As Breaker Morant’s great, great, great granddaughter’s cousin’s sister’s son, I believe, after looking at all of the evidence presented that he was very unfairly treated. Imagine being ordered to shoot many defenseless, innocent people. After you shot innocent people you went to a secret, unfair trial, were sentenced to death and killed by a firing squad, made up of your friends. Don’t get me wrong although I strongly disagree with the actions of Breaker, he was just following Kitchener’s (ruthless) orders. I feel betrayed, he was executed just to please Boer Commanders. Execution of unarmed prisoners although deeply wrong, was a common practice in the Boer War, because of his unfair treating he could never go off to live a life.
12 Vee Road, Somerset, England
January 29th, 1902 Robert Cecil British Prime Minister 10 Downing Street Westminster, England Dear Robert Cecil,
I am writing from the Morant family home in Somerset, Britain and have just been informed that my eldest grandson, Harry 'Breaker' Morant who is currently fighting in the Boer War, was arrested, trialed and has been sentenced to death. For what? Following orders? This is an outrage, Harry is a wonderful man he wouldn't have killed 12 people without following orders, for goodness sake, he’s not Amelia Dyer. In the Boer War all orders were given orally. The command given to Harry was not written so there is no evidence that he acted on his own accord. This shows that Harry was ordered to kill the innocent civilians. Another bit of convincing evidence is: in the Boer War, like any War the Brits fought in there is a chain of command. Harry would not have just killed the 12 civilians without being told to do so, after all he’s not Amelia Dyer. This again, shows that Harry didn’t kill the civilians just because he wanted to, he was following orders. My last bit of evidence, is in the Boer War is a “Win at all costs” battle. Knowing what I do about Lord Kitchener, he would have defiantly ordered the civilians death. These are just three bits of evidence that show my Grandson, Harry Morant shouldn’t be sentenced to death. I ask for the release of Harry, he has done nothing but follow the orders of Lord Kitchener. I surely hope that this mistake isn't made again and more innocent, hardworking Australians aren't ordered to death like Harry. Thank you for considering my request and I hope Harry can return home soon. Yours faithfully, Thomas Morant |