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.

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.