Editing Breaker Morant (section)

{{short description|Boer War officer executed for war crimes (1864–1902)}}
{{for-multi|the film|Breaker Morant (film)|the play|Breaker Morant (play)}}
{{More citations needed|date=January 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox criminal
| name              = Harry Harbord Morant
| birth_name        = Edwin Henry Murrant
| image             = Breaker Morant.jpg
| caption           = Harry "The Breaker" Harbord Morant
| birth_date        = 9 December 1864
| death_date        = {{death date and age|1902|2|27|1864|12|9|df=yes}}
| birth_place       = [[Bridgwater]], [[Somerset]], UK
| death_place       = [[Pretoria]], [[South African Republic]]
| resting_place     = Church Street Cemetery, Pretoria, South Africa
| module            = {{Infobox military person|embed=yes
| allegiance    = [[British Empire]]
| rank          = [[Lieutenant]]
| unit          = [[South Australian Mounted Rifles]]<br>[[Bushveldt Carbineers]]
| family        = 
| nickname      = The Breaker
| enteredservice = 
| commands      = 
| serviceyears  = 1899{{ndash}}1902
| battles       = [[Second Boer War]]
}}
| spouse            = [[Daisy Bates (author)|Daisy May O'Dwyer]] (1884; quickly separated)
| conviction        = [[Murder]] (12 counts)
| conviction_status = [[Executed]]
| criminal_penalty  = [[Capital punishment|Death]]
| death_cause       = [[Execution by firing squad]]
| victims           = 12
| targets           = POWs and civilians
| country           = [[South African Republic]]
| beginyear         = August
| endyear           = 7 September 1901
| trial             = Court-martial of Breaker Morant
}}

'''Harry Harbord''' "'''Breaker'''" '''Morant''' (born '''Edwin Henry Murrant''', 9 December 1864 – 27 February 1902) was an [[English people|English]] [[Equestrianism|horseman]], [[bush ballad]]ist, [[officer (armed forces)|military officer]], and [[war crime|war criminal]] who was convicted and executed for murdering nine [[prisoners-of-war]] (POWs) and three captured civilians in three separate incidents during the [[Second Boer War]].

Morant travelled to [[History of Australia (1851–1900)|the Australian colonies]] in 1883 and for more than fifteen years he worked in a variety of occupations in [[Colony of Queensland|Queensland]], [[Colony of New South Wales|New South Wales]] and [[Colony of South Australia|South Australia]], during which time he developed a reputation as a horseman and bush balladist. In 1899 he enlisted in the second contingent of the [[South Australian Mounted Rifles]] to be sent by the government of that colony to serve as part of the British Empire forces fighting in South Africa during the Second Boer War. Morant embarked as a [[corporal]] and ended his term of service as a [[sergeant]], having spent much of his time as a [[despatch rider]]. He then returned to England for six months while he unsuccessfully sought to clear some debts.

Returning to South Africa, Morant received a commission as a [[lieutenant]] with an irregular regiment{{snd}}the [[Bushveldt Carbineers]]. He was arrested and [[court-martial]]led for committing murder on active service{{spaced ndash}}one of the first such prosecutions in British military history. According to military prosecutors, Morant retaliated for the death in combat of his squadron commander{{snd}}a close friend{{snd}}with a series of [[revenge killing]]s against both [[Boer]] POWs and many civilian residents of the [[Northern Transvaal]]. Morant's defence attorney, Major [[James Francis Thomas]], asserted that his clients should be [[acquittal|acquitted]], claiming that they were acting in accordance with [[superior orders]] not to take prisoners. Despite this, Thomas was unable to establish that an order to that effect had been issued.

Morant was accused of the [[summary execution]] of [[Floris Visser (Boer War)|Floris Visser]], a wounded POW, and the slaying of four [[Afrikaner]]s and four Dutch schoolteachers who had surrendered at the Elim Hospital, five of whom were members of the [[Soutpansberg Commando]]. Morant was found guilty and [[death penalty|sentenced to death]]. Morant and Lieutenant [[Peter Handcock]] were then court-martialled for the murder of the Reverend [[Daniel Heese|Carl August Daniel Heese]], a South African-born Minister of the [[Berlin Missionary Society]]. Heese had spiritually counselled the Dutch and Afrikaner victims at Elim Hospital and had been shot to death the same afternoon. Morant and Handcock were acquitted of the Heese murder, but their sentences for murdering Visser, the eight victims at Elim Hospital, and three others were implemented by a [[firing squad]] from the [[Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders|Cameron Highlanders]] on 27 February 1902.

Morant and Handcock have become [[folk hero]]es in modern Australia, representing a turning point for Australians' self-determination and independence from British rule. Their court-martial and death have been the subject of books, a [[Breaker Morant (play)|stage play]] and an award-winning [[Australian New Wave]] [[Breaker Morant (film)|film]] by director [[Bruce Beresford]]. Upon its release during 1980, Beresford's film both brought Morant's life story to a worldwide audience and "hoisted the images of the accused officers to the level of Australian icons and [[martyr]]s".{{Sfn|Leach|2012|p=xxxii}} Despite the seriousness of the evidence and charges against them, some modern Australians regard Morant and Handcock as [[scapegoat]]s or even as victims of [[judicial murder]]. They continue to attempt, with some public support, to obtain a posthumous [[pardon]] or even a new trial.

According to South African historian Charles Leach, "In the opinion of many South Africans, particularly descendants of victims as well as other involved persons in the far Northern Transvaal, justice was only partially achieved by the trial and the resultant sentences. The feeling still prevails that not all the guilty parties were dealt with&nbsp;– the notorious [[Alfred Taylor (British Army officer)|Captain Taylor]] being the most obvious one of all."{{Sfn|Leach|2012|p=139}}