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Breaker Morant: Difference between revisions

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The [[Short Magazine Lee-Enfield (SMLE)|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.
The [[Short Magazine Lee-Enfield (SMLE)|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.
[[Image:Leemk1.jpg|thumb|none|400px|Lee-Enfield Mk.I - .303 British. In service between 1896-1907]]
[[Image:Leemk1.jpg|thumb|none|400px|Lee-Enfield Mk.I - .303 British. In service between 1896-1907]]
[[Image:NB1.jpg|thumb|none|500px|Australian soldiers in action during the night ambush.]]
[[Image:Break14.jpg|thumb|none|500px|Lts. Morant ([[Edward Woodward]]) and Handcock ([[Bryan Brown]])in action with [[Short Magazine Lee-Enfield (SMLE)|Lee Enfield Mk. I Rifle]] during a Boer attack on the British fort.]]
[[Image:Break14.jpg|thumb|none|500px|Lts. Morant ([[Edward Woodward]]) and Handcock ([[Bryan Brown]])in action with [[Short Magazine Lee-Enfield (SMLE)|Lee Enfield Mk. I Rifle]] during a Boer attack on the British fort.]]
[[Image:Break27.jpg|thumb|none|500px|Lt. George Ramsdale Witton ([[Lewis Fitz-Gerald]]) in action with a [[Short Magazine Lee-Enfield (SMLE)|Lee Enfield Mk. I Rifle]] during the Boer attack on the British fort.]]
[[Image:Break27.jpg|thumb|none|500px|Lt. George Ramsdale Witton ([[Lewis Fitz-Gerald]]) in action with a [[Short Magazine Lee-Enfield (SMLE)|Lee Enfield Mk. I Rifle]] during the Boer attack on the British fort.]]

Revision as of 02:40, 21 June 2010

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):

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Breaker Morant (1980)


Revolvers

Webley Mk VI Revolver

The Webley Mk VI Revolver is used by both the British and Australian officers.

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Webley Mk. VI - .455 Webley
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Lieutants Morant (Edward Woodward) and Handcock (Bryan Brown) have a quick conference before attacking a Boer encampment.
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The Bushveldt Carbineers attack the Boer encampment.
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Lt. Morant (Edward Woodward in action with his Webley Mk VI Revolver.
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Remington 1875 Revolver

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

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Remington 1875 revolver - 45 Colt
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Colt SAA

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

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Colt Single Action Army w/ 4.75" barrel.
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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.

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A pre-war commercial C96.
File:NB4.jpg
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 Commandoes. This is historically accurate. As the war dragged on the Boers were forced to use captured British weapons.

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Lee-Enfield Mk.I - .303 British. In service between 1896-1907
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Australian soldiers in action during the night ambush.
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Lts. Morant (Edward Woodward) and Handcock (Bryan Brown)in action with Lee Enfield Mk. I Rifle during a Boer attack on the British fort.
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Lt. George Ramsdale Witton (Lewis Fitz-Gerald) in action with a Lee Enfield Mk. I Rifle during the Boer attack on the British fort.
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Close up of the Lee Enfield Mk. I Rifle while a British soldier loads a single cartridge.
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"Ready, Aim, Fire!"

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

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Mauser 1895 Rifle - 7x57mm Mauser
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One of the Boer Commados during the night ambush.
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Another Boer and his Mauser during the ambush.
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The Boers prepare for the morning raid on the British fort.
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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.

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Maxim 1895 on tripod
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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.
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Morant (Edward Woodward) with Handcock (Bryan Brown) acting as his loader proceed to massacre the Boer attackers.
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Another action shot.
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The three prisoners along with one of their British guards drive off the Boers.