47-504: Lancefield / ˈ l æ n s f iː l d / is a town in the Shire of Macedon Ranges local government area in Victoria, Australia 69 kilometres (43 mi) north of the state capital, Melbourne , 33.6km south of Puckapunyal and had a population of at least 2,743 at the 2021 census . The area was used by the indigenous aboriginal people as a quarry site for the manufacture of stone axes and
94-551: A giant kangaroo; Diprotodon , a rhinoceros-sized wombat ; and Genyornis , a giant flightless bird. The local Australian rules football team, Lancefield Football Club competes in the Riddell District Football League . Golfers play at the course of the Lancefield Golf Club on Heddle Road. The Burke and Wills expedition camped at Lancefield on their journey to cross Australia from Melbourne to
141-836: A party of mounted infantry five miles outside Pietersburg on the morning of 23 October 1901 and "brought into town like criminals". Morant was arrested after returning from leave in Pretoria , where he had gone to settle the affairs of his deceased friend Captain Hunt. In the film, the British military is determined to kill the defendants. According to the Australian historians Margaret Carnegie and Frank Shields, Morant and Handcock rejected an offer of immunity from prosecution in return for turning king's evidence . Military prosecutors allegedly hoped to use them as witnesses against BVC Major Robert Lenehan, who
188-576: A popular summer resort in the 1880s. In recent years, many local wineries have been established in the area. The town has a connection to the Kelly Gang ; for it was here that Constable Fitzpatrick, the instigator of the Kelly Outbreak in 1878 was finally found by the Victorian police to be no good and for his actions was finally discharged from the force. Lancefield district had a reputation for some of
235-605: A week. And in London, I remember it had four days in the West End . Commercially, a disaster, but... It's a film that people talk about to me all the time. Breaker Morant grossed A$ 4,735,000 at the box office in Australia, the equivalent of $ 19.7 million in 2017 dollars. A soundtrack was released by Cherry Pie Music (CPF 1046) A DVD was released by REEL Corporation in 2001 with a running time of 104 minutes. Image Entertainment released
282-566: Is a film about poor Australians who were framed by the Brits. The film was released in the US by New World Pictures. After the success of Breaker Morant , Beresford was offered dozens of Hollywood scripts including Tender Mercies , which he later directed. The 1983 film earned him his only Academy Award nomination for Best Director to date, even though Driving Miss Daisy (1989) which he directed, won Best Picture . Beresford said that Breaker Morant
329-604: Is a region in Central Victoria , Australia, best known for its native forests, geographical attraction Hanging Rock , and artisan food and wine industries. The region covers an area of 1,748 square kilometres (675 sq mi). It is located in between the cities of Bendigo and Melbourne . In August 2021 the shire had a population of 51,458. It includes the towns of Gisborne , Gisborne South , Kyneton , Lancefield , Macedon , Malmsbury , Mount Macedon , New Gisborne , Riddells Creek , Romsey and Woodend . The Shire
376-421: Is convinced that Hesse is a spy, though he has no proof. A conversation with Handcock leads to the latter taking a rifle and horse and following Hesse, who is found shot the next morning. During the trial, the court's bias toward a guilty verdict becomes apparent, as well as the political machinations behind it. The focus is on whether or not orders were issued by Kitchener to shoot all Boer prisoners; Thomas' case
423-694: Is named after the region's major geographical feature, the Macedon Ranges . It has become one of Victoria's most popular tourist attractions and contains some of its most sought-after real estate. It is governed and administered by the Macedon Ranges Shire Council ; its seat of local government and administrative centre is located at the council headquarters in Kyneton, it also has service centres located in Gisborne, Romsey and Woodend. Macedon Ranges
470-478: Is that there were standing, though unwritten, orders to do so. Since these were verbally relayed to Hunt, and by Hunt to Morant, there is no way to prove that the orders existed. Ironically, it transpires that while Morant acted under orders by shooting the prisoners, he and Handcock were in fact responsible for the murder of Hesse. Handcock, who took care to set up an alibi with two "ladyfriends," admits to Witton that he actually followed Hesse and shot him. However,
517-541: Is up can be prevailed to re-enlist in this corps. Trusting for the credit of thinking you will grant the inquiry we seek". During his conversation with Handcock and Witton in the prison courtyard, Morant alleges that the British Army has marked them for death "ever since they arrested us at Fort Edward" but their arrests took place elsewhere. After the letter Hall summoned all Fort Edward officers and non-commissioned officers to Pietersburg on 21 October 1901. All were met by
SECTION 10
#1732863161012564-524: Is willing to judge his own soldiers harshly if they disobey the rules of war . Though there are great complexities associated with charging active-duty soldiers with murder, Kitchener is determined to have a guilty verdict, and the chief of the court supports him. The causes and occurrences relating to the trial are developed. Morant's execution of the Boer prisoners was revenge for the mutilation and death of his friend and commanding officer, Captain Hunt. Angered by
611-601: The Anglo-Boer War . Witton was found guilty of murder and sentenced to be shot, but this was commuted to life of penal servitude. Morant and Handcock both found guilty and sentenced to be shot were executed in Pretoria on 27 February 1902. Witton (who had never been to England) was sent to England and held in prison until released due to public pressure from Australia. It was to Lancefield that he came in broken health on his return to Australia and wrote his angry book, Scapegoats of
658-672: The Berlin Missionary Society , Hesse had been born in Cape Colony and "was, technically speaking, a British subject, and not a German citizen". Yet, the scene contains a kernel of truth. Leach writes, "Several eminent South African historians, local enthusiasts, and commentators share the opinion that had it not been for the murder of Hesse, none of the other Bushveldt Carbineers would have been brought to trial". Although only Morant, Handcock, and Witton are shown as being on trial, there were three other defendants: The soldiers from
705-645: The Boer Republics , and that the British Government fears German entry into the war. This, Kitchener explains, is why Morant, Handcock, and Witton must be convicted at all costs. According to the South African historian Charles Leach, the legend that the German Foreign Office protested about the murder of Hesse "cannot be proved through official channels". "No personal or direct communication" between
752-508: The Cowra Breakout but could not find a script with which he was satisfied, so he turned to the story of Breaker Morant. In conversation with Bolton, Lord Kitchener states that Kaiser Wilhelm II has formally protested about the murder of Hesse, whom he describes as a German citizen. He says that the German people support the Boer cause, that their government covets the gold and diamond mines of
799-548: The Northern Transvaal . The film is notable for its exploration of the Nuremberg Defence , the politics of the death penalty and the human cost of total war . As the trial unfolds, the events in question are shown in flashbacks . In 1980, the film won ten Australian Film Institute Awards including: Best Film, Best Direction, Leading Actor, Supporting Actor, Screenplay, Art Direction, Cinematography, and Editing. It
846-463: The 2021 census, the shire had a population of 51,458 compared to 46,100 in the 2016 census. ^ - Territory divided with another LGA * - Not noted in 2016 Census # - Not noted in 2021 Census 37°21′00″S 144°37′00″E / 37.35000°S 144.61667°E / -37.35000; 144.61667 Breaker Morant (film) Breaker Morant is a 1980 Australian war drama film directed by Bruce Beresford , who co-wrote
893-480: The Council chambers at Gisborne, which is also the location of one of the Council's administrative centres. It also provides customer services at both its administrative centre in Kyneton, and its service centres in Gisborne, Romsey and Woodend. Gisborne Secondary College , the largest Secondary School in the shire, is located in Gisborne and provides both academic and vocational programs for over 1000 students from across
940-560: The Empire (1907). In the introduction to his book he stated that he was living in Lancefield. When due for publication a fire destroyed all but several copies of the book. In 1982, Angus and Robertson in the United Kingdom re-published the book following the success of the movie Breaker Morant . George Witton's cousin, Cecily Adams of Castlecrag Sydney, owned the copyright for "Scapegoats of
987-491: The Empire" following George's death. Cecily was also aware of some additional documentation written by George Witton, which he asked not to be released until after his death. Cecily was determined a further edition, which included this additional material, should be published and in 1989 an edition was published by ADLIB BOOKS of Bath, by arrangement with Cecily Adams as the copyright owner and Angus & Robertson (UK). Shire of Macedon Ranges The Shire of Macedon Ranges
SECTION 20
#17328631610121034-578: The Fort Edward garrison who testify against Morant, Handcock and Witton are depicted as motivated by grudges against their former officers. A prime example is Corporal Sharp, who expresses a willingness to walk across South Africa to serve in the defendants' firing squad. Other prosecution witnesses have been thrown out of the Bushveldt Carbineers by the defendants for looting, drunkenness and other offences. All are portrayed with British accents. Hall,
1081-661: The Gulf of Carpentaria. They arrived here on 23 August 1860 and made their fourth camp out of Melbourne. A marker at the site of the original town at Mustey's Bridge on Deep Creek commemorates the site of their camp. The route of their departure northwards from the town is commemorated by the road to Mia Mia , which was named 'Burke and Wills Track' in their honour. A railway branch line off the Melbourne- Bendigo line originated at Clarkefield (known then as Lancefield Junction), opening as far as Lancefield on 6 June 1881. This section of
1128-725: The Kaiser and his uncle, King Edward VII , "has been found despite widespread legend that this was definitely the case". Questions raised in the House of Commons on 8 April 1902 were answered by an insistence that the War Office, the Foreign Office, or Lord Kitchener had not received "any such communication on this subject" "on behalf of the German government". Under international law, the German government had no grounds to protest. Despite being attached to
1175-543: The Macedon Ranges. Kyneton Secondary College is Kyneton's state secondary school, along with Sacred Heart College (Catholic), and Braemar College east of Woodend (Ecumenical, co-educational) as the largest non-government secondary schools in the shire. In addition to a range of primary schools across the shire, Candlebark Primary School and Alice Miller High School (whose principal is John Marsden , Australian author and educator) provide alternative education options. In
1222-780: The Morant affair. This proves so inflammatory and anti-British that it is suppressed during the World Wars. Funding came from the SAFC, the Australian Film Commission , the Seven Network and PACT Productions. The distributors, Roadshow, insisted that Jack Thompson be given a role. The movie was the second of two films Beresford intended to make for the South Australian Film Corporation . He wanted to make Breakout , about
1269-480: The accused officers, "to implicate Taylor". Their refusal to do so seems to have ensured that Taylor was not convicted at his trial. In the film, Hunt is inaccurately depicted as having an Australian accent . According to the South African historian Charles Leach, Captain Hunt "was an Englishman, a former Lieutenant in Kitchener's Fighting Scouts, and a fine horseman". A surviving photograph of Hunt also reveals that he
1316-429: The court acquits them of the murder of Hesse but finds them guilty of the other two charges. Kitchener is conveniently absent and therefore unavailable for pleas for a reprieve, though he does commute Witton's sentence to life imprisonment before leaving. Morant and Handcock are shot in the morning as Witton is taken to the prison transport. As a final insult Handcock's coffin is built too small for his tall frame, and
1363-460: The fairness of the hearing. We would ask whether due process was present, after accounting for the exigencies of the battlefield. Does Breaker Morant demonstrate what happens when due process is not observed? Bruce Beresford claimed the film is often misunderstood as the story of men railroaded by the British, But that's not what it's about at all. The film never pretended for a moment that they weren't guilty. It said they were guilty. But what
1410-507: The film to explore how wartime atrocities can be "committed by people who appear to be quite normal". Beresford concluded that he was "amazed" that so many people see his film as being about "poor Australians who were framed by the Brits". Breaker Morant concerns the murder trial of three Australian soldiers, officers of the elite Bushveldt Carbineers , in South Africa . Harry "Breaker" Morant, Peter Handcock and George Witton are accused of
1457-428: The incident, Morant led an attack on a Boer camp, where a Boer wearing Hunt's khaki jacket was captured. Morant had him executed. The killing of six prisoners was in much the same fashion. Morant later justifies their deaths, saying, "You know the orders from Whitehall . If they show a white flag, we don't see it. I didn't see it." Before their execution, Morant notices Hesse speaking with the prisoners. Morant, furious,
Lancefield, Victoria - Misplaced Pages Continue
1504-570: The line was closed on 13 August 1956. By 6 April 1892, the line was extended out of Lancefield to Kilmore . However, this section of the line was so unsuccessful that it was closed on 1 June 1897. On his release from prison in England in 1904, George Witton came to Lancefield and lived in the town for several years. Witton of the Bushveldt Carbineers was charged along with Breaker Morant and Peter Handcock of murdering captured Boers during
1551-452: The most fertile soils in Victoria. Prior to being cut up into small blocks during the early 1970s the region produced high yields per acre of potatoes, fat lambs, fat cattle, wheat and other cereal crops. A large fossil deposit from the Pleistocene epoch was discovered at Lancefield Swamp , containing the remains of many species of extinct megafauna , including ; Macropus titan ,
1598-506: The murder of one Boer prisoner, the subsequent murders of six more; Morant and Handcock are accused of the sniper -style death of a German missionary, the Rev. Hesse. Their counsel, Major Thomas, has had only one day to prepare their defense . Lord Kitchener , who ordered the trial, hopes to bring the Boer War to an end with a peace conference. To that end, he uses the Morant trial to show that he
1645-427: The officer commanding at Pietersburg , is depicted as fully aware and even complicit in the total war tactics of the Fort Edward garrison. He is also described as having been sent to India to prevent him from giving testimony favourable to the defence. Surviving documents tell that the arrest of the six defendants was ordered by Hall after a letter from the other ranks at Fort Edward. The letter, dated 4 October 1901,
1692-512: The screenplay based on Kenneth G. Ross 's 1978 play of the same name . The film concerns the 1902 court martial of lieutenants Harry Morant , Peter Handcock and George Witton —one of the first war crime prosecutions in British military history. Australians serving in the British Army during the Second Anglo-Boer War , Morant, Handcock, and Witton stood accused of murdering captured enemy combatants and an unarmed civilian in
1739-420: The soldiers are forced to clumsily cram his body in. A summary at the end of the movie reveals what happens to some of the characters. Thomas returns to his native Australia and continues his law practice, which is otherwise confined to estate planning and wills. Witton serves three years of his sentence, but is released after a national outcry and writes a book entitled Scapegoats of the Empire , an account of
1786-412: The stigma of these crimes attached to our names. Therefore we humbly pray that a full and exhaustive inquiry be made by Imperial officers in order that the truth be elicited and justice done. Also we beg that all witnesses may be kept in camp at Pietersburg till the inquiry is finished. So deeply do we deplore the opprobrium which must be inseparably attached to these crimes that scarcely a man once his time
1833-523: The story of the court martial of Harry Morant, Peter Handcock, and George Witton in South Africa in 1902. Yet, its overriding theme is that "war is evil". Breaker Morant is a beautiful antiwar statement – a plea for the end of the intrigues and crimes that war entails". Another comments The clear issue of the film is the accountability of soldiers in war for acts condoned by their superiors . Another issue, which I find particularly fascinating, concerns
1880-510: Was also nominated for the 1980 Academy Award for the Best Writing (Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium) . Breaker Morant remains the movie with which Beresford is most identified and has "hoisted the images of the accused officers to the level of Australian icons and martyrs". In a 1999 interview Beresford explained that Breaker Morant "never pretended for a moment" that the defendants were not guilty as charged. He had intended
1927-461: Was believed to have issued orders to take no prisoners . Towards the end of the film, Taylor informs Morant that the British Army will never dare to prosecute him, as he really can implicate Kitchener in war crimes. According to the South African historian Andries Pretorius, the trial of Alfred Taylor was almost certainly saved for the last because "The prosecution must have been hoping", in vain for
Lancefield, Victoria - Misplaced Pages Continue
1974-438: Was far younger than the actor who plays him on screen. The movie states that Witton died in 1943. In reality, he died of complications after suffering a heart attack on 14 August 1942. Rotten Tomatoes gave Breaker Morant a 100% approval rating, based on 23 reviews, with an average score of 8.39/10. The film also stirred debate on the legacy of the trial with its pacifist theme. D. L. Kershen wrote " Breaker Morant tells
2021-465: Was first settled by European squatters in 1837. The main source of these stone tools was at Mount William, to the northeast of Lancefield. A Lancefield Post Office opened on 16 January 1858 in the Romsey /Five Mile Creek area, 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) to the south. In 1860 this was renamed Five Mile Creek when Lancefield Post Office opened in the present township. Lancefield's elevation and climate made it
2068-400: Was interesting about it was that it analysed why men in this situation would behave as they had never behaved before in their lives. It's the pressures that are put to bear on people in war time... Look at all the things that happen in these countries committed by people who appear to be quite normal. That was what I was interested in examining. I always get amazed when people say to me that this
2115-553: Was not that successful commercially, Critically, it was important, which is a key factor, and it has kept being shown over the years. Whenever I am in Los Angeles, it's always on TV. I get phone calls from people who say, 'I saw your movie, could you do something for us?' But, they're looking at a [then] twenty-year-old movie. At the time it never had an audience. Nobody went anywhere in the world. It opened and closed in America in less than
2162-608: Was one of the highest-rated areas in Australia in the Quality of Life Index 2008. It was the highest rated in Victoria (outside Melbourne), and was 13th of 590 Australian local government areas. The Shire of Macedon Ranges was formed in 1995 from the amalgamation of the Shire of Romsey , Shire of Gisborne , Shire of Newham and Woodend , and most of the Shire of Kyneton . The council is composed of three wards (East, South and West) and nine councillors , with three councillors per ward elected to represent each ward. The Council meets in
2209-503: Was written by BVC Trooper Robert Mitchell Cochrane, a former justice of the peace from Western Australia and signed by 15 members of the Fort Edward garrison. After listing numerous murders and attempted murders of unarmed Boer prisoners, local civilians and BVC personnel who disapproved, the letter concluded, "Sir, many of us are Australians who have fought throughout nearly the whole war while others are Afrikaners who have fought from Colenso till now. We cannot return home with
#11988