The Lighthorsemen

The Lighthorsemen Film poster Country Australia Directed by Simon Wincer Release Date 1987 Studio The Australian Film Commission FGH Film Victoria International Film Management Picture Show RKO Pictures Distributor Cinecom Pictures Main Cast Character Actor Dave Mitchell Peter Phelps Major Richard Meinertzhagen Anthony Andrews Colonel Murray Bourchier Tony Bonner Scotty Jon Blake Frank Gary Sweet

The Lighthorsemen is a 1987 Australian World War I film directed by Simon Wincer. The film tells about the men of the Australian Light Horse who were involved in the 1917 Battle of Beersheeba.

Several pieces of footage from the film were re-used for the episode "Palestine 1917" of The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles (re-released on video and DVD under the title "Daredevils of the Desert"), which Wincer also directed.

The following weapons were used in the film The Lighthorsemen:

Handguns

Webley Mk. VI

Webley Mark VI - .455 Webley

Major Richard Meinertzhagen (Anthony Andrews) gives his Webley Mk VI to Colonel Murray Bourchier (Tony Bonner).

Australian Sergeant fires his Webley Mk VI at Turkish troops.

Mauser C96

Mauser C96 "Broomhandle" - 7.63x25mm Mauser

Turkish soldier fires his Mauser C96.

Scotty (Jon Blake) holds captured Mauser C96.

Rifles

Lee-Enfield No. 1 Mk. III

Lee-Enfield No. 1 Mk IIIs are the mainstay weapon of the Australian and British troops.

Lee-Enfield No. 1 Mark III - .303 British

Frank (Gary Sweet) preparing to mercy kill his wounded horse.

Dave Mitchell (Peter Phelps) holds his SMLE rifle.

Closeup of SMLE. The open chamber with the magazine cut-off can be seen.

Australian light horsemen fire their SMLE rifles with bayonets.

Mauser Model 1903/30

Turkish Mauser 1903/30 Rifles, identify by the notch on top of the receiver, are the mainstay weapon of the Turkish troops.

Mauser Model 1903/30 - 7.92x57mm

Bedouin fires his Mauser rifle at Frank.

Turkish soldiers fire their Mauser rifles at Australian troops.

Closeup of Turkish 1903/30 Mauser rifle rear sights.

Another view.

This close-up of the opened receiver shows the striking notch next to the post-WWI "Kirikkale Tufek Fabrikast" markings of the Turkish Republic.

Machine Guns

Lewis Gun

Lewis Gun - .303 British

Australian soldier holds the Lewis Gun.

Vickers Mk. I

Vickers Mark I - .303 British

The horse carries Vickers machine gun.

Maxim MG 08

Maxim MG 08 - 7.92x57mm

Turkish soldiers use the Maxim MG08 machine gun during the attack of Australian light horse troops.

Maxim lMG 08/15

Maxim lMG 08/15 Air-Cooled - 7.92x57mm Mauser

German reconnaissance aircraft fires MG 08/15 fixed machine gun.

Parabellum MG 17

Parabellum MG 17 - 7.92x57mm

German reconnaissance aircraft armed with the Parabellum MG 17 in observer's cockpit.

Hand Grenades

Model 17 Stielhandgranate

Model 17 Stielhandgranate

Wounded Turkish soldier holds an earlier version of Model 17 Stielhandgranate. Note the belt clip.

Other

7.7 cm Feldkanone 96 n.A.

Turkish troops use German 7.7 cm Feldkanone 96 n. A. field guns. Australian troops use these guns also.

Feldkanone 96 neuer Art - 77x234mmR

Turkish gunners firing the 7.7 cm FK 96 field guns.

Australian gunners.

Close up of the 7.7 cm FK 96 n.A. breech.

Aerial bomb

German reconnaissance aircraft carries small aerial bombs.

Mark IV tank

British troops use tanks during the Second Battle of Gaza.

Explosive

Australian troops used explosives to destroy the Turkish railway.