
Scapegoats of the Empire
Scapegoats of the Empire is a work written by Lieutenant George R. Witton, a former Australian soldier who was convicted of murder and sentenced to death during the Boer War. The book is an account of his experiences in the war, his trial, and his eventual pardon.
The book begins with Witton's enlistment in the Australian Army and his subsequent deployment to South Africa. He describes the harsh conditions of the war, the atrocities committed by both sides, and his own experiences as a soldier. He also recounts his capture by the Boers and his subsequent trial for murder. Witton was found guilty and sentenced to death, but his sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment.
The book then follows Witton's time in prison, where he was subjected to harsh treatment and solitary confinement. He recounts his struggles to maintain his sanity and his eventual release from prison.
The book concludes with Witton's return to Australia and his efforts to clear his name. He recounts the public outcry against his conviction and the eventual pardon he received from the Australian government.
Scapegoats of the Empire is an important historical account of the Boer War and the experiences of those who fought in it. It is also a powerful testament to the strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity.
By Lieut. George R. Witton · First published 1907 · Genre: Historical Fiction, Military Fiction, Biographical Fiction · 26 chapters · 64,656 words
First lines
This book is dedicated to my fellow-citizens of the Commonwealth of Australia, in grateful recognition of their loyal, continuous, and successful efforts towards my release from an English prison.
I have not attempted to defend the doings of the ill-starred Bushveldt Carbineers, or the policy of those who employed them.
What this Textopian page supports
Scapegoats of the Empire is listed on Textopian as a historical account by Lieut. George R. Witton, dated 1907 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Historical account
- Author: Lieut. George R. Witton
- Date: 1907 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Historical Fiction, Military Fiction, Biographical Fiction, Adventure Fiction
- Length: 64,656 words
- Structure: 26 chapters, 1,950 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
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- Work identity for Scapegoats of the Empire by Lieut. George R. Witton
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Scapegoats of the Empire?
- How does this historical account by Lieut. George R. Witton fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
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Similar titles
Genres
- Historical Fiction — The book is based on the true story of the Australian soldiers who were court-martialed and executed for desertion during the Boer War, making it a work of historical fiction.
- Military Fiction — The book focuses on the experiences of the Australian soldiers during the Boer War, making it a work of military fiction.
- Biographical Fiction — The book is based on the true story of the Australian soldiers, making it a work of biographical fiction.
- Adventure Fiction — The book follows the Australian soldiers on their journey through the Boer War, making it a work of adventure fiction.
Tags
empire · scapegoat · colonialism · war · history · Australia · British Empire · politics · injustice · military · identity · nationalism
Contents
- Chapter 1: Introduction
- Chapter 1: Volunteering to Fight "for the Empire
- Chapter 2: The Voyage to Africa
- Chapter 3: Round About Beira
- Chapter 4: On the Sick List
- Chapter 5: The Australians in Capetown
- Chapter 6: Commissioned in the Bushveldt Carbineers
- Chapter 7: The Origin of the Carbineers
- Chapter 8: What Led to the Trouble
- Chapter 9: Death of Captain Hunt
- Chapter 10: By Order--"no Quarter!"
- Chapter 11: Morant's Creditable Exploit
- Chapter 12: Ordered for Court-martial
- Chapter 13: Beyers--and the Flag He Slept On
- Chapter 14: Further Proceedings of Court-martial
- Chapter 15: Close of the Visser Case
- Chapter 16: The Eight Boers Case
- Chapter 17: The Second Court-martial (continued)
- Chapter 18: In the Name of Justice!
- Chapter 19: The German Missionary Case
- Chapter 20: Execution of Morant and Handcock
- Chapter 21: "imprisonment for Life!"
- Chapter 22: Gaol Discipline and Prison Blunders
- Chapter 23: The Petition for Release
- Chapter 24: The Long Suspense
- Chapter 25: Freedom at Last!
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