27,215 I'll tell you what rule we applied, sir. 496 00:38:27,425 --> 00:38:29,596 We applied rule 3-0-3. 497 00:38:30,642 --> 00:38:33,021 We caught them and we shot them under rule 3-0-3. 498 00:38:40,667 --> 00:38:44,467 Farewell to Lochaber 499 00:38:44,677 --> 00:38:48,060 And farewell, my Jean 500 00:38:48,813 --> 00:38:52,568 Where heartsome with thee 501 00:38:52,778 --> 00:38:56,491 I hae monie days been 502 00:39:10,724 --> 00:39:12,517 Did you get a reply from the consul? 503 00:39:12,728 --> 00:39:15,397 No. Either the English aren't sending the telegrams 504 00:39:15,608 --> 00:39:18,110 or the Australians are ignoring them. 505 00:39:19,989 --> 00:39:21,908 How's your eyesight, Sergeant? 506 00:39:22,076 --> 00:39:23,911 Very weak, sir. 507 00:39:25,498 --> 00:39:26,415 Thank you. 508 00:39:26,626 --> 00:39:29,921 You're the best witness the prosecution's got, Harry. 509 00:39:30,423 --> 00:39:32,343 Better watch your temper. 510 00:39:32,509 --> 00:39:33,969 Yes, I'm sorry. 511 00:39:35,766 --> 00:39:39,020 It's my great failing. Impetuosity. Most un-British. 512 00:39:39,605 --> 00:39:41,566 You better watch yourself, too. 513 00:39:41,775 --> 00:39:44,988 This is a British court-martial, not a backbox pub. 514 00:39:50,624 --> 00:39:53,585 We've got a few witnesses of our own tomorro