Call
for pardon for Boer War soldiers - 19 October
New material calling for a posthumous pardon for
three Australian soldiers court-martialled in controversial
circumstances more than 100 years ago during the Boer War will
be presented to federal parliament on Monday. Lieutenants Harry
Harbord "Breaker" Morant, Peter Handcock and George
Ramsdale Witton were convicted of murdering Boer prisoners, with
Morant and Handcock executed for war crimes in Pretoria, South
Africa, in 1902, despite a plea for court mercy. Witton was
sentenced to life but was released two years later. But a
petition based on an examination of the case by Navy Commander
James Unkles, a Victorian lawyer with 30 years experience in
military matters, has found the convictions were unjust. This
material will be reviewed by the federal Standing Committee on
Petitions on Monday before going to the House of
Representatives. Commander Unkles believes the men were executed
because of political rather than legal reasons. - Brisbane
Times website