James Francis Thomas Explained

James Francis Thomas
Birth Date:	1861 7, df=y
Birth Place:	St Marys, New South Wales, Australia
Death Place:	Boonoo Boonoo, New South Wales, Australia
Occupation:	Solicitor, newspaper proprietor, soldier

Major James Francis Thomas (25 July 1861 – 11 November 1942), was a solicitor from Tenterfield, New South Wales.

As Major Thomas, he defended Lieutenants Peter Joseph Handcock, George Ramsdale Witton, and Harry "Breaker" Morant, of the Bushveldt Carbineers (BVC) of the British Army, in their trial for the murder of nine Boer prisoners-of-war during the Second Boer War.^[1]

Education

He was educated at The King's School, Parramatta,^[2] and at the University of Sydney.

Law

He served as an articled clerk in a reputable Sydney law practice.^[3]

He was (unconditionally) admitted to practise as a solicitor on 28 May 1887.^[4]

Tenterfield Star

He was also the owner-operator of the Tenterfield Star newspaper for sixteen years, from 1898.^[5]

Death

He died on his property at Boonoo Boonoo, near Tenterfield, on Remembrance Day, 11 November 1942.^[6]

See also

• Court-martial of Breaker Morant
• Pardon for Morant, Handcock and Witton
• Discovery of Breaker Morant relics

References

• New State of Provinces?, The Richmond River Express and Casino Kyogle Advertiser, (Wednesday, 27 August 1924), p.3.
• N. S. Wales Doubting Thomas: Life Struggles of Spirited Lawyer: Man Who Fought Kitchener" Thentefield Solicitor Remains in Gaol on Principle, Smith's Weekly, (Saturday, 11 June 1927), p.11.
• Struck off the Rolls, Casino and Kyogle Courier and North Coast Advertiser, (Wednesday, 14 Mar 1928), p.3.
• Tenterfield's Fighting Solicitor, Smith's Weekly, (Saturday, 8 September 1928), p.4.
• 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.
• Witton, G.R., Scapegoats of the Empire, Angus & Robertson, (Sydney), (1907).
  • NAA: A1336, 227: Copyright Application by George Ramsdale Whitton for Scapegoats of the Empire, dated 7 August 1907, National Archives of Australia, (contains photographs of each of the book's 240 pages).

External links

• Web site: Cemeteries. Anonymous. 2015-06-23. www.tenterfield.nsw.gov.au. en. 2017-04-21.
• James Francis Thomas – The Man Who Defended Breaker Morant, The Australian Light Horse Association.
• Major James Thomas, The Australian Boer War Memorial, Anzac Parade Canberra.
• Boer War Nominal Roll: James Francis Thomas.
• Opinion of the Hon. Isaac A. Isaacs, K.C., M.P., re the case of Lieutenant Witton, 1902, Melbourne : [s.n.]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Major Thomas Defended Breaker Morant. 2001. 6 February 2015. Australians at War. Department of Veterans' Affairs (Australia).
2. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/237165504 Captain J. F. Thomas, The Daily Telegraph, (Wednesday, 21 February 1900), p.7.
3. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13657347 Public Notices: James Francis Thomas, The Sydney Morning Herald, (Thursday, 26 May 1887), p.2
4. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71680504 Supreme Court Proceedings: Admission of Attorneys, Australian Town and Country Journal, (Saturday, 4 June 1887), p.14
5. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/126299185 Brief Mention, The Richmond River Herald and Northern Districts Advertiser, (Friday, 23 Sep 1898), p.4.
6. https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/breaker-morant-relics-found-on-rubbish-tip-20160422-gocn1a.html Murphy, Damien, "Breaker Morant Relics Found on Rubbish Tip", The Sydney Morning Herald, 22 April 2016.