WWII filming goes wrong

[rickshaw]

"Shoot straight yer bastards!"  

Still a very moving moment in the film when they hold hands just before being shot (apparently unscripted by done spontaneously).

We now know that Morant was more than likely guilty and a war criminal but he still suffered a miscarriage of justice at the hands of the British Army.  His and Handcock's execution is claimed to have prompted the Australian Army to create it's own, separate military justice system.  Despite claims to the contrary, it did include the death penalty but the regulations covering it's use (requiring the agreement of the court-martial and both Government and Governor-General on every case) meant it was too difficult to apply, much to Haigh's chagrin on the Western Front.

Feelings in some quarters still run high downunder.  The RSL (Returned Servicepeople's League - the veteran's association here) still refuses to have Morant's name added to the Boer War memorial on North Terrace in Adelaide.

Piece of trivia, the kilts and tartan worn by the firing squad were from the 10/27 RSAR (Royal South Australia Regiment) a local Army Reserve (equiv. to the Territorials/National Guard) unit.  When it came to filming, they couldn't find enough kilts in one tartan and so called on 10/27 RSAR to supply them.  10/27 RSAR did not serve in the 2nd Boer War (wasn't in existence IIRC).