Peter Joseph Handcock (17 February 1868 – 27 February 1902) was an Australian-born Veterinary Lieutenant and convicted war criminal who served in the Bushveldt Carbineers during the Boer War in South Africa.
After a court martial, Handcock (along with Harry "Breaker" Morant) was convicted and executed for the murders of nine Boer POWs and three other civilians.[1]
His execution, "which had been carried out without the knowledge and consent of the Australian government",[2] was and remains a controversial issue in Australia.
Peter Joseph Handcock was born at Peel, near Bathurst, New South Wales to William Handcock (1830–1874), and Bridget Handcock, née Martin (1830–1881) on 17 February 1868 [3]
He was apprenticed to a blacksmith at age 12, and later worked as a blacksmith with the Railways Department.[3]
He married his 17-year-old cousin Bridget Alice Mary Martin on 15 July 1888, and they had two sons and a daughter.[3]
When the NSWMR returned home he obtained a commission in the Bushveldt Carbineers as Veterinary and Transport Officer.[2]
Major Thomas standing over the joint grave of Morant and Handcock (1902).
In early August 1901, Handcock executed an unarmed, wounded Boer prisoner, Floris Visser. Two weeks later, he fatally shot a South African missionary, Reverend Daniel Heese, possibly out of the fear that he would report his crimes.[4]
Handcock also organized and participated in the executions of 8 surrendering Boers. "We are justified in shooting everything in sight," Handcock said to a fellow trooper.[5]
On 7 September 1901, Hancock and Morant heard that three Boers were approaching their camp. They met the three with two other soldiers. The Boers were Roelf van Staden and his two sons, 16-year-old Roelf Jr. and 12-year-old Chris, who was very sick from a fever.[5]
Morant quietly told his men that when the Stadens reached a clearing, to wait until he said “lay down your arms,” then shoot the three after they calmed down. When Handcock and the two other soldiers pointed their rifles at the Stadens ready to fire, the family looked at them confused and scared. They calmed down after Morant gave his command, and were then suddenly shot as he had planned.[5]
Handcock and Morant were convicted, court-martialled, found guilty, and executed in Pretoria by a firing squad drawn from the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders on 27 February 1902 on murder charges for shooting nine Boer POWs. Handcock was also found guilty of manslaughter for killing Visser.
Although the defendants were found guilty of killing these enemy combatants, they were acquitted of murdering Daniel Heese.[2] However, in 1929, it was revealed by George Witton in a letter to James Francis Thomas that Handcock had confessed to Witton of murdering Heese just after he was acquitted.[6]
^needs verifiable citation for speculation, not from an opinion piece
^ abcFitzSimons, Peter (25 April 2021). "Disgraced Peter Handcock deserves no war memorial honour". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
^Williams, Richard. "Witton's Letter to Thomas 21 October 1929". Retrieved 21 April 2020.
^The transcript of the committee's hearing is at Public hearings and roundtable discussions 2010-05-05 at the Wayback Machine Parliament of Australia - House of Representatives
References
Probate Jurisdiction, The Sydney Morning Herald, (Thursday, 23 June 1904), p.8.
The Bushveldt Carbineers and the Pietersburg Light Horse by William (Bill) Woolmore (2002, Slouch Hat Publications Australia) ISBN0-9579752-0-1
Unkles, James, Ready, Aim, Fire : Major James Francis Thomas, the Fourth Victim in the Execution of Lieutenant Harry "Breaker" Morant, Sid Harta Publishers, (Glen Waverley), 2018. ISBN978-1-9252-3050-5
The Australian Boer War Memorial: Lieutenant Peter Handcock.
Wallace, R.L., "Handcock, Peter Joseph (1868–1902)", pp.185-185 in B. Nairn, G. Serle, and C. Cunneen (eds), Australian Dictionary of Biography: Volume 9: 1891-1939, Gil-Las, Melbourne University Press, (Carlton), 1983.
External links
Lieutenant Peter Handcock
January 03, 2023
peter, handcock, peter, joseph, handcock, february, 1868, february, 1902, australian, born, veterinary, lieutenant, convicted, criminal, served, bushveldt, carbineers, during, boer, south, africa, peter, joseph, handcock, 1900, bornpeter, joseph, handcock17, f. Peter Joseph Handcock 17 February 1868 27 February 1902 was an Australian born Veterinary Lieutenant and convicted war criminal who served in the Bushveldt Carbineers during the Boer War in South Africa Peter HandcockPeter Joseph Handcock 1900 BornPeter Joseph Handcock17 February 1868near Bathurst New South Wales AustraliaDied27 February 1902 1902 02 27 aged 34 Pretoria South African RepublicCause of deathExecution by firing squadCriminal statusExecutedSpouseBridget Alice Mary Martin 1888 1902 his death Children3Conviction s Murder 11 counts Inciting murderManslaughterCriminal penaltyDeathDetailsVictims13 Span of crimesAugust 7 September 1901CountrySouth African RepublicTarget s POWs and civiliansDate apprehended23 October 1901Military careerAllegianceBritish EmpireYears of service1899 1902RankLieutenantUnit1st New South Wales Mounted RiflesBushveldt CarbineersBattles warsSecond Boer WarAfter a court martial Handcock along with Harry Breaker Morant was convicted and executed for the murders of nine Boer POWs and three other civilians 1 His execution which had been carried out without the knowledge and consent of the Australian government 2 was and remains a controversial issue in Australia Contents 1 Life 2 Military service 3 Execution 4 Petitions for review of convictions and sentences 5 See also 6 Footnotes 7 References 8 External linksLife EditPeter Joseph Handcock was born at Peel near Bathurst New South Wales to William Handcock 1830 1874 and Bridget Handcock nee Martin 1830 1881 on 17 February 1868 3 He was apprenticed to a blacksmith at age 12 and later worked as a blacksmith with the Railways Department 3 He married his 17 year old cousin Bridget Alice Mary Martin on 15 July 1888 and they had two sons and a daughter 3 Military service EditHe served in South Africa with the 1st New South Wales Mounted Rifles and was promoted to Farrier Sergeant When the NSWMR returned home he obtained a commission in the Bushveldt Carbineers as Veterinary and Transport Officer 2 Major Thomas standing over the joint grave of Morant and Handcock 1902 In early August 1901 Handcock executed an unarmed wounded Boer prisoner Floris Visser Two weeks later he fatally shot a South African missionary Reverend Daniel Heese possibly out of the fear that he would report his crimes 4 Handcock also organized and participated in the executions of 8 surrendering Boers We are justified in shooting everything in sight Handcock said to a fellow trooper 5 On 7 September 1901 Hancock and Morant heard that three Boers were approaching their camp They met the three with two other soldiers The Boers were Roelf van Staden and his two sons 16 year old Roelf Jr and 12 year old Chris who was very sick from a fever 5 Morant quietly told his men that when the Stadens reached a clearing to wait until he said lay down your arms then shoot the three after they calmed down When Handcock and the two other soldiers pointed their rifles at the Stadens ready to fire the family looked at them confused and scared They calmed down after Morant gave his command and were then suddenly shot as he had planned 5 External image Photo of the grave of Morant and Handcock Source Genealogical Society of South AfricaExecution EditHandcock and Morant were convicted court martialled found guilty and executed in Pretoria by a firing squad drawn from the Queen s Own Cameron Highlanders on 27 February 1902 on murder charges for shooting nine Boer POWs Handcock was also found guilty of manslaughter for killing Visser Although the defendants were found guilty of killing these enemy combatants they were acquitted of murdering Daniel Heese 2 However in 1929 it was revealed by George Witton in a letter to James Francis Thomas that Handcock had confessed to Witton of murdering Heese just after he was acquitted 6 Petitions for review of convictions and sentences EditMain article Pardon for Morant Handcock and Witton In 2010 petitions were submitted for the review of the convictions of Handcock and his colleagues 7 See also EditCourt martial of Breaker Morant Breaker Morant play Breaker Morant film Pardons for Morant Handcock and WittonFootnotes Edit The murders are often prochronistically denoted war crimes a concept that did not exist at the time a b c Wallace 1983 a b c Australian Boer War Memorial needs verifiable citation for speculation not from an opinion piece a b c FitzSimons Peter 25 April 2021 Disgraced Peter Handcock deserves no war memorial honour The Sydney Morning Herald Retrieved 14 June 2022 Williams Richard Witton s Letter to Thomas 21 October 1929 Retrieved 21 April 2020 The transcript of the committee s hearing is at Public hearings and roundtable discussions Archived 2010 05 05 at the Wayback Machine Parliament of Australia House of RepresentativesReferences EditProbate Jurisdiction The Sydney Morning Herald Thursday 23 June 1904 p 8 The Bushveldt Carbineers and the Pietersburg Light Horse by William Bill Woolmore 2002 Slouch Hat Publications Australia ISBN 0 9579752 0 1 Unkles James Ready Aim Fire Major James Francis Thomas the Fourth Victim in the Execution of Lieutenant Harry Breaker Morant Sid Harta Publishers Glen Waverley 2018 ISBN 978 1 9252 3050 5 The Australian Boer War Memorial Lieutenant Peter Handcock Wallace R L Handcock Peter Joseph 1868 1902 pp 185 185 in B Nairn G Serle and C Cunneen eds Australian Dictionary of Biography Volume 9 1891 1939 Gil Las Melbourne University Press Carlton 1983 External links EditFor an Australian War Memorial Peter Handcock Lieutenant Peter Handcock Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Peter Handcock amp oldid 1125078460, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
