The Lighthorsemen

[dr greg]

the mail

My great uncle
WALSH, Trooper Michael, No. 3194.
Age at enlistment: 34. Religion: RC. Single. Farmer, of Brisbane, Queensland.
Next of kin: Mother; Margaret Walsh, of Tambourine, Queensland.
Source: 25th Reinforcements, joined Regiment 02 Jul 1917. Trooper - Trooper.
Discharged 12 Sep 1919.
wasn't at Beersheba, some research reveals. He was actually with the 5th LH
http://www.awm.gov.au/units/unit_10557.asp
Just to set the record straight.

 

[Wesne]

I'm a big fan of this film as well. I think it's one of the best "horse" movies ever made. It shows very well the bond that would develop between a man and his horse, something most films ignore. I'm thinking of the scene where one of the men is shot through the leg while riding, and his first thought when he reaches safely is not his own wound but his horse's, and of the scene where the men and their horses are baking in the sun without water in a gully, and one of the men, sipping from his canteen, cannot bear to hear his horse nickering and pours the last of his precious water into the crown of his hat and lets his horse drink. Heartbreaking.

The climactic charge is probably the best of its kind ever filmed.

I also appreciated some nice technical details, such as the bit during the charge when the Turkish soldiers are instructed to set their rifle and machine gun sights to 2,000 meters or some such ungodly long range for the initial volley fire, then, as the Australians break into a charge and begin rapidly closing the range, a quick shot shows us that the panicking Turks have forgotten to lower their sights. In no time at all they would be shooting 10 feet or more over the heads of their intended targets.

Anyone who likes this film should check out another by the same director, "Phar Lap," a real tear jerker about a famed Australian race horse of the 1930s. Be forewarned, though, it's a true life story and the ending is not a happy one.

 

[jgilbert]

Saw it 4 maybe 5 times about 8 yrs ago. Thought it was a great. Have not seen it on the history channel, maybe they should.