Move to add ‘Breaker’ Morant to Adelaide’s Boer War Memorial is ‘repulsive’, says RSL boss

The Head of SA’s Anzac Day Committee has slammed a push to include a convicted war criminal on a historic Adelaide memorial, labelling it “disgraceful”.

Morant, third from left, with soldiers from the 2nd South Australian mounted rifles contingent. Picture: Australian War Memorial/Boer War

The concept of adding the name of convicted war criminal Harry “Breaker” Morant to an Adelaide Boer War memorial is disgusting, disgraceful and repulsive, the head of SA’s Anzac Day Committee says.

Major Ian Smith, a former war crimes investigator in Bosnia, said he was physically repulsed by the idea of Morant’s name appearing on the historic North Terrace memorial.

“I had the responsibility for attending the scenes of a lot of exposed bodies and shallow graves … at the end of the Bosnian war, and I’ve actually seen personally the outcome of war crimes,” Major Smith said.

RSL-SA Anzac chair Major Ian Smith and SA Boer War Association president Dr Tony Simson at the Boer War Memorial in Adelaide. Picture: Ben Clark

“I know Morant’s story quite well and I just don’t see why this particular person should be getting any recognition at all.

“It’s quite disgraceful … It’s not necessarily the view of the RSL but my personal experience is that I just find it repulsive. I think it’s horrible.

“The idea that he would be put alongside the names of all those men … many of whom died extremely bravely … He didn’t. He was shot by firing squad for murdering people.”

Morant was found guilty of murdering 12 prisoners, including children, during the Boer War. He was executed by firing squad in 1902.

Morant’s distant cousin Cathie Morant and lawyer James Unkles have petitioned Adelaide City Council to add his name to the historic memorial, which was opened in 1904.

The push has won the backing of politicians including state opposition leader David Speirs and federal Labor Member for Adelaide Steve Georganas.

But Major Smith and SA Boer War Association president Tony Stimson are lobbying MPs and Adelaide City Council elected members, urging them to oppose the move.

Harry "Breaker" Morant who was executed in 1902.

Major Smith and Dr Stimson have rejected Mr Unkles’ argument that Morant should be added to the memorial because his crimes occurred when he was a part of a British regiment, the Bushveldt Carbineers, rather than during his time with a South Australian unit.

“Service with a South Australian unit, however meritorious, was never the criterion for inclusion of an individual’s name on this memorial,” the pair say.

“There was simply not space on the four plaques to name all 1531 men who enlisted here and served in South Africa.

“As a result, they named 60 men who had died honourably on or as a result of wartime service … It follows that for a man to be named on the South African War Memorial’s plaques, the criterion the committee adopted was death on or due to active service rather than service alone – an important distinction.”

Cathie Morant near her home in Canberra. Picture: Sean Davey

Major Smith and Dr Stimson say adding Morant’s name to the Boer War Memorial would set a precedent which would have unintended flow-on consequences for all state war memorials, opening the door for tens of thousands of new names.

“To add a plaque bearing Morant’s name would be to single out unfairly one man’s service for special recognition at the expense of the other 1530, and bizarrely that man is one whose later service … led him to being found guilty of what we would now call war crimes,” Major Smith and Dr Stimson say.

Mr Unkles has won approval from Plan SA to install a new plaque with Morant’s name on the base of the memorial, and an interpretative board nearby explaining the service of South Australians in the Boer War, Morant’s involvement and his subsequent conviction.

But the plans remain subject to approval from Adelaide City Council, which expects hear submissions about the plaque in the next few weeks.

Mr Unkles said he rejected the claims of Major Smith and Dr Stimson.

“Describing the application for Morant’s inclusion as disgusting, disgraceful and repulsive is offensive to me and the applicant, Cathie Morant whom I represent,” Mr Unkles said.

“It is misconceived as it ignores Morant’s loyal and unblemished service to South Australia.

Morant served with a Colonial unit, 2nd South Australian Mounted Rifles in South Africa (1890-1901).

“His service was unblemished, he was commended by his Commanding officer and promoted to Sergeant. In his subsequent service with a British Contingent, the Bushveldt Carbineers (over 12 months later) he was executed for war crimes. A review of these convictions remains contentious and is being reviewed.

“Morants’ service for South Australia is distinct, serving in a Colonial Contingent as opposed to a British Contingent. His service with the BVC occurred subsequently to his service for South Australia and has no relevance to being recognised for his loyal service to South Australia.

“There is no state or federal law that prescribes who can be included or excluded on a war Memorial. Morant served South Australia as did the other volunteers who are on the Memorial and others yet to be recognised.

“Denying Morant’s place on the Memorial would be harsh and unfair. The case for his inclusion is compelling and has drawn significant support from the public and community leaders.”