James Francis Thomas: Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox person |
{{Infobox person |
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| name = James Francis Thomas |
| name = James Francis Thomas |
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| image = 2nd Lieutenant James Francis Thomas(1899).jpeg |
| image = 2nd Lieutenant James Francis Thomas(1899).jpeg |
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| alt = |
| alt = |
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| caption = James Francis Thomas (1899) |
| caption = James Francis Thomas (1899) |
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| birth_name = |
| birth_name = |
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| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=y|1861|07|25}} |
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=y|1861|07|25}} |
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| birth_place = [[St Marys, New South Wales]], Australia |
| birth_place = [[St Marys, New South Wales]], Australia |
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| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=y|1942|11|11| |
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=y|1942|11|11|1861|07|25}} |
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| death_place = [[Boonoo Boonoo, New South Wales]], Australia |
| death_place = [[Boonoo Boonoo, New South Wales]], Australia |
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| death_cause = |
| death_cause = |
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| nationality = |
| nationality = |
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| other_names = |
| other_names = |
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| known_for = |
| known_for = |
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| occupation = Solicitor, newspaper proprietor |
| occupation = Solicitor, newspaper proprietor, soldier |
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}} |
}} |
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'''James Francis Thomas''' (25 July 1861 – 11 November 1942), was a [[solicitor]] from [[Tenterfield, New South Wales]] |
[[Major (rank)|Major]] '''James Francis Thomas''' (25 July 1861 – 11 November 1942), was a [[solicitor]] from [[Tenterfield, New South Wales]]. |
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As Major Thomas, he defended Lieutenants [[Peter Handcock|Peter Joseph Handcock]], [[George Witton|George Ramsdale Witton]], and [[Breaker Morant|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]].<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.australiansatwar.gov.au/stories/stories_war=BW_id=78.html|title = Major Thomas Defended Breaker Morant|date = 2001|accessdate = 6 February 2015|website = Australians at War|publisher = [[Department of Veterans' Affairs (Australia)]]|last = |first = }}</ref> |
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[[File:Breaker-morant-grave.jpg|thumb|Major Thomas, standing behind the grave of |
[[File:Breaker-morant-grave.jpg|right|260px|thumb|Major Thomas, standing behind the joint grave of Handcock and Morant (1902)]] |
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==Education== |
==Education== |
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He was educated at [[The King's School, Parramatta]],<ref>[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/237165504 Captain J. F. Thomas, ''The Daily Telegraph'', (Wednesday, 21 February 1900), p.7.]</ref> and at the [[University of Sydney]]. |
He was educated at [[The King's School, Parramatta]],<ref>[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/237165504 Captain J. F. Thomas, ''The Daily Telegraph'', (Wednesday, 21 February 1900), p.7.]</ref> and at the [[University of Sydney]]. |
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Thomas had previously served with distinction, with the rank of Captain in the [[Military history of Australia during the Second Boer War#New South Wales|New South Wales Citizens' Bushmen Contingent]]. In 1902, he was unattached, and in South Africa, and solely due to his experience as a solicitor, was suddenly promoted to Major and appointed to represent the three accused. He had no experience in the practice of military law or at the bar. --> |
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==Law== |
==Law== |
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He served as an [[articled clerk]] in a reputable Sydney law practice.<ref>[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13657347 Public Notices: James Francis Thomas, ''The Sydney Morning Herald'', (Thursday, 26 May 1887), p.2 |
He served as an [[articled clerk]] in a reputable Sydney law practice.<ref>[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13657347 Public Notices: James Francis Thomas, ''The Sydney Morning Herald'', (Thursday, 26 May 1887), p.2]; [http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13653272 Public Notices: James Francis Thomas, ''The Sydney Morning Herald'', (Friday, 27 May 1887), p.2];</ref> |
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He was (unconditionally) admitted to practise as a solicitor on 28 May 1887.<ref>[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71680504 Supreme Court Proceedings: Admission of Attorneys, ''Australian Town and Country Journal'', (Saturday, 4 June 1887), p.14 |
He was (unconditionally) admitted to practise as a solicitor on 28 May 1887.<ref>[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71680504 Supreme Court Proceedings: Admission of Attorneys, ''Australian Town and Country Journal'', (Saturday, 4 June 1887), p.14]; [http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13649583 Law Report: Supreme Court: Saturday, 28 May: Admission of Attorneys, ''The Sydney Morning Herald'', (Monday, 30 May 1887), p.4.]</ref> |
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==''Tenterfield Star''== |
==''Tenterfield Star''== |
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He was also the owner-operator of the ''Tenterfield Star'' newspaper for sixteen years, from 1898.<ref>[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/126299185 Brief Mention, ''The Richmond River Herald and Northern Districts Advertiser'', (Friday, 23 Sep 1898), p.4.]</ref> |
He was also the owner-operator of the ''Tenterfield Star'' newspaper for sixteen years, from 1898.<ref>[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/126299185 Brief Mention, ''The Richmond River Herald and Northern Districts Advertiser'', (Friday, 23 Sep 1898), p.4.]</ref> |
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==Death== |
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He died on his property at [[Boonoo Boonoo, New South Wales|Boonoo Boonoo]], near [[Tenterfield, New South Wales|Tenterfield]], on [[Remembrance Day]], 11 November 1942.<ref>[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.]</ref> |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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* [https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/234382492 Tenterfield's Fighting Solicitor, ''Smith's Weekly'', (Saturday, 8 September 1928), p.4.] |
* [https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/234382492 Tenterfield's Fighting Solicitor, ''Smith's Weekly'', (Saturday, 8 September 1928), p.4.] |
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* 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}} |
* 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}} |
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* [[George Witton|Witton, G.R.]], ''Scapegoats of the Empire'', Angus & Robertson, (Sydney), (1907). |
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**[https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/NAAMedia/ViewPDF.aspx?B=8157064&D=D '''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).] |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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* [https://www.bwm.org.au/soldiers/James_ThomasNDD.php Major James Thomas, ''The Australian Boer War Memorial, Anzac Parade Canberra''.] |
* [https://www.bwm.org.au/soldiers/James_ThomasNDD.php Major James Thomas, ''The Australian Boer War Memorial, Anzac Parade Canberra''.] |
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* [https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/awm-media/collection/RCDIG1069429/large/5520546.JPG Boer War Nominal Roll: James Francis Thomas]. |
* [https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/awm-media/collection/RCDIG1069429/large/5520546.JPG Boer War Nominal Roll: James Francis Thomas]. |
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* [http://nla.gov.au/nla.aus-vn311069 ''Opinion of the Hon. Isaac A. Isaacs, K.C., M.P., re the case of Lieutenant Witton''], 1902, Melbourne : <nowiki>[s.n.]</nowiki> |
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[[Category:Australian Army officers]] |
[[Category:Australian Army officers]] |
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[[Category:Australian military personnel of the Second Boer War]] |
[[Category:Australian military personnel of the Second Boer War]] |
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[[Category:Australian lawyers]] |
[[Category:19th-century Australian lawyers]] |
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[[Category:Australian newspaper publishers (people)]] |
[[Category:Australian newspaper publishers (people)]] |
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[[Category:20th-century Australian lawyers]] |
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[[Category:People educated at The King's School, Parramatta]] |
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[[Category:Colony of New South Wales people]] |
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Latest revision as of 07:31, 30 October 2023
James Francis Thomas | |
|---|---|
 James Francis Thomas (1899) | |
| Born | 25 July 1861 St Marys, New South Wales, Australia |
| Died | 11 November 1942 (aged 81) Boonoo Boonoo, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation(s) | 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
[edit]He was educated at The King's School, Parramatta,[2] and at the University of Sydney.
Law
[edit]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
[edit]He was also the owner-operator of the Tenterfield Star newspaper for sixteen years, from 1898.[5]
Death
[edit]He died on his property at Boonoo Boonoo, near Tenterfield, on Remembrance Day, 11 November 1942.[6]
See also
[edit]- Court-martial of Breaker Morant
- Pardon for Morant, Handcock and Witton
- Discovery of Breaker Morant relics
Footnotes
[edit]- ^ "Major Thomas Defended Breaker Morant". Australians at War. Department of Veterans' Affairs (Australia). 2001. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
- ^ Captain J. F. Thomas, The Daily Telegraph, (Wednesday, 21 February 1900), p.7.
- ^ Public Notices: James Francis Thomas, The Sydney Morning Herald, (Thursday, 26 May 1887), p.2; Public Notices: James Francis Thomas, The Sydney Morning Herald, (Friday, 27 May 1887), p.2;
- ^ Supreme Court Proceedings: Admission of Attorneys, Australian Town and Country Journal, (Saturday, 4 June 1887), p.14; Law Report: Supreme Court: Saturday, 28 May: Admission of Attorneys, The Sydney Morning Herald, (Monday, 30 May 1887), p.4.
- ^ Brief Mention, The Richmond River Herald and Northern Districts Advertiser, (Friday, 23 Sep 1898), p.4.
- ^ Murphy, Damien, "Breaker Morant Relics Found on Rubbish Tip", The Sydney Morning Herald, 22 April 2016.
References
[edit]- 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. ISBN 978-1-9252-3050-5
- Witton, G.R., Scapegoats of the Empire, Angus & Robertson, (Sydney), (1907).
External links
[edit]- Anonymous (23 June 2015). "Cemeteries". www.tenterfield.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 21 April 2017.
- 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.]
