The Murder Of William Terriss, A Victorian Tragedy.

 

The victim.

William Charles James Lewin was born in St. John's Wood on the 20th February 1847. His parents were George Herbert Lewin and Mary Lewin nee Friend, his father's profession was a barrister.

Always the athlete and adventurer after school and university Lewin first tried his hand at a career in the Merchant Navy, then as a tea planter in Bengal, before returning to England to briefly work in a hospital where his brother was a surgeon, only to move on and become an apprentice engineer.

Having a keen interest in amateur dramatics Lewin wanted to take to the stage as a profession, and in 1868 he got his first chance at the Prince Of Wales Theatre in Birmingham as Chouser in The Flying Scud, at this point he started using the stage name William Terriss.

Terriss married Isabel Lewis in 1870 and in 1871 they had a daughter, Mary Ellaline, she would go on to be a famous actress in her own right. Even with acting roles coming in his restless spirit was not satisfied, and off the family went to South America and on to the Falkland Islands, where Terriss added sheep farming to his skills.

Returning to England, and the stage, Terriss played roles in various plays such as Ivanhoe, Robin Hood and Rebecca in the West End, but it was a different west that beckoned. Wandering off again, this time to the USA, the Terriss family ended up in Kentucky breeding horses. This was a failure, back in England in 1873 Terriss pick up where he left off and was treading the boards again with gusto, playing choice roles all over the West End.

Irving, Terriss and Terry in Henry The Eighth 1892

In 1880 Terris (sometimes known as Breezy Bill) entered the orbit of the great Henry Irving and his Lyceum company. Irving's Lyceum was the height of Victorian Shakespearian performance and melodrama. Playing alongside other famous actors such as Ellen Terry, Genevieve Ward and Gordon Craig, he would become close friends with Irving, his erstwhile secretary Bram Stoker, and George Bernard Shaw.

It was while he was at the Lyceum that Terriss met the 24 year old actress Jessie Millward. The pair would often be cast as lovers on stage, and soon of it too. They would both enjoy roles at the Lyceum and at the Adelphi, as the Lyceum was the place to see  Shakespeare, the Adelphi was the home of melodrama.

The Lyceum company toured America in 1893 - 1894, on their return Terriss joined the Adelphi company, where he enjoyed even greater success. By 1897 Terriss was recognised as one of the great actors of his age, alongside Henry Irving. On the 24th November the Adelphi began it's season of the play Secret Service, in which Terriss would play Lewis Dumont, and Jessie Millward played Edith Varney.

William Terriss and Jessie Millward

The Murderer.

Richard Millar Archer was born in near Dundee, Scotland, on the 11th May 1858. His father was a ploughman and his mother worked in the fields, he claimed his insanity stemmed from his being left in the sun too much while his mother worked.

Richard Archer Prince

Leaving school at 14 Archer started work in the shipyards, but he had a keen interest in amatuer dramatics. In the mid 1870s his parents moved to London, where he joined them keeping up his acting interests. In 1887, he was a jobbing actor playing small roles in various theatres, including the Adelphi, under the names William Archer Flint and the name he was infamously known as, Richard Archer Prince.

By the early 1890s Prince was a well known character in theatreland, he and Terriss were well known to each other. Terriss often got Prince work and helped him out when he was down on his luck. 

Unfortunately during the mid 1890s Prince's luck was mostly bad, he was getting more dependent on alcohol, which certainly did not help his mental state. His life became more erratic and unstable, people began to call him "Mad Archer". It was during this time that Prince was appearing with Terriss in The Harbour Lights, at some point Terriss was angered at something Prince has said about him, and Terriss had Prince dismissed.

Between 1895 and 1897 Prince went back to Dundee now and then to do labouring jobs, when he was back in London Prince would receive small payments from the Actor's Benevolent Fund, these small payments came from Terriss who would also try and find him acting work.

By 1897 Prince was destitute, his alcohol addiction and his failing mental health made him unemployable. On the 13th December Prince was thrown out of the Vaudeville Theatre after using a free pass he was not entitled to. The next night he was seen arguing with Terriss at the Adelphi, Prince was convinced Terriss was stopping him getting work and achieving any success.

A Murder Most Foul.

IPN, 25 December 1897

16th December 1897.

Earlier that day Prince had been to the Actor's Benevolent Fund asking for money, but he had been turned down. His desperation was reaching boiling point, with the little money he had, he bought a butcher's knife.

At 7pm Terriss and his friend Henry Graves pulled up in a carriage on Maiden Lane, just beside the back entrance to the Adelphi theatre. As they walked over to the door Prince rushed out of the doorway he had concealed himself in. 

In his hand was the butcher's knife, which he plunged into Terriss's back, side and chest.

Prince made no effort to escape from the ghastly scene, he was quickly held by passers by and Mr Graves. P.C Bragg, who was on point duty in the Strand, heard the commotion with cries of "murder" and "police" coming from the vicinity of Maiden Lane, and went to investigate. On arrival he saw Prince being restrained by several people, and eventually the body of William Terriss.

Graves apprehends Prince

Doctors were called from Charing Cross hospital, but it was too late, Terriss was pronounced dead just before 8pm.

P.C Bragg, Graves and Prince then walked to Bow Street Station where Prince was booked into custody and his knife was placed into evidence.

The Trial.

The trial was on the 13th January 1898, at the Central Criminal Court.

The Times 14th January 1898.

"Richard Archer Prince, actor, was indicted for the wilful murder of Mr. William Charles James Lewin, otherwise William Terriss. Mr. C. F. Gill and Mr. Horace Avory were counsel for the Crown; Mr. Sands and Mr. Kyd appeared for the prisoner; Mr. Frank Safford watched the case on behalf of the Actors' Benevolent Fund, and Dr. J. D. A. Johnson for other persons.

In reply to the charge, which was read to him by Mr. Mead, the Deputy Clerk of Arraigns, who asked if he pleaded "Guilty" or "Not Guilty," the prisoner said, "Guilty, with great provocation." (Addressing the Judge.) I have a favour to ask you my Lord. I believe it is the law of England to allow me the services of a Queen's Counsel to defend me.

Mr. Sands, interposing, said he was instructed with Mr. Kyd to defend in the matter on instructions coming from friends of the prisoner.

The prisoner - I have no friends. My mother cannot afford a penny to defend me. If counsel are assisting in defending me they must be paid by the people who drove me to commit this crime.

Mr. Justice Channell - You are not entitled by the law to have the services of a Queen's Counsel. On the contrary, if you desire a Queen's Counsel he would have to get a licence to appear for you. You are entitled to be defended by counsel, or to defend yourself.

The prisoner - Thank you, my Lord.

Mr. Justice Channell - Assuming that you are in a position to decide which you will do, you have that choice.

The prisoner - Thank you, my Lord; that will do.

He agreed to be defended by the learned counsel who appeared. In reply to the Clerk of Arraigns as to his plea of "Guilty" or "Not Guilty," the prisoner said, I plead "Guilty, with the greatest provocation."

Mr. Justice Channell - had you not better take the advice of your counsel? You are making a plea unknown to the law. If you insist on pleading "Guilty, with great provocation," I shall consider it as a plea for mercy.

After a consultation with his counsel, the prisoner said, my Lord, I am advised to plead "Not Guilty," and I plead "Not Guilty."

On the cause of death;

The knife Prince used to kill Terriss

Mr. Hayward, senior house surgeon at Charing-cross Hospital, gave evidence as to being called to attend Mr. Terriss on the evening of 16th December. Mr. Terriss was then sinking very fast, and death took place at a few minutes to 8 o'clock. Mr. Terriss was semi-conscious and did not speak. 

Witness afterwards made a post-mortem and found four wounds, one over the spine, one over the left shoulder, a slight superficial wound in the wrist, and the fourth wound, which was the immediate cause of death, was in the chest, penetrating the heart. It must have been caused by very great force. It was such a wound as could have been inflicted with the knife produced."

The trial was an open and shut case, he was obviously guilty, what was really in question was the state of Prince's mind at the time of the murder, was he sane? The trial summed up thus; 

"Mr. Justice Channell -  in summing up the case to the jury, said the question was whether the prisoner was responsible according to law for the act. The crime was of a startling character.

The victim of it was a gentleman well known to a great many personally and to a great many by reputation. The jury must decide the case, not from any preconceived opinion, but entirely by the evidence which had been laid before them. 

If it appeared to them that the prisoner committed the act charged, but was insane, so as not to he responsible for his actions, they must return a special verdict to that effect. There was no doubt that the prisoner committed the act, and there was also evidence that it was premeditated; but premeditation did not prevent a man's being so insane as to be irresponsible at law. 

The whole point was - what was it that made a person responsible or irresponsible at law for crime. The learned judge then referred to the well-known rule of law laid down on the subject in Macnaghten's case (1) by the House of Lords and said it, was clear, according to law, that a person might be insane to a certain extent, and still be responsible. 

Some insane persons were amenable to consideration of punishment and to considerations which showed that, although they had a certain amount of partial insanity, they still could judge an act and, to a certain extent, regulate their conduct. 

Therefore it was that the law had said that the mere fact of insanity was not enough to make a person irresponsible according to law, but what was required to make a person irresponsible was that he must be shown to be, at the time of the committing of the act, labouring under such a defect of reason, from disease of the mind, as not to know the true or the quality of the act, or if he did know it, that he did not know he was doing wrong. 

Those were the words in which the law was laid down; by the House of Lords. The learned Judge pointed out that there must be some disease of the mind from which the defect of reason arose. Mere moral deficiency which made a person think a thing right when mankind in general and the law said it was wrong would not be insanity which would prevent him from being responsible. 

It must be a disease of the mind which must go the length of preventing him knowing the nature and quality of the act or that it was wrong. Having referred to the evidence and to the testimony of the medical experts, who had expressed the unanimous and undoubted opinion that the prisoner was insane, the learned Judge concluded: by observing that the questions were, first, whether the jury were satisfied that the prisoner committed the act and, secondly, whether it had been made to appear to them that, at the time be committed it, he was not responsible, according to law, by reason of a disease of the mind.

The jury at 25 minutes to 7 o'clock retired to consider their verdict, and after an absence of half an hour they returned into Court. In reply to Mr. H. K. Avory, the Clerk of arraigns, who asked if they had agreed upon their verdict and if they found the prisoner guilty or not guilty. The Foreman said, 'We find the prisoner Guilty of, wilful murder. We say that he knew what he was doing and to whom he was doing it, but, on the medical evidence, that he was not responsible for his actions. 

Mr. Avory (to the jury). You say that he was insane so as not to be responsible at law for his actions at the time he committed the act?

The Foreman - On the medical evidence, yes.

Mr. Justice Channell said upon that the order of the Court was that the prisoner be detained as a criminal lunatic at Holloway until Her Majesty's pleasure be known. 

The prisoner -  Shall I not be allowed to make a statement of thanks to the Court? I should like to thank all the gentlemen who have assisted in the case.

The prisoner was then removed from the dock."

Prince was removed from Holloway to Broadmoor Asylum, he would be a resident there until his death on the 25th January 1937, aged 78.

His sentence was seen as mild by many, an angry Henry Irving said "Terriss was an actor so his murderer will not be executed."

Madam Tussauds waxwork museum was very quick to modernise their exhibit of William Terriss, by adding a waxwork effigy of Richard Arthur Prince to his tableau.

William Terriss was buried at Brompton Cemetery on the 21st December 1897, a plaque marking the site of the murder was placed on the wall in Maiden Lane next to the stage door of the Adelphi Theatre.

The ghost.

It wouldn't be a Victorian melodrama without a ghost to go with the tragedy. 

The spectral presence of William Terriss has been seen in Covent Garden underground station, even though that station wasn't built at the time of his death, it wouldn't be completed for another ten years. But it was the site of a bakery that he allegedly patronised. 

Maiden Lane, the stage door is in the middle of the large white building

Also in the Adelphi itself, the spirit of Terriss is blamed for various ghostly sightings. In 2022 comedian Jason Manford recorded an interview for the BBC on an experience he had at the theatre in 2012. On a video call to his daughters one of them said she could see a man dressed as a soldier crying behind him, he was in a dressing room positioned above the stage door on Maiden Lane...........

Jason Manford Interview

1. Macnaghten assassinated English civil servant Edward Drummond, mistaking him for the Prime Minister, while suffering from paranoid delusions. The jury retiring, duly returned a verdict of not guilty on the grounds of insanity.  

The Garrotters Of Old London Town.

                                 The Garrotters!

In the mid-19th century, London was a city of contrasts: a burgeoning metropolis of industry and innovation, yet shadowed by poverty, overcrowding, and social unrest. Amidst this backdrop, a particular form of street crime, garrotting, captured the public's imagination and instilled widespread fear. 

Garrotting, in the context of Victorian London, referred to a method of street robbery where assailants would strangle their victims, often from behind, to incapacitate them before theft. While the term "garrotting" has Spanish origins, the practice was not new to Londoners. However, the mid nineteenth saw a resurgence and a shift in public perception, transforming it from a sporadic crime to a symbol of urban decay and moral decline.

The Anti Garrotte Overcoat, Punch 1856.

The First Garrotting Panic of 1856.

The initial wave of fear surrounding garrotting emerged in 1856. Reports of such crimes, though not unprecedented, were sensationalized by the press. The public's anxiety was further fueled by the perception that these crimes were committed by foreign criminals, particularly Spanish and Italian immigrants, leading to xenophobic sentiments. This panic led to calls for increased policing and harsher punishments, though the actual incidence of garrotting did not significantly rise during this period.

Anti Garrotting Collars, 1862.

The Second Garrotting Panic of 1862–1863.

The most intense garrotting panic occurred between 1862 and 1863. A series of high-profile incidents, including attacks on prominent individuals, reignited public fear. Newspapers published lurid accounts, and satirical magazines like Punch depicted exaggerated scenarios of garrotting attacks. The media's portrayal of these crimes as rampant and widespread led to widespread hysteria.

A typical case from the East London Observer, 20th September 1862.

"At Worship Street, Eliza Cooper, Mary West, Mary Ann King, Elizabeth M'Donald, and Elizabeth Simes, all masculine looking women, were charged with stealing £55 in notes and gold from the person of Mr Thomas Roach, a tradesman, at Stepney, on the 22nd August last.

The robbery was accompanied by violence of a very aggravated character, as the prosecutor was knocked down and subsequently rendered insensible by the pressure of the fingers round the throat.

The prisoners were apprehended at intervals from the information of the others, some of whom confessed participation in the crime, while others stoutly denied it. None of the money has, however, been recovered.

All the prisoners were fully committed for trial."

Punch Magazine's Satirical View on Anti Garrot Fashion.

The garrotting panics revealed much about Victorian society's anxieties. The fear of garrotting was not solely about the crime itself but also about the perceived breakdown of social order. The middle and upper classes, who were the primary victims in reported cases, viewed these attacks as assaults on the sanctity of private life and personal safety.

In response to the garrotting panics, the British government enacted several legal reforms. The 1863 Garrotting Act introduced harsher penalties for those convicted of garrotting. Additionally, the Royal Commission on Garrotting was established to investigate the causes of the crime and recommend measures to combat it. These legislative actions were part of a broader trend of legal reforms aimed at addressing urban crime and maintaining public order .

The press were keen to report these attacks in every detail as they sold newspapers, the truth was that even after the first two "panics" garrotting carried on regardless, here we have a tale from the 12th December 1868;

"John Charles Harvey, 23, vocalist, was charged with having, in concert with three others, garrotted and robbed Mr Charles Edward Ducasse (Naval Captain), of twelve half crowns and a pocket book containing valuable papers.

"and ain't we so precious feared o'bein' 'GARROTTED!"

The prosecutor said he was a commander in the Bengal Navy, only recently come to this country. He was now living in Limehouse, and early that morning he was proceeding through Commercial Street, Spitalfields, when at the corner of Flower And Dean Street, the prisoner and three others passed him.

Witness then saw the prisoner turn around, and immediately he was seized from behind by him and grasped round the throat, and squeezed so violently that he could not call out. He was then dragged backwards, and the three men, with prisoner, rifled his pockets, of twelve half crowns and also his pocket book, which contained his commission, and other papers. 

They also took some papers witness had that morning received from the Secretary Of State, but having looked over them fancied they were of no value and returned them. Afterwards the prisoner released him, and they all ran away up Flower And Dean Street. 

Witness called the police, and one came up. While detailing the circumstances to him, witness saw the prisoner come out of the street and walk towards them. He told the officer to take him into custody, when prisoner turned back and ran off. He was, however, caught, and witness gave him into custody.

Corroborative evidence was addressed by a witness named Townsend: and Police Constable Gaen, 143H, said that when he caught the prisoner after a run. Prisoner said, before a word of the charge against him was mentioned, 'I'm quite innocent.' He was then removed to the station."

On the 30th September 1871 a Pawn Broker had an odd story to tell;

"At an early hour on Sunday morning a pawnbroker, named Thomas Cregg, was on his way home, when he was garrotted and robbed of, among other articles, a valuable breast pin. The next morning one of the parties implicated in the theft offered the pin in pledge to the owner, was given into custody, and remanded."

Ally Sloper's Half Holiday - 30th April 1887

A decline in garotting incidents, however, did not immediately quell public fear. The legacy of the garrotting panics persisted in the collective memory, as we reached the last two decades of the nineteenth century incidents still occurred.

East End Observer - 15th October 1887.

"Daring Robbery At Mile End.

Thursday night, as Mr C. Kerby, of the firm of Messers, C. and F. Kerby, booksellers of 118, Whitechapel Road,, was proceeding, at about half past ten, to his house in Beaumont Square, four men suddenly sprang upon him.

One pinioned his arms, a second garrotted him, a third put a handkerchief over his mouth, while the fourth snatched at his watch. Fortunately, however, the chain broke, and the watch falling back into his pocket, he only lost a portion of the chain.

His calls for 'Police' were speedily answered, but although a chase was at once given, none of the gang were captured."

Garrotting was an exact science, getting it wrong could potentially be the difference between a prison sentence and the rope, sometimes it did go wrong, Penny Illustrated Paper - 29th October 1892;

"The Borough Outrage.

What appears to be a deplorable case of garrotting ended in the death of the victim, Dr William Peter Kerwain.

This sad story of one of our most dangerous quarters in South London, or an important part of the story, was told by an exceedingly intelligent young witness at the inquest held at Guy's Hospital on the body of Dr Kerwain.

Elizabeth Ann Williams, a little girl of ten years of age, residing at 1, Whitecross Street, said that on Wednesday (Oct. 12), about half past two, she was in Whitecross Street, when she saw the deceased and three other men going down the street.

She called out to a neighbour named Mrs Sweeney, 'Look at those four toffs!' Witness saw that they were going down towards the passage leading towards the George IV Public House, and she expressed a fear to the woman that he three men were going to rob the gentleman. She ran past the passage, and noticed as she passed that the Noble was looking out, while someone was lying down in the passage.

The Doctors Body

Shortly afterwards she returned, and at once recognised the gentleman lying on the ground as the person whom she said was afraid the men were going to rob. The detectives were lauded for the prompt and able manner in which they captured Charles Balch, Edward Waller, and James Noble, who were charged with the crime at Southwark Police Court after the jury had returned against them a verdict of 'Wilful murder by strangulation.'

A man named Henry Lee was exonerated by the jury, but was included in the grave charge at the police court, where Mr Sims stated that he had confided to a fellow prisoner at Holloway that he had taken part with Balch in garrotting the doctor."

Each one of the gang was sentenced to fourteen years penal servitude, Noble and Lee died in prison, Waller and Balch were released in 1907.

My final example is a crime involving another doctor, details of this event come from this article in the East London Observer, 17th June 1905;

"Doctor Garrotted.

John Doyle, a bootmaker, of 3, St. Ann's Road, Limehouse, was brought up, on remand, charged with being concerned with three other men, not in custody, in assaulting and robbing Dr W. Munro Dazin Gallie, of 12, Ford's Market, Canning Town.

On the early morning of Tuesday week, prosecutor was near the Limehouse Public Library, when someone came out of the shadow and seized him by the throat. He shouted and tried to free himself, and on turning his head saw prisoner's face. Another man got in front of prosecutor, and someone called out, 'settle him.'

The grip on Dr Gallie's throat tightened, and he became unconscious. On recovering, he found a man trying to revive him. He missed his gold albert chain, an oxydised watch, a diamond scarf pin, an umbrella, and a silver cigar case, the whole valued at £80.

He afterwards furnished the police with a description of the prisoner. When the accused was arrested by Detective Sergeant W. Brown of K Division, he said, 'I expect I should get picked up for this job. I saw it in the newspapers, but I know nothing about it. I was stopping that night with Mrs Gilby, of 71, Chapman Street, Watney Street.' Mr Dickinson committed prisoner for trial at the Central Criminal Court."

The garrotting panics of Victorian London serve as a case study in how crime, media, and public perception intersect. While the actual incidence of garrotting was relatively low, the societal impact was profound. These events highlight the complexities of moral panics and their lasting effects on law, society, and collective memory.

The Bushveldt Carbineers 1901 - 1902.

The Bushveldt Carbineers 1901 - 1902.

The guerilla phase of the Anglo-Boer War was in full swing when the British high command had an idea to raising a corps of horsemen who could fight the war as the Boer did. This irregular unit was born in February 1901, The Manchester Courier of the 25th February said;

"Bushveldt Carbineers Ready,

Pretoria, Saturday. The locally formed corps of Bushveldt Rifles, which is to be called the Bushveldt Carbineers, has now been equipped, and is in camp. It will shortly take the field.

The corps includes 200 refugees from Pietersburg, and it's strength is expected to reach 500."

Major Lenehan, the Australian Commander of the new BVC.

The new corps were soon in action as this report from the Gloucestershire Echo states;

"Raid Near Pretoria,

March 20.

For some time past the Boers west of Pretoria have been quiet. Last night, however, a number swooped down on a farm and raided a few cattle. Twenty men of the Bushveldt Carbineers tracked them this morning to Scheerpoort, 15 miles to the west. 

The Boers allowed them to come within 400 yards and then opened fire, killing one man. The others got away."

One very important task done by the Imperial forces was convoy escort, whether it was an overland expedition with horses and oxen, or on a vulnerable armoured train. The supply lines had to be kept open, and the Boers were experts at disrupting them.

The Sydney Morning Herald, 30th May 1901.

"Plumer's Camp, Pietersburg, April 11.

As we moved northwards the 2nd Battalion of the Gordon Highlanders followed to garrison the places which the mounted men occupied. Part of this battalion came by trains, which they guarded; others guarded the ox-convoy following on with supplies.

Leaving Warmbad thus held by infantry we marched out of camp on Monday, April 2nd. We expected to be reinforced by the new Victorian contingent before leaving Warmbad, but the veterinary department condemned a great proportion of their horses, which had come straight from the ship, and they were not able to join.

However, the Bushveldt Carbineers, a small body composed almost entirely of English refugees from the Pietersburg district, arrived to scout for the armoured construction train.

The convoy travelled in the rear, different units being told off from time to time as baggage guard, and following on those was the supply column. We reached Nylstroum without incident on April 3rd. We were the advance guard for that day.

A guard was sent over to the Landdrost's office, and many rifles were soon given up or collected. Most of these were at once destroyed. After we had been in the town some sniping shots were fired at some of the troopers from a kopje. 

The 2nd South Australia Contingent, sitting front right is Corporal Harry Morant.

The Queenslanders went up to find the enemy, and after locating the spot from which a solitary marksman had been firing they poured a volley into it and an old burgher got up and lifted up his hands in token of surrender. He had made his protest at our entry, but he did not wish to go so far as to lose his life, and he was just in time to save it.

The Boers had blown up a great quantity of ammunition. When we saw and heard the explosion in the morning we thought it might be the railway; but although the railway was intact at this point, two attempts had been made further back to blow up our construction train. These attempts only partially succeeded.

Some of the empty trucks and a Red Cross car, which, fortunately, was also empty, were shattered, and a second attempt destroyed part of the front of the locomotive; but the Royal Engineers proved equal to all that was required in the matter, and the Bushveldt Carbineers dashing out discovering the convoy of the train wreckers. This they successfully attacked, and took waggons, oxen, and a good number of prisoners. 

And so the railway was now ours from Pretoria to Pietersburg. Trains are going to and fro, taking down prisoners and refugees and bringing up stores. Telegraph communication is complete, and railway staff officers officiate at each place."

Carrying on their report on this action The Sydney Morning Herald of the 5th June stated;

"Pietersburg, April 15.

In my last letter I mentioned that after the armoured construction train passed Potgiters Rust it was partially blown up twice, and on the second occasion the Bushveldt Carbineers dashed out and captured the convoy of train wreckers and 11 prisoners.

I have since learnt that these prisoners were required by Captain Fuller, R.E., who was in command of the train, to point out where the rest of the mines were laid. Their reply to this was the usual Dutch evasion, 'Ne ferstan', 'Don't understand.' 

A BVC Slouch Hat Badge.

But Captain Fuller thought they did understand, and he put them in the first truck following a couple of empty ones. Their journey must have been a very uncomfortable one. Soon it was interrupted by a terrific roar. 

A mine had exploded, and they were all hurled out of the side of the permanent way, with nerves shaken, although they had no broken bones. The broken trucks were now less of protection for them, and they were willing to go ahead and remove the mines, which no doubt they had helped to lay."

The make up of the BVC was quite diverse, mostly made up of British and expats living in South Africa, it also had a large Australian contingent (around two fifths), and also "joiners", Boers who now fought against their old comrades.

BVC Troopers with a dead or wounded Boer.

On the 30th May the irregulars pulled off a great victory, the St. James's Gazette of the 17th June takes up the story;

"News has reached here of successful work done by irregulars. Parties of Kitchener's Fighting Scouts and of Bushveldt Carbineers surprised a Boer laager on the banks of the Pienaars River on the 30th May.

The approach to the laager was sheltered by timber country, and the Carbineers made a detour. Kitchener's Scouts attacked the laager on three sides, and a stubborn fight ensued. After maintaining a steady fire the Boers lost heart and fled precipitately, leaving their dead and wounded on the field.

The whole of their waggons, 7,000 head of cattle, and 40 men were captured. The surprise party had no guns, and their success was entirely due to their rifle shooting. The Boers lost 27 killed and 86 wounded. Our casualties were 5 killed and 21 wounded. The enemy lost largely in mules and horses."

With widespread news of the ghastly concentration camps, and the policy of denying the Boers shelter and food by burning Boer friendly farms, the devastation of which could be seen all around, it is hardly surprising that revenge was on the cards. But, it must be remembered that the Boers were just as guilty of farm burning, many loyal farmers had their properties destroyed. In the Boer invasions of Cape Colony and Natal in October 1899 the looting, burning and wanton vandalism even sickened some of their Boer comrades.

The Sydney Morning Herald, 15th July 1901.

"Instead of indignation in regard to shooting by Boers of British wounded at Vlakfontein, Anglophobia has been aroused in the German press, which states that Great Britain is reaping what she has sown, and the Boers' action was in retaliation for farm burning."

The BVC on the veldt, Lieut. Morant is 3rd from the left.

There was something quite rotten at the core of the BVC, a ruthless streak by men with power such as Intelligence Officer Alfred Taylor who was not averse to shooting people out of hand, the locals referred to him as Bulala (killer), and officers who were willing to carry out orders to the letter, like Lieutenants Handcock, Morant, Witton and Picton.

In July Handcock and Taylor were responsible for the murder of six Boers who were coming in to surrender, they were waving white flags and were unarmed. One was a sickly old man, another a 12 year old boy. The oxen the Boers were herding were then taken to Taylor's farm in Rhodesia, around 30 miles away. A Boer "joiner" called Van Buuren had witnessed the murder of the six Boers, and had made his disquiet known. Taylor ordered Handcock to include him in a patrol and kill him, Handcock shot him three times when he was alone with him.

Ugly rumours were spreading about unconfirmed killings and sexual misconduct within the BVC. Captain Hunt claimed that after a visit to Kitchener's headquarters in Pretoria, he was told by Kitchener's secretary, Colonel Hamilton, that no Boer prisoners were to be taken, and he protested when patrols brought them in.

It would seem that many patrols either weren't told to kill prisoners, they chose to ignore the order, or the order never existed, but still many prisoners were being brought in safely.

Then something happened that was to change the BVC forever.

Daily Express, 19th August 1901.

"Bushveldt Carbineers Captain Killed.

The following casualty list was issued on Saturday night from the War Office.

Bushveldt Carbineers - Captain Percy Frederick Hunt, 148 Sergeant Frank Elands; killed, Darvels Kloof, Northern Transvaal, August 6th; A. Maderose, killed, Groenvlei, August 10th."

Handcock.  Morant.  Dr Johnson.  Hunt.  Taylor.  Picton.

Walthamstow and Leyton Guardian, 30th August 1901.

"Captain Percy F. Hunt, a nephew of Mrs Saulez, of Moulsham Vicarage, a promising young officer, who had just given up an excellent position as head of the police at Pretoria to join the Bushveldt Carbineers for the sake of being at the front, was killed in action on 5th August, at Daivel's Kloof, Northern Transvaal."

What actually happened to Captain Hunt would take on great significance, Hunt was planning to attack Field Cornet Viljoen's commando at his farmhouse, as he had been harrassing none Boer farmers.

Warned against attacking without any preliminary reconnaissance, Hunt decided to attack anyway. Hunt's troops were made up of Bushveldt Carbineers, a Boer defector called Tony Schiel who brought with him around 300 irregulars of the local Lobedu people.

The plan was to launch a two pronged attack against the farmhouse at night, the farmhouse had around 40 Boers in it. With one group going round the back, Captain Hunt led the attack to the front. The Boers knew the attack was coming and as soon as they saw movement, they opened fire.

Within a few moments all hell broke loose with bullets whizzing both ways, in the exchange Captain Hunt was shot in the chest, and Sergeant Elands was killed trying to reach him, the attackers also lost a few of the Lobedu warriors. In the farmhouse Field Cornet Viljoen, his brother J. J Viljoen, and G. Hartzenberg were also killed. Both sides then retreated and the dead were left where they had fallen.

When the troopers finally returned to the farmhouse they found Captain Hunt's body had been stripped, his neck was broken, hobnailed boots had stomped on his face, and his legs had been slashed with a knife.

The Grave of Captain Percy Hunt.

The death of Hunt haunted the officers of the BVC, they believed that the Boers had mutilated his corpse and stolen his uniform, stripping uniforms from prisoners, the wounded and the dead was a regular occurance, and as the war progressed many Boers were virtually indistinguishable from British soldiers. 

On the 11th August Intelligence had reached the BVC that the Boers were going to burn the farm of the Reverend Reuter for being pro British, Morant led a patrol out to track the Boers, first passing the now abandoned Viljoen farmhouse and picking up some Lobedu warriors to help in the hunt.

In the evening the Boers were spotted at camp, for some reason Morant ordered his men to fire while they were some way out, about 2000 yards, this gave the Boers time to make their escape, some say this was an act of cowardice on the part of Morant.

The Boers rode off but left behind a man called Floris Visser, Visser was captured and questioned about Boer movements and the death of Hunt, Morant told Visser that if he answered truthfully he would live, if he lied, he would be shot. A court martial was convened with Morant, Handcock and Picton, even though Visser had told them everything he knew the "court" found him guilty and he was shot by firing squad, Picton gave him the coup de grace.

This was followed on the 23rd August by the murder of eight Boer and Dutch prisoners, before they were shot a passing missionary recognised one of the men. The missionary was a German called Rev. Heese, within the week he too was found shot along the Pietersburg road, Boers were blamed, Handcock would later admit responsibility.

On the 5th September Lieut. Hannam ordered his troopers to open fire on a wagon train coming in to surrender. This was actually full of women and children, two boys aged 5 and 13 were killed and a 9 year old girl was wounded.

Soon after this murder on the 7th September another atrocity was committed, this time three Boers coming in under the white flag were met by Morant, Handcock and several other troopers, they were Rolf Van Staden and his two sons. They were disarmed and shot out of hand. 

Later, Morant was sent out to capture the Irish-Boer Field Cornet Kelly, Morant's patrol caught them completely by surprise and Kelly was captured and brought in unscathed, Morant was congratulated and he went on two weeks leave.

Meanwhile back at the BVC headquarters at Fort Edward, 15 members of the BVC signed a letter to the British Army Commander at Pietersburg, written by Trooper Cochrane, a former JP from Western Australia, it listed out the murders committed by their officers, it is a tough read. In six numbered paragraphs each killing is described. They explained that they felt they could not send the letter to their commanding officer Lenehan as they thought he might be complicit in the crimes. Arrests were made.

The men of the BVC were disgusted with their officers, Corporal Sharp stated "I would walk 100 miles barefoot to serve in a firing squad to shoot Morant and Handcock."

After the initial hearing the prisoners, Morant, Handcock, Witton and Picton, were clapped in irons and transported under heavy guard to Pretoria for trial. Picton was released without charge, but Morant, Handcock and Witton were found guilty of murder. Morant and Handcock were sentenced to death by firing squad and Witton was to be imprisoned for life.

Harry 'Breaker' Morant    Peter Handcock    George Witton   

The trial is still very controversial, many believe the outcome was a fete accompli, "scapegoats of Empire" as George Witton said. The night before they were executed Morant and Handcock wrote a confession letter to the Rev. Canon Fisher, it read;

"To the Rev. Canon Fisher, Pretoria.

The night before we're shot 

We shot the Boers who killed and mutilated our friend (the best mate I had on Earth).

Harry Harbord Morant         Peter Joseph Handcock.

The Confession.

Another confession of Morants was his engagement to Captain Hunt's sister, he became engaged on a trip back to England with Hunt, this was a lie, Hunt was signing official papers in Pretoria at the time Morant said they were back in Blighty. 

Major Thomas

Major Thomas did a sterling job in defending the accused, he was placed in an impossible position but he did his job to the best of his ability. A young colonial officer facing officers several times above him in rank, he put to them a version of events that he hoped would avoid the inevitable. This was not the first time Australians had come before a court martial and received a sentence of death.

Aberdeen Press and Journal, 2nd October 1901.

"Australian Soldiers Sentenced To Death.

The local newspapers have published letters from South Africa, stating that three members of the 5th Victorian Contingent had been sentenced to death, afterwards commuted to twelve years' penal servitude, for mutinous conduct towards General Beatson, who commanded at the time of the Wilmanseust disaster, and who is alleged to have called the Australians 'white livered curs,' the matter was raised in the House of Representatives today, and the Premier asked a question to be put tomorrow."

Witton     Thomas     Morant      Handcock

But what of this character Morant?

Born in 1864 in Bridgewater, Somerset, Harry Morant (actually Murrant) emigrated to Australia in 1883, he always maintained that he was not an Australian, when asked in 1923 his defending council Major Thomas stated "Morant was not an Australian, he was an Englishman, who came to this country for the 'colonial experience'."

He was, as the Australians call, a larrikin, he got into trouble with the law on several occasions, stealing and passing dud cheques. He lived a life of being just ahead of his creditors, always looking over his shoulder. Although married he left a string of broken hearts all down the east side of Australia.

He was a natural horseman, he could tame a wild horse and ride horses other people would not go near. Because of this "horse whispering" he gained the nickname "Breaker", using this name he wrote poetry for The Bulletin, and incredible prose it was. Writing in the Sydney Morning Herald, one gentleman said "Those who knew him best will spurn any suggestion that he can possibly have been guilty of shooting anyone in cold blood, as his faults were those of a warm hearted man, not of the criminal."

The larrikin bushman was a very different man to the Bushveldt Carbineer Lieutenant, his last piece of poetry was written the night before his execution and published in The Bulletin on the 19th April 1902 under his pen name The Breaker, it was entitled;

"Butchered To Make A Dutchman's Holiday

In prison cell I sadly sit

A damned crestfallen chappie!

And own to you I feel a bit -

A little bit - unhappy!

It really ain't the place or time

To reel off rhyming diction -

But yet we'll write a final rhyme

Whilst waiting cru-ci-fixtion!

No matter what "end" they decide -

Quick-lime or "b'iling ile," Sir?

We'll do our best when crucified

To finish off in style, Sir!

But we bequeath a parting tip

For sound advice of such men,

Who come across in transport ship

To polish off the Dutchmen!

If you encounter any Boers

You mustn't really loot 'em!

And if you wish to leave these shores,

For pity's sake, DON'T SHOOT 'EM!

And if you earn a D.S.O.,

Why every British sinner

Should know the proper way to go

is: "ASK THE BOER TO DINNER!"

Let's toss a bumper down our throat, -

Before we pass to Heaven,

And toast: "The trim-set petticoat

We leave behind in Devon."

At its end the manuscript is described -

The Last Rhyme and Testament of Tony Lumpkin -"

At 5.00 am on the 27th February 1902 George Witton was allowed to say goodbye to his comrades, and at just past 6 o'clock the two men were led to the firing squad. While facing the men of the King's Own Cameron Highlanders, Morant and Handcock refused the blindfold, just before the final order was given Morant called out "Shoot straight, you bastards! Don't make a mess of it."

The grave of Breaker Morant and Peter Handcock.

George Witton was taken by train to Cape Town, then on to Great Britain where he was to serve out his sentence. He was taken to Lewes and then on to Portland, the war ended on the 31st May 1902, Witton would serve 28 months, being released on the 10th August 1904.

George Witton on his release.

After his release he went back to Australia, settling in Lancefield, Victoria. His anger at the trial was still boiling away, in 1907 he published his book "Scapegoats Of Empire", on release the book was criticised for telling half truths or just plain lying!

The debate rages on. 

The Bushveldt Carbineers did carry on, the vast majority of its personnel were not killers, but soldiers fighting a war in the best way they could, they played by the rules such as they are in battle. The regiment was retitled as the Pietersburg Light Horse, and they desperately tried to put those dark events behind them.

The court martial of Morant, Handcock and Witton has spawned many books and even a movie, their names will never be forgotten. For my own two shillings worth, I think the trial should have been done by the Australian Army, not the British, after all the Federation of Australia had occurred on the 1st January 1901, and as a self governing country they should have had the power to try their own soldiers. Maybe it could have ended differently, maybe not.