I don't know, sir. But I do know that orders that one would consider barbarous have...
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Lt. Col. Denny:
[regarding Kitchener's order to shoot any Boers taken prisoner]
Do you really believe that Lord Kitchener, a man venerated throughout the world, would be capable of issuing an order of such barbarity? Major Thomas:
I don't know, sir. But I do know that orders that one would consider barbarous have already been issued in this war. Before I was asked to defend these soldiers, I spent some months destroying Boer farmhouses, burning their crops, herding their women and children into stinking refugee camps where thousands of them have already died from disease. Now these orders WERE issued, sir! And soldiers like myself and these men here have had to carry them out however damned reluctantly!
[regarding Kitchener's order to shoot any Boers taken prisoner]
Do you really believe that Lord Kitchener, a man venerated throughout the world, would be capable of issuing an order of such barbarity? Major Thomas:
I don't know, sir. But I do know that orders that one would consider barbarous have already been issued in this war. Before I was asked to defend these soldiers, I spent some months destroying Boer farmhouses, burning their crops, herding their women and children into stinking refugee camps where thousands of them have already died from disease. Now these orders WERE issued, sir! And soldiers like myself and these men here have had to carry them out however damned reluctantly!
Full Transcript
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You are impertinent, Maj. Thomas.
00:00:02.263 --> 00:00:05.926
Are you suggesting that
the most senior soldier in the British Army...
00:00:06.000 --> 00:00:08.935
a man venerated throughout the world...
00:00:09.204 --> 00:00:12.662
would be capable of issuing an order
of such barbarity?
00:00:15.443 --> 00:00:17.104
I don't know, sir.
00:00:20.815 --> 00:00:22.407
But I do know...
00:00:23.118 --> 00:00:26.212
that orders
that one would consider barbarous...
00:00:26.421 --> 00:00:29.999
have already been issued in this war.
00:00:29.224 --> 00:00:32.125
Before I was asked to defend these men...
00:00:32.066 --> 00:00:37.188
I spent some months
burning Boer farmhouses...
00:00:37.866 --> 00:00:39.857
destroying their crops...
00:00:39.968 --> 00:00:44.064
herding their women and children
into stinking refugee camps...
00:00:45.273 --> 00:00:48.834
where thousands of them
have died already from disease.
00:00:49.011 --> 00:00:52.375
Now, these orders were issued, sir...
00:00:52.781 --> 00:00:56.581
and soldiers like myself
and these men here...
00:00:56.651 --> 00:01:00.109
have had to carry them out,
however damned reluctantly!
00:01:01.289 --> 00:01:03.985
There is no precedent for this request.
00:01:04.999 --> 00:01:08.455
There is no obligation whatever
for Lord Kitchener to attend this courtroom.
00:01:13.501 --> 00:01:18.001
"The accused is allowed full liberty
to cross-examine any witness against him...
00:01:18.239 --> 00:01:20.434
"and to call any witnesses...
00:01:20.508 --> 00:01:23.568
"or make any statement in his defense."
00:01:39.194 --> 00:01:40.718
May I join you?
00:01:46.999 --> 00:01:50.001
Well, our little case seems to be attracting
quite a lot of interest.
00:01:50.738 --> 00:01:54.998
Yes. Been requests
from some of those correspondent fellows...
00:01:54.142 --> 00:01:57.027
to attend the court.
All turned down, of course.
00:01:57.779 --> 00:01:59.997
Of course.
00:01:59.113 --> 00:02:03.001
I've been wondering if you realize
how anxious your own government is...
00:02:03.003 --> 00:02:04.142
for a conviction.
00:02:04.999 --> 00:02:07.279
- What do you mean?
- Well, you've just become a commonwealth.
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Movie Summary
Three Australian lieutenants are court martialed for executing prisoners as a way of deflecting attention from war crimes committed by their superior officers.
