Forgot another interesting film:
Either the Light Horsemen or Anzacs (I can't remember which it was that
covered the attack on Beersheba).
Interesting to see rifles sighted to 2000 yards for volley fire and a (quite
mad) cavalry charge against guns.
Gallipoli was also interesting. What an awful little spot.
And Zulu, Zulu Dawn, and (IIRC) Rourke's Drift were all interesting movies.
The Zulus (if they'd had rifles) would have been a terrifying force....
something tells me if enough Zulu blood remains for the PAU of 2183, they'll
be nasty opponents. Smart, tough, and obedient.
To add to the list of "cheesy, but fun to watch", I'd add Uncommon Valour and
Platoon Leader. And of course, I have to admit to having enjoyed the Two Sands
of Iwo Jima, Flying Leathernecks, and the Fighting Seabees.
The Sharpe series with Sean Bean is one of the better bits of historical
drama/fiction, and Hornblower wasn't bad either (probably reasonably
true to the books in both cases).
An interesting study in Napoleonic times (no expert, so it could be bunk) was
a film called "The Duellists".
And finally, I'll recommend a few books: The Hornblower series (from which the
TV shows were made), the book from which Cross of Iron was made, anything by
Sven Hassle (think I spelled that right) (eastern front WW2 stuff), and a
recent book called the Hot Gates about Leonidas and his Spartans (and allies)
at Thermopylae which is probably my favorite historical novel so far.
> Thomas Barclay of the Clan Barclay wrote:
> The Sharpe series with Sean Bean is one of the better bits of
I have yet to see the last three including Sharpe's Waterloo. Did they lay out
some cash for extras on that one?
> An interesting study in Napoleonic times (no expert, so it could be
Great.
> front WW2 stuff), and a recent book called the Hot Gates about
Outstanding book. In fact I'm going tnrough a bit of a crisis since I can't
seem to find my ultra rare copy of "The 300 Spartans" movie!
> And Zulu, Zulu Dawn, and (IIRC) Rourke's Drift were all
On behalf of KwaZulu and the mercenary infantry contingents thereof, the PAU
ambassador expresses his appreciation for the endorsement.
The Lighthorsemen. Thank you for reminding me of another excellent movie. And
as mad as the cavalry charge was, I seem to recall that infantry tactics of
that day were equally mad.
Brian B
----Original Message Follows----
From: Thomas Barclay of the Clan Barclay <kaladorn@home.com>
Reply-To: gzg-l@CSUA.Berkeley.EDU
To: GZG List <gzg-l@CSUA.Berkeley.EDU>
Subject: A film I forgot
Date: Sat, 18 Mar 2000 04:18:11 -0500
Forgot another interesting film:
Either the Light Horsemen or Anzacs (I can't remember which it was that
covered the attack on Beersheba).
Interesting to see rifles sighted to 2000 yards for volley fire and a (quite
mad) cavalry charge against guns.
In a message dated 3/18/00 8:30:04 AM Central Standard Time,
> laserlight@quixnet.net writes:
<<
On behalf of KwaZulu and the mercenary infantry contingents thereof, the PAU
ambassador expresses his appreciation for the endorsement.
> [quoted text omitted]
Yes, it would have been an interesting world if half-a-dozen black civil
war vets had come to Natal with a couple thousand surplus Specner carbines or
rifles and 10,000 rounds each - all of the British nightmares might well
have come to pass.
In a message dated 3/18/00 3:11:00 AM Central Standard Time,
> kaladorn@home.com writes:
<<
An interesting study in Napoleonic times (no expert, so it could be bunk) was
a film called "The Duellists". >>
A much over-looked movie - it is a classic and well worth the viewing.
In a message dated 3/18/00 9:55:35 AM Central Standard Time,
> bbilderback@hotmail.com writes:
<< The Lighthorsemen. Thank you for reminding me of another excellent movie.
And as mad as the cavalry charge was, I seem to recall that infantry tactics
of that day were equally mad.
> [quoted text omitted]
Infantry tactics on the Western Front were indeed insane (with the exception
of German infiltration tactics). Hate to burst your bubble but the Austalian
Light Horse were NOT cavalry - they were mounted infantry, carrying
rifles and bayonets. The reason they were not fired on early in the charge by
artillery was the Germans and Turks were waiting for them to dismount and
advance on foot. They did NOT want to kill the horses because horses require
water and to kill the horses would reduce the amount of water the unit would
require in the desert around Abraham's Wells. They did not wave sabers, they
waved their bayonets (a poor subistute forsabers, but a brilliant tactical
ploy in the situation).
Actually, I was fully aware that the soldiers were light horse infantry, I DID
watch the movie. I made reference to a cavalry charge simply because that's
what someone else called it earlier in the thread. But thanks for the
concern about my bubble. I also recall that the reason the Cavalry-LIKE
charge was so successful was that the Turks had their arty and machine guns
elevated for a greater range, and once the Aussies got inside that range, the
Turkish guns simply fired over their heads. I also recall somehting about
having to get into the Turkish HQ in time to prevent them from blowing the
well....
Brian B
----Original Message Follows----
From: Popeyesays@aol.com
Reply-To: gzg-l@CSUA.Berkeley.EDU
To: gzg-l@CSUA.Berkeley.EDU
Subject: Re: A film I forgot
Date: Sat, 18 Mar 2000 15:45:50 EST
Hate to burst your bubble but the Austalian
Light Horse were NOT cavalry - they were mounted infantry, carrying
rifles and bayonets. The reason they were not fired on early in the charge by
artillery was the Germans and Turks were waiting for them to dismount and
advance on foot. They did NOT want to kill the horses because horses require
water and to kill the horses would reduce the amount of water the unit would
require in the desert around Abraham's Wells. They did not wave sabers, they
waved their bayonets (a poor subistute forsabers, but a brilliant tactical
ploy in the situation).
Coincidentally, this weekend is the annual wargaming event at the Canadian War
Museum. Playing in the background yesterday were "The Duellist", "The
Lighthorsemen", and they'd started "Saving Private Ryan" when I left. Today I
was there briefly and they were running "Paths to Glory" (I think), with
Kirk Douglas as a French officer in mid-to-late WWI.
On Sun, 19 Mar 2000 12:14:54 -0500, Tom McCarthy <tmcarth@fox.nstn.ca>
wrote:
> Coincidentally, this weekend is the annual wargaming event at the
There's an annual wargaming event at the Canadian War Museum???