Breaker Morant

Breaker Morant (1980)

Breaker Morant is a 1980 Australian war film based on the well known play of the same name by Australian playwright Kenneth Ross. The film involves the court martial of Lieutenants Harry 'Breaker' Morant (Edward Woodward), Peter Handcock (Bryan Brown) and George Ramsdale Witton (Lewis Fitz-Gerald) . The three officers were Australians serving in the British Army with a special unit called the Bushveldt Carbineers during the The Second Boer War (1899 - 1902). Which is more commonly known as The Boer War. They were charged with the murders of several Boer prisoners of war and a German missionary. Morant and Handcock were found guilty and executed by firing squad on February 27, 1902. Witton served several years in prison and was later released. There is still much controversy surrounding the court martial and Lt. Harry 'Breaker' Morant in particular. Morant was called Breaker because he used to "break" wild horses before joining the army.

The following firearms can be seen in Breaker Morant:

WARNING:SPOILERS!!

Revolvers

Webley Mk VI Revolver

The Webley Mk VI Revolver is used by both the British and Australian officers. In actuality the Mk VI was not introduced until 1915. In the interest of historical accuracy they would have been using either the Webley Mk I or the Webley Mk II. However the Mk VI is more plentiful and it does have the same lines as the earlier marks.

Webley Mk. VI - .455 Webley

Lieutenants Morant (Edward Woodward) and Handcock (Bryan Brown) have a quick conference before attacking a Boer encampment.

The Bushveldt Carbineers attack the Boer encampment.

Lt. Morant (Edward Woodward) in action with his Webley Mk VI Revolver.

Remington 1875 Revolver

Remington 1875 revolver is used by a Boer Commando during the raid on the British fort.

Remington 1875 revolver - 45 Colt

Colt SAA

A Colt Single Action Army is used by a Boer Commando during a night ambush of Australian soldiers.

Colt Single Action Army w/ 4.75" barrel.

The Boers during the night ambush of Captain Hunt and his patrol.

Pistols

Mauser C96

A Mauser C96 semiautomatic pistol is briefly shown carried by the Boer who is shot by Captain Hunt as he lies wounded during the opening ambush.

A pre-war commercial C96.

The best image I could screencap of the Mauser C96 used by the Boer Commando shot by Captain Hunt.

Rifles

Lee Enfield Mk.I Rifle

The Lee Enfield Mk. I Rifle is used by both the Australian and British soldiers throughout the movie. It is also shown being used by some of the Boer Commandos. This is historically accurate. As the war dragged on the Boers were forced to use captured British weapons.

Lee-Enfield Mk.I - .303 British. In service between 1896-1907

Australian soldiers in action during the night ambush.

London Small Arms Co Ltd and .303 Calibre markings on a Lee Enfield Mk. I Rifle.

Lts. Morant (Edward Woodward) and Handcock (Bryan Brown) in action with Lee Enfield Mk. I Rifle during a Boer attack on the British fort.

Lt. George Ramsdale Witton (Lewis Fitz-Gerald) in action with a Lee Enfield Mk. I Rifle during the Boer attack on the British fort.

Close up of the Lee Enfield Mk. I Rifle while a Scottish soldier loads a single cartridge.

Scot guards load their Lee Enfield Mk. I Rifles .

"Ready, Aim, Fire!". The Scot firing squad executes Lts Morant and Handcock.

Spanish Mauser

Used by the Boer Commandos throughout the movie. 55,000 M1895 Chilean Mausers were purchased by the Orange Free State and the South African Republic (the Transvaal Republic) prior to and during the Second Boer War.However it appears that the production is using Spanish Mausers - regardless of the actual model used.

Mauser 1895 Rifle - 7x57mm Mauser

Another Boer and his Mauser during the ambush.

The Boers prepare for the morning raid on the British fort.

Mauser 1895 Carbine

One of the Boer Commandos can be seen using a Mauser 1895 carbine, identifiable by its front sight protective wings, during the night-time ambush.

Mauser 1895 Carbine - 7x57mm Mauser

One of the Boer Commandos during the night ambush.

Machine Guns

Maxim Gun

Morant (Edward Woodward) and his men use a Maxim Machine Gun with great effectiveness against Boer Commandos during an attack on the British fort.

Maxim 1895 on tripod

Morant(Edward Woodward), Handcock(Bryan Brown) and Witton(Lewis Fitz-Gerald) take cover in the arsenal when a Boer commando throws a stick of dynamite at them. Note the Maxim Gun in the background.

Morant (Edward Woodward) with Handcock (Bryan Brown) acting as his loader proceed to massacre the Boer attackers.

Another action shot.

The three prisoners along with one of their British guards drive off the Boers.