The Light horsemen famous Worl War I (WWI) charge scene of the Australina light cavalry edited to show the charge in full without cuts. You can reach our web site at www.regimientosdeamerica.com/
This depiction of the Australian Light Horse and the charge at Beersheba is incredible. It was more than a movie about war. It honored those brave men.
I think it's odd they weren't issued side arms, even a 38, American cavalry of 1865 proved the effectiveness of pistol armed dragoons, which were armed with both carbine and horsepistols such as the Colt Dragoon Model 3 of the 1850's, and this is 1915? Granted that the bayonets of WW1 were longer, but you still could barely engage an infantryman from horseback.
The Australian Light horse are Legendary even here in Britain, they are one of my favourite Regiments in the world. There history especially the charge at Bashiba was so incredible against what the men and horses had to face. It was a Miracle that the majority of the Australian Light Horse survived such a task. Many brave and heroic Australians gave there lives for our freedom here in the UK and in other countries Thank you and we will never forget you. Our Australian cousins always stand shoulder to shoulder with us in times of war and other conflicts. The citizens of the UK have a very close bond with Australia and our Australian cousins that will never be broken. 💂♂️💂♂️💂♂️💂♂️🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺
Freedom? Are you serious? Who did stand against the so- called-freedom of your entire empire? The Turks, the germans, the austrians or their allies? Please, come on! I respect the entente- forces, but they didn't fight for freedom. That's just ridiculous!
The New Zealanders played a very big part in this victory. The most important feature of the battlefield was the dominant fortified hilltop of Tel el Saba that protected any cavalry charge into Beersheba itself. The task of capturing Tel el Saba was given to the New Zealanders, who dismounted and attacked both flanks under heavy fire machine gun from entrenched positions. The Kiwis were battle hardened and tactically astute, many having survived the senseless slaughter at Gallipoli. In short rushes, and covered by their own machine guns, the Kiwis eventually reached ground where they could engage the Turks, first with rifle fire, and then with their bayonets. Half of the Turks cleared out but 132 were taken prisoner while 25 were killed. Captured machine guns were then used by the Kiwis to fire on the fleeing Turks. Thirty-four New Zealanders became casualties in the six hour fight. Thanks to the Kiwis capturing Tel el Saba, the way was now clear for an assault on Beersheba - and 500 Australian Light Horse troopers charged into the town on horseback using their bayonets as swords.
The cavalry horses were mostly the unsung heroes of the charge. They had been almost 2 days without water, and they had to charge at full gallop for almost 3 miles. But a horse will never quit. A horse will run till it drops, but it will never quit.
Those Aussies were some badass SOBs, and they rode those horses into history and stardom, I will forever be greatful to them and salute them, may they RIP.
I was one of the extras in this movie. Spotted myself a couple of times. Recognized the horse more so. A great experience and I still remember the film making dictum , Hurry up and wait. The real story of the Charge is truly amazing.
@@shahriabubakar1253 It was 1986 and I’m 60 now. A great time was had with the assembled 200+ extras. A couple of the experts on the Light Horse were always around and we heard some fantastic stories about them. Cheers from Oz.
I saw this years back. They were attacking a town held by Turks with German artillery support. Three previous attacks including tanks had failed, mostly because of the German artillery. The German commander knew about them and said they were superb troops the British commander had no idea how to use. They were mounted infantry, who used horses to get where they would fight, then dismount and fight on foot. The Light Horsemen commander said "I know how to do this." The light Horsemen advanced on horseback at a walk, close3r and closer. The German commander expected them to dismount and attack on foot. Instead, they advanced to where the enemy was sure they would dismount, but they drew their bayonets and did an old fashioned cavalry charge instead. The German artillery was taken by surprise, couldn't depress fast enough to target the charging Light Horsemen, and then the Light Horsemen were upon them with bayonets they knew how to use. The battle was quickly over. (NB: Mel Gibson had a supporting role in this film as an ambulance driver.)
@@gulliverthegullible6667 I enjoyed some of Gibson's later starring roles, like his Lethal Weapon roles with Danny Glover, and his Maverick spinoff. But his success let him indulge himself in some unfortunate undertakings. Part of the problem was his father, who was a fanatic antisemite and holocaust denier. He really needed to be muzzled and locked in a closet somewhere, but Mel wasn't about to do it, and provided suspicion in his own behavior that he agreed with his dad. I gave up on him at that point.
@@johncheetham4607 Not sure technically the terminology is correct. The Australians are British. This 'Lions led by donkeys' myth was bandied about by politicians post 1918. Nobody at the time understood how to counter the weaponry of the day. That included Australian and German senior officers alike. In WW2 senior British officers tried their best to minimise the waste of lives... and were then accused of being over cautious.
One of the saddest parts of this epic chapter of war history is that the Australians weren’t allowed to bring their horses home due to logistical and quarantine issues. Terrible shame.
@Steve Wolcott As if I’d report you for that lame effort! 😂 You need to up your troll game. You’re right, of course, but surely you can admit it’s a shame the men had to leave behind the animals they had bonded with through a war. Logistics and practicality aside.
The Light Hod weremounted infantry not cavalry. They worked in groups of four, with one man holding the horses while the others fought on foot.. Hence no cavalry weapons- sword or Lance- just bayonets. However a fine scene,
They were mostly country boys, from small towns and farms across Australia. When they had to return to Australia the quarantine laws in Australia meant they couldn’t bring their horses back. Most chose to shoot the horse they had ridden through the conflict rather than have them sold through the local markets. Old interviews with these veterans show then shedding a tear when they recalled this .
Nope this is all myth. Less than 300 Light Horse mounts were shot illegally by their riders. Majority of healthy mounts (classed A and B were re sold to other Imperial Cavalry units, the C and D classed horses were shot, skinned, de hooved and de mained). All transport livestock in the middle east were sold. None went to the locals. Camelry and mules WERE sold to local authorities that then were sold to civilians. AIF European livestock, the majority being transport livestock were sold and either used to rebuild France and Belgium or were used to feed the starving civilians.
Only one horse returned home from WWI - “Sandy” owned by Major General William Bridges, Commander of the Australian 1st Division, who died of wounds sustained at Gallipoli. After the war, most of the surplus animals were destroyed or sold to the French for work on French farms or for meat, which raised a great ruckus in Great Britain whose people had more of an aversion to eating horse flesh than the French, and may not have been as hungry since most of the war was fought on French soil.
@@TheKira699 Is that correct? I follow this pretty closely and haven't heard that before. It was an issue with foot and mouth I think. Even Bill the Bastard wasn't brought back. Glad to hear it if correct.
@@chrisbuesnell3428 There was an outbreak of hoof and mouth disease in 1914, but that was in the USA. It would have been monumentally expensive to bring our Walers home again and put them through extensive quarantine, considering shipboard life for horses was dangerous with rough weather causing injuries. The interesting thing is that because the French ate horsemeat as a staple for a while, they were allergic to the Diptheria vaccine that was developed on horse blood.
From a tactical standpoint, this depiction is almost impeccable (albeit there were more than five times as many horsemen involved). The Mounted Infantry are deployed in three lines, single rank, in open order (one horse width between files). The attack begins at a walk, accelerates to a trot until they break cover at the top of the ridge, then shifts to a canter, and finally to a gallop just as the Turkish artillery opens fire. Australians really did vault over the trenches (which, for some reason, were not protected by barbed wire), and many of the Australians did use their 18-inch bayonets as short swords. One Quibble: The Turks would have been firing Shrapnel rounds, hollow shells filled with iron balls, intended to be detonated over and in front of the target, so that the iron balls would flail the enemy troops below. Hence, the importance of range estimation and fuze settings, which is show. The Australians were covering the ground so quickly, the Turkish gunners could not keep up, as a result of which, most of their shells were exploding BEHIND the horsemen. By the same token, Turkish infantry were also shooting higher and higher as the range closed, but in the last hundred meters or so, it would not have made much difference. By then, however, it would have been too late to repulse the attack.
Awesome,I'm a huge military history nut,ever since I was12,and I still am at 62,I never ever heard of this movie,I know I gotta find it now, thanks for the video 😊😊😊
Very funny but it us true. The charge would never have happened if it wasn't for the unique breed of horse they used. Whalers and Australian stock horses are like the Pitbulls of the horse world. Solid, tough and all heart.
@@stephenhawk1762 Waler (originally New South Walers) - from New South Wales, if you didn't guess. From what i heard, we nearly lost the breed, but they appear to have been saved.
The tragedy of this film was that after the last day of filming the actor shown in the close ups during the charge, Jon Blake, was driving back to where he was staying and was involved in a massive car crash that left him with permanent brain damage and paralysed. He became the subject of a massive damages claim and was awarded in excess of $7m. He died in 2011.
Sir, the title of this movie is The Light Horsemen? I being from Texas, wouldn't know of this particular Regiment. I remember seeing Mel Gibson in the movie about Gallipoli,what 40 years ago? Was the movie Breaker Morant based on true events?
I visited Beersheva in May of this year (2021) and spent 3-days in the city. I was lucky enough to spend a full day touring the cemetery, and the battlefield for the light horse charge including the important hill of Tel Be'er Sheba. Tel Be'er Sheba was an important hill that most Australians wouldn't know about, it was a fortified hill on the Turks left flank, and it would have provided enfilade fire into the Australian LH charging into Beersheva. It was taken after 6-hours of hard fighting by NZ lighthorse. After it was taken, permission was then given for the Australian LH to make their famous charge.
One of my neighbours was in the Australian light horse at that time, he later served in the Second World War and later in the Korean War. I looked out for his wife until she passed away just a few years ago and I was surprised when she told me that he had PTSD because he was such a nice man, he hid it well. Unfortunately he ended up with dementia, there’s no justice in this world.
Whilst otherwise good the expert advisers gave the 4th Light Horse Regiment emu feathers in their hats which they had rejected as a mark of strike breakers over a decade earlier. The statue erected in Be'er Sheva repeats the error and every painting since does the same. Their pugaree was originally made of kangaroo skin and fur.
They were a bit better dressed in this movie than at the time. At this stage of the war they were really a rag tag looking outfit. The horses had been without water for a couple of days, so either they charged or went without. One bloke who was between them and the Turks had to get out of the way fast. He said the men were swearing and yelling, and it made the hair stand up on the back of his neck.The most thrilling thing he had ever seen.
As a Australian I share this clip every ANZAC Day. Some historical facts about this charge. It is the last recorded Calvary charge in history. The Turks were expecting Light Horse ( Mounted Infantry). There guns were sighted to low, and as the charge happened they could not change the sights fast enough. They expected Infantry, not Calvary. Their horses ( Whalers) could smell the water, so the riders knew there was no turning back, They also knew if they did they would be caught in open ground. Not bad for a bunch of convicts, hey.
The Walers , did smell the water. But , the Troopers , came across a sign buried in the sand and this is what the Troopers saw, 'Beer'. That's a true story .
we where layed back soldiers but watching this teared me up..but we gave all, even their lives what a fighting force in there day. they even gave water for each soldier which they shared to there horses. the sad thing is they cannot bring their horses home and had to be put down which effected each soldier due to the emotional bond they had with each horse
The horses had smelt the water, they would have charged without their riders. It si annoying there was no or limited artillery support but the main miracle was they charged so quickly the Turks were firing high as shown and did not have the battle calm to oppose; shouted orders were of no use. The Australians were fighting mad. There's a warning here for anyone who would seek to oppose us. We are good at turning defeat to victory.
It's interesting you say that about smelling water. My father, who supposedly took part in the charge, told my mother that they couldn't hold the horses because they had smelled the water, and that this was the cause of the charge. I presumed it was a wind-up. So maybe it. was a half truth or something.
@@Zoco101 No, several riders made the same comment and I think it was confirmed by Bean. Remember they had ridden for several days on limited supplies and Beersheba since early biblical times was renowned for its wells. As I recall the horses literally started to break into a gallop before the order to charge was given. There are many photos of troopers giving their horses water in their hats after the battle.
Bloody tough troops the Australians Although going to war must be a breeze for them as the only thing that’s out to kill them are the enemy whereas at home every bloody thing wants to kill them. But in all seriousness god bless all the fallen Australians a braver bunch of men there are not. And I’m a Pom!
EVERY time I watch this scene, as an Australian nationalist, patriot, and from a military family, every generation of my family has fought in every war going back to the Second Boer War, the only exception being my Grandfather who did not serve in Vietnam due to medical problems - my heart just explodes with pride. Look at Australia in 2023 - spot the Aussie is becoming harder and harder due to unwanted mass immigration, migrants who arrive on a jet, they have 0 want to enquire, learn from the magnificent sacrifices made by 'real' Australians. Mass immigration by Indians, Chinese, muslims [who's first loyalty is to a book not the nation state] - these brave men fought for a young country, and their sacrifices will forever remain incalculable. There actual scene with the music included is just mesmerisingly epic.
Brilliant in concept and execution. Light Horse, lean mounted infantry, organised as cavalry, delivering closer leadership but without useless "shock" weapons. In an approach at the gallop then dismount on objective against lightly wired entrenchments where the machine guns had been located (by sight from Tel El Saba now Tel Be'er Sheva) and distracted by artillery. Chauvel deserved to be a Lieutenant General for this one action if no other (some say after arming the Australian Light Horse with swords post 1917, and no other) .
As I understand it, for centuries there have been many attempts to create mounted infantry, which dismount to fight, often armed with muskets, carbines or rifles. But sooner or later they get used for charging like cavalry, and then they remain as cavalry units. The dragoon concept, for instance, started like that. The charge at Bersheba is perhaps the most modern example. That later they were given swords is indicative of the trend. If I remember correctly, I saw Light Horse units participating in the Royal Melbourne Show alongside mounted police units. The Light Horsemen used bayonets in the displays/contests, maybe to comemmorate the greatest moment in their proud history.
@@Zoco101 You saw re-enactors. The current Australian Light Horse units are all armoured equipped with a range of A Vehicles from M1 Abrahams to Bushmaster and Hawkeye PMVs. No horses.
Apparently the powers that be decided that it was impractical to ship the horses back to Australia after the war, so they were slaughtered in their hundreds. Soldiers were in tears doing this dreadful task.
Nope, the horses were classified by health and either sold on to other Imperial formations ( A and B class) for further service and, the C and D class horses were put down and harvested for usable skins etc. Concise AIF vetinary records show less than 300 horses were illegaly shot by their owners. No LH mounts were sold or given tot he locals.
there is a cut, theres a line where the CO says ''theyre under the guns'' meaning the artillery which where howitzers, were unable to track them further.
@@tommiatkins3443 I tried chasing this down but the best I could manage was that there were 28 artillery pieces. I did read that there was counter battery fire to Ottoman redoubts, so perhaps they hadnt anticipated a frontal attack that closed the range, or perhaps the charge was up hill and they couldnt get enough depression, but thats the story in the film. Reading more widely around that engagement, there was a lot more going on than just the charge. That said, I do remember the line in the film from the OC 'theyre under the guns', and much was made of the Turks wheeling the guns azimuth in the reducing range. Also the infantrymen werent re calibrating the range on their rifles which were set at 1800 (ft?), and so firing over their heads. At least thats in the film seen here.
I cannot imagine what was worse, getting fired upon, or getting knocked off your horse and having to wait it out and hope you don't get trampled. Both probably last an eternity.
This charge would not have been possible UNTIL NZers overpowered Turks at a hill overlooking the plain ( Tel el Sabba) Kiwis had to dismount and fight their way to top ..finally overcoming Turks Lots have been mentioned about the mounts ( Whalers) The NZers mounts performed much better...surviving better without food or water on the long dsert treks
It would have been all for nothing unless the 11th hour all or nothing, charge by the Light horse, even in the Movie the achievements of the Kiwi's is acknowledged. The charge against entrenched position against rifles, machines guns and artillery over 2 miles of open ground
No, but the lead actor John Blake was after filming and was involved in a car accident driving back from the filming. He was a quadriplegic from his injuries and died some years back. He was destined to be another Hollywood star.
This scene IS cut. The German discussion that they 'will not charge' and the Aussie high command saying "They are under the guns" is missing plus some other bits. Barry
It's a shame that every Aussie knows about Gallipoli, but few seem to know about the siege of Tobruk, Battle of Beersheba, the Battle of Milne Bay or the heroics of the battle of Crete. They should place more emphasis on some of these battles during ANZAC day.
I am no expert, but it seems to me that the charge starts far too early, putting the horses under unnecessary strain. I suppose it looks better that way on film. And did the men really charge with bayonets? How useful were they from horseback?
Approximately eight million horses, donkeys and mules died in World War I, three-quarters of them from the extreme conditions they worked in. At the end of the first world war the horses that were left in Europe were slaughtered for meat or used on farms as labouring animals. No one wanted to take them back to England as it was thought to be too expensive...........
I always wondered how they did not break their arms when you run a sword through someone at full tilt. Apparently you drive the sword through the enemy even up to the hilt and as you gallop past you draw it out. Obviously works. Cavalry was used in first war quite successfully to plug gaps. Horses can cross country fast get you there quick get off use your Rifle. So good to slow or stop sudden breakthroughs. As far as mobility from A to B across rough ground so long as your out of line of fire probably still applies.
Cavalry (pre mechanisation) used sabres (so more slashing) or lances. Sabres were good against troops on the ground, and lances were good against mounted troops. The Australian Light Horse weren't actually cavalry though, but mounted infantry, who rode their horses to the scene of the battle and then dismounted to fight. The fact that they didn't do this in this battle worked in their favour. Also, as they weren't armed with swords or lances, they used their bayonets as swords.
@@daveg2104 just before WWI, the British (and by extension the empire) adopted a cavalry sword that was specifically designed for the thrust, rather than slashing, similar changes occurred to the infantry officer's sword, where it sacrificed slashing capability in favour of being a thrusting sword, the cavalry sword even more so than it's infantry counterpart.
@@wizardapprenticeIV I assume you are referring to the Pattern 1908 Mark I (and subsequent minor improvements). Yes, much improved for thrusting. Although it didn't help the Light Horse Troopers in this battle. My original comment was a bit incomplete, or maybe too simplistic. I'm not much of a weapons expert, to be honest. Thanks for improving my knowledge.
I know that the amount of the ground the high command expected this charge to cover was pretty unrealistic, BUT I almost feel for poor Turks know that NOTHING they were going to do, except ABSOLUTELY DECIMATE THEM would NOT stop them, they were going to come, and KEEP COMING, and it was going to get up close and BLOODY no matter what they did!
I'm sure the New Zealand mounted rifles infantry were involved in the attack upon Beersheba, though no mention. Seems to be par for the course these days.
When I give a presentation on Beersheba I always say that the Kiwis taking Tel el Sabah was the essential preliminary to the charge. Without that the charge could not have succeeded.
If they had been cavalry, the German gunners would have properly set their gunsights as they would have expected a horse charge. Because they were mounted riflemen, the Germans and Turks expected them to discount and advance on foot, which would have been slower. By not doing the expected, the Light Horse survived an otherwise suicidal attack.
What i don't get... they are charging, but the cannons FOLLOW them. A cannon cannot shoot until it is stationary. And aren't we suppose to shell the enemy lines FIRST before ordering cavalry to charge? Everything seems wrong with this picture.
No that was the Light Brigade in the Crimean war if your referring to the words of the Tennyson poem although that is a pretty good description of this charge too
Generals send proud, brave, highly-trained soldiers on equally majestic, beautiful animals both of flesh & blood against a well-entrenched, fortified, w-superior firepower enemy? Shouldn't they be setting the example of leadership by leading the charge based solely on "Esprit des Corps" vs flesh-ripping bullets/shrapnel; how much of a final body count equals victory in this insane scenario
@@stephenwoolley2130 You're entitled to your opinion, I'm just stating that instead of a charge involving "flesh vs metal" why wasn't same used by other side to "level the playing field" & save more precious lives both human & animal for both had the right to live and AM SURE RELATIVES OF THOSE BRAVE SOLDIERS & ANIMAL TRAINERS WOULD AGREE, ISN'T THAT WHY MORE NATIONS THAT CAN AFFORD IT HAVE A LOGICAL & IMPRESSIVE BRANCH OF SPECIAL FORCES & ALL ITS ACCOMPANYING ARSENAL?
@@dennishein2812 the charge actually worked to their advantage. The Light Horse were mounted riflemen, not proper cavalry (which why you saw them drawing their bayonets instead of sabers). They normally dismounted to fight as normal infantry, only riding horses to get to the battlefield. The Germans and Turks knew that, so they set their gunsights for long distance plunging fire, which was the correct setting for shooting at infantry advancing on foot. Instead of dismounting however, the Light Horse charged like cavalry all the way to Turkish positions. This took the Germans and Turks by surprise, and they were not able to adjust their sights fast enough to make effective fire on fast closing targets. Essentially the Turks were shooting harmlessly over rhe Aussies' heads.
That is a commonly repeated misconception of WW1. If you look at the Arabian/Ottoman theatres, the entirety of Eastern Front, and in the first 6 months of the war in western Europe, The belligerents used quite modern tactics, albeit limited by the technology of the day. The stupidity of the following years in Western Europe were the culmination of a stalemate, overconfidence, disconnected governments, and a general lack of regard for the cost of frontal assaults on improved enemy positions.
@@gwine9087 as opposed to...? Walking infantry across 5km or so of open ground. While the enemy has artillery and those same machine guns (that have sights for out to 2km)? Replace horses with useful tanks and light vehicles 30 years later, and it's brilliant? Lol
@@gwine9087 as was mine, actually look into ww1. There's a great channel called "the great war", where they go through week by week what happened, and why certain actions were undertaken.
Yes it's always the one's that make the decisions that are always away from the battle and front line and how we humans involved such noble and intelligent animals for the pride and glory of those leaders and general's sitting somewhere sipping their tea
First I want to say probably the greatest horse charge I’ve ever seen The only issue I have with these kinds of movies is there should have been more dead horses then men. Plenty of stories of men having their horses shot underneath them and having to use another horse!
@@armynurseboy Apparently the latest Aussie Bluray only has the cut international version and the missing scenes from the longer Australian release only appear on the extras menu separately. Disappointing they couldn't have given the viewer the option of watching either version.
