Linking Jack Thomson Breaker Morant Bathurst And The Gearin Hotel

Below: Jack Thompson

I was walking around Bathurst today taking photographs for another project that I’m working on at present, when I came across the Boer War memorial in Kings’ Parade.

Having lived here for decades, I’m so used to the memorial being a part of the landscape that it’s easy for it to fade into the background of this picturesque city.

Unveiled on January 10, 1910 by Lord Kitchener, it was built to honor locals who had fought and died during the Boer war.

Reading through the lists of names recorded there, I happened to notice the name of one Lt J.N. Handcock.

Below right: Breaker Morant’s Grave in 1902

Handcock of course was sentenced to be shot by the British during the war for murder, along with Breaker Morant.

In what appears now to have been a political trial staged in order to help establish peace with the Boers, their defence lawyer, Major J.F. Thomas, was given just one day to prepare for the case.

When the news finally reached Australia weeks after the trial and executions, it caused a major uproar. The case eventually led to the Australian Army never again accepting British military justice for its soldiers.

Below: The Boer War Memorial in Bathurst

The Bathurst - Katoomba Link

One of the reasons that I like Katoomba so much is that it is mid way between Bathurst and Sydney. Just over an hour by road, or in the comfort of a train, Bathurst is a great place to have a day or two away, using Katoomba as a base.

While in Katoomba I base myself at Jack Thompson’s Gearin Hotel because of its location near the railway and Great Western Highway.

The hotel’s within easy walking distance of the center of Katoomba, and is central to all services.

Then again, you always have the chance of maybe running into Jack and asking him what he thinks of Breaker Morant, and the movie made about him.

Jack of course played the part of Major J.F. Thomas, the defence lawyer in the trial in the movie “Breaker Morant” (1980)

Below: Jack Thompson’s Hotel Gearin

Links:

Wikipedia: The Story of Breaker Morant Wikipedia: The Movie About Breaker Morant

Author of this post: Allan Cockerill