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Breaker Morant
WARNING:SPOILERS!!
An Australian movie based on a well known play of the same name by Australian playwright Kenneth Ross. It looks at the court martial of Lieutants Harry 'Breaker' Morant, Peter Handcock and George Ramsdale Witton. 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 (1980):
Revolvers
Webley Mk VI Revolver
The Webley Mk VI Revolver is used by both the British and Australian officers.
Remington 1875 Revolver
Remington 1875 revolver is used by a Boer Commando during the raid on the British fort.
Colt SAA
A Colt Single Action Army is used by a Boer Commando during a night ambush of Australian soldiers.
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.
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 Commandoes. This is historically accurate. As the war dragged on the Boers were forced to use captured British weapons.
At least some of the rifles used in the film were actually SMLE Mk.I No. III's that had the front furniture altered to resemble Mk. Is. They used the early ones with the magazine cut-offs and replaced the bolts with the No. Is. I know this from having the opportunity to buy one at a gun show after the film was made. There were 4 up for sale. If you look at the shot of the Firing Squad you will notice that the barrels are somewhat shorter. The No. I rifle was about 3 ins. longer than the No. III.
Mauser Rifle
Used by the Boer Commandoes throughout the movie. It appears that they are using the Spanish Mauser 1895 Rifle
Machinegun
Maxim Gun
Morant (Edward Woodward) and his men use a Maxim Machine Gun with great effectiveness against Boer Commandoes during an attack on the British fort.
