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Dear PWHCE reader in Melbourne Australia, You are cordially invited to a talk to be given by Mr Antony O'Brien entitled "South Africa and the Breaker Morant Centenary." The Boer War (1899-1902) was the first major conflict involving large numbers of Australian colonial troops. It was once described as 'a lamentable tale of things done long ago - and ill done'. Mr Tony O'Brien's talk will be held :-
at The Retreat Hotel
226 Nicholson Street Abbotsford [(Melway ref:- 2C K8) near Johnson Street] (Melbourne, Victoria, Australia) Tony is a keen student of the South African Boer War. He recently completed a novel on this war and was in South Africa for proceedings to mark the 100th anniversary of the execution of Breaker Morant and Peter Handcock, which he himself organised. The Australian and South African Governments ignored the anniversary but because of the activities of Tony and several other Australians, the Australian High Commissioner in Pretoria became involved in a service at the Breakers grave on the morning of 27th February. Tony conducted the service and stunned those present when he welcomed members of the Afrikaner contingent in their own Taal (language). Tony O'Brien was an officer in the Australian army and holds Honours in History. During his most recent trip to South Africa, he travelled to several battlefields where Australian servicemen fought the Boers. He is on the committee of the Antique and Historical Arms Collectors Guild of Victoria. RSVP:- Tuesday 25th June, 2002
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