"What I'm gonna do to ride a lighthorse?" "You're gonna be 18... fit... capable of somersaulting bareback..." "Nothing too much" "Hey, Dave, get off there" "In Arabic: (Its time for prayer)" "19 April 1917" "So the British thought they could take Gaza with tanks" "They thought they could terrify us" "Welcome to Palestine, Captain Reichert" "Thank you, Sir" "The High Command has sent you to congratulate me on my earlier victory in Gaza" "News of your triumph arrived after my departure, but I'm sure they would wish me to do so" "Of course, but all congratulations are due to the British General" "Archbald Murray" "For he had captured the town but he's such a dumb heard" "He didn't know and withdrew his troops" "There's a little joy in the defeat of the unaware opponent" "Cavalry, Sir" "They're not cavalry, Captain" "They're Australian Lighthorse Mounted Infantry... you can tell them by the plumes in their hats" "They're formidable soldiers but the English just don't know how to use them" "Wait until the lighthorses dismounted then we open fire" "On the men or the horses, Sir?" "Right on the men" "Yon don't understand, do you?" "You've so much to learn about war in the desert, both you and General Murray" "Halt, dismounted..." "We're fighting in a desert... warfare falls purely in one inescapable rule" "Men and horses must drink" "Each time Gaza is attacked we held out for one or two days the most" "And the British are defeated by the desert" "Charlie..." "General Chauvel sends his compliments to General Sir Archibald Murray as usual..." "Yes, Sir" "We're running our of time we're running out of water and I'm running out of patience in which my capacity to obey orders" "I can't believe in" "Let me see it..." "Leave it with me, Charlie" "Halt..." "Shall we rest the horse?" "No, we keep going..." "There're only 50 miles to artillery" "Orders didn't say we should go in rush" "Yeah, I know... but they can't use us on the side lines" "The British would need every man that they can get" "This regiment's setup is enough for 10 battles" "Hey, easy ginger" "It doesn't like bloody guns..." "it gets excited" "Then blind it..." "This is the reason why we're being separated from the Turks" "The High Command worried that our horses be terrified that would affect the whole bloody war" "You did have a bloody armistice" "Why not?" "But what I said is not misery" "I'm just thinking..." "What are you thinking?" "About what?" "Why keep us off right of him?" "Bothering the Colonel?" "Bullshit..." "Frank is a real soldier... he has guts doing things" "Yeah... but Frank is just a newly promoted Colonel... he's still a young guy" "The old bureaucrats didn't trust him" "Then we're just like Charlie again..." "Shall we rest the horse now?" "Listen..." "I didn't hear anything" "That's right" "Sergeant, what's the news from Gaza?" "Like a bloody disaster, Sir" "They're rating 18,000 casualties" "Luckily not one of them" "They're good ones to be out there" "There'd be other ways to stop the war" "This is the price we're paying for" "What else can we do?" "Whoa... you look at that..." "British soldiers" "Now look, Scotty..." "I take away this arm badge with smile..." "What I don't want to get involved is any stupid bloody trouble..." "Frank, have you ever known me to start any fight, uh?" "No, but I seldom find you finish with your fuel" "Come on..." "In Arabic:" "Give me, May God bless us" "Three cheers for the lighthorsemen" "Without you guys here..." "situation would not be worse" "What would it be?" "We're just looking for somebody" "That's it is" "Goodbye" "Australians will be there... hey, who else will be there?" "Who we're looking for?" "Australians will be there..." "hey, who else will be there?" "Bloody beautiful..." "But not as the pattern sunset in Calgary" "Every one is better than the last" "No one knows if he can see the other one" "Nearly two years ago..." "Jesus, we've already been away for three years" "Have you made any contacts with your kids?" "Bloody kids... wonderful I'm so peaceful here when I miss them who always drove me crazy home" "Your mistress is alright?" "Yeah, she's okay..." "If I had a fiancée like Frank's three years is hell a lot of time" "She's worth waiting for..." "Worth waiting for?" "I'll tell you when he gets back..." "the second thing he'll do is taking his bloody boots off" "Chauvel is giving command of the whole desert company" "The regiment will be moving out within l0 minutes" "a real bloody thing" "What shall we take out of that?" "These are our trenches..." "the end with bodyguard gone" "Past here is Turkish army at Beersheba" "We're taking them on?" "We'll give ourselves a chance..." "We get the best regiment in the brigade" "Now we get to prove it" "Land of milk and honey..." "What the hell it took Moses and the Jews to come here 40 years ago?" "Well, they must have their reasons" "What do you think?" "Nobody can pass by exceptions" "Yeah" "We split by two..." "Now, let me get him... go Ginger go" "(In Arab)Kill the one with the big hat" "Son of a bitch" "(In Arab)Mustafa..." "let him alone" "Jesus Christ... thigh gets hit" "Are you alright, Frank?" "Get the saddle off, Tas" "There's a group of Arabs up the peak valley, Serge" "Hey, cover us" "Come on, boys" "Your leg looks bad, Frank" "It horse, Tas" "The horse can never make its way back to the camp" "I'd better put it down here" "No, let me do it, please" "Frank..." "How's Frank, Walter?" "Oh, not too bad... he's gone to hospital" "FORWARD BASE CAMP, ABASAN" "I thought we could replace him by Rick Smith, is it okay?" "Can't afford, Walter" "You realize there're only 60 men left with Calgary?" "No, Sir" "I would like to split them up" "Oh, that'll be pathetic" "Yes, I agree" "I propose to put up reinforcement in Frank's section... you recruit" "They won't like that" "Too bloody bad..." "Tas... this is Dave Michel, Corporal" "scotty golton" "Dave" "Philip Davis" "I let the boys show you the road safe" "Where are you from?" "Melbourne" "City boy?" "Not really..." "I'm from Preston near Southern where my Dad gets a dairy farm" "That makes all the difference" "You'd better put down your kit somewhere" "You can put in my place" "Frank's kit is in there" "Well, he won't need it for awhile" "Alright... till he gets back" "Suppose let's see how he rides with a horse" "Easy" "How long is it back, Sergeant?" "Three weeks... with the regiment" "Go on" "Not bad at all" "The trouble is the Turks don't stand still" "Neither do rabbits" "Scotty, you're Scotch, aren't you?" "No" "Then why they call you Scotty?" "Because I'm Irish" "What kind of work are you in?" "Engineer driver, steam engine" "And Tas and Chilla, what about them?" "We're all in the wood company..." "up in the west" "You're all good mates?" "Well, I was only there for awhile" "What do you think about the food?" "Fine" "Its not what you used to in other suffrage" "Never expect fancy food in the army" "This is fancy food, son" "Get out there for bully bacon and biscuit" "What you have here you can hardly break without a shovel" "Nor can you boil the dirty Arab well water without wood" "This is real fancy" "Why don't you go and tell the cook Tas when we shall call it a day?" "It's not the point of letting anybody get the idea of beer and mosquito not for a gallop shoot a tire and expecting a medal is not a bloody picnic" "I know that, Tas" "What do you know, a boy fresh from bloody school?" "What the hell do you know about war?" "I know it's going to be over 6 months" "You say as we thought?" "It's what my brother thought when he joined up" "We learned different, didn't he?" "Yeah, but he's dead" "(In Arabic: your father is cursed) piss off" "Keep your eyes on the horse" "I know, Sergeant" "(In Arabic:" "May peace be upon you and God's bless and mercy)" "Just a couple of minutes, now?" "Good day... where's fruit and flower?" "I've got you something better... a letter" "Must be from Joyce..." "but it's not her writing" "Who is it?" "Read it loud" "Go on, Tas" "It's sad to write..." "someone gets to tell you" "It's better than somebody else afterwards" "Joyce married 6 months ago..." "they moved to Jeron..." "And nobody said a word..." "Now well... better off without her, right?" "But what upsets me is... she still takes my pay-offs" "Well, boys... you're to go now" "Alright, sister..." "Good luck, Frank..." "good to see you back soon" "Yeah, it'll be..." "They're watching you..." "you're a free man now" "Can I get you anything, Corporal?" "No, sister... there's nothing I want" "You'd better give that letter a rest... don't worry that" "Missing home?" "A bit" "You're already lucky... most of us missed home hell of a lot long enough" "That's great" "I'll be missing you" "What's happening, Tas?" "The Turks got a railway up the east... we saw to it and planned to blow it up" "Are you saying the whole regiment to do that?" "They've sent two bloody divisions, son" "What'll we do?" "What we're bloody told..." "It's bloody Turkish cavalry" "How would you reckon?" "They've been up the scape hundreds of years, but you're the first stride" "Major Lawson, prepare A Troop for covering plan" "B Troop for dismounted frontal attack executed when C and D Troops are ready for mounted advance from the left flank" "After all, son... don't forget the safety catch" "Now, you just stick with me as close as you can" "Chilla is the best lighthorseman in the regiment, Dave" "You'll get him through and backup if you need me" "B Troop, fix blades..." "A Troop, repeat fire... fire..." "B Troop, charge..." "(In Arab)Retreat..." "Lads, I just received a bad news" "Frank... died in Cairo yesterday" "Jesus, what happened?" "Well, the wound has turned septic they have to Take a leg off, it got worse..." "so they sent him to Cairo" "I know what you guys thought about it" "I'm truly sorry" "Thanks, Sir" "It could be a mistake, couldn't it?" "They made mistakes all the time" "I saw his eyes red when he read the letter" "My eyes just went out of it" "Bullshit... you're talking bullshit" "Why are you looking at me?" "What are you cleaning the rifle for?" "Shooting for rabbits?" "We lost a bloody best mate but find to get some gutless stupid" "It's been a long time with no death in the regiment" "I'm afraid we can't mobilize soon" "No another attack on Gaza?" "No, it's just not yet" "We'll step up patrol activities so as to make the Turks aware of our presence" "We're moving camp to Tel el Fara... then towards Beersheba" "Padre, what do you know about Beersheba?" "Oh, a very ancient settlement..." "thousand years old... when Christ first traveled but actually found by Abraham" "He dug a well there... it still exists today, Well of Abraham" "He swore some kind of a treaty with the rulers there..." "And so they called it Well of The Oath..." "Beersheba" "There's a lot of water, isn't it?" "FORWARD BASE CAMP, TEL EL FARA" "Dave" "Yes, Sir" "Has Tas and the boys returned from scouting yet?" "No, Sir" "It's a pity..." "looking for a change to see around the area by the wagon" "Somebody has to work on the horse" "Settle in right?" "Yes, Sir" "Tas is tough to live with sometimes... but he's a damn find soldier" "I know, Sir..." "I'm learning" "Fine... good work" "Air attack" "Get the horses... get the horses away... step up protecting the horses" "Dave, get the horses away first..." "come on, leave the rest aside" "you still a young to lead four horses" "Look out, it's coming back again" "Are you alright, son?" "I'm alright, Serge..." "sorry about the horses" "Sorry?" "Things would be different... if we're late about 10 minutes" "They're alive, thank you" "Dave, I believe you fell off your horse... good on you, son" "Your elbow broke?" "Yeah, doctor has put some carbon on it..." "pretty burning" "Still looks good" "Hope it'll be" "Horses back alright?" "You know what?" "As soon as the plane left, Tas found the horses back to the line... stood there waiting to be hooked on" "No need to feel guilty... you've trained the horses really good" "Tell you what... when we arrive Beersheba let's have a smoke... something for entertainment or you'll become cripple someday" "It's too heavy for you?" "I'm okay, Scotty..." "it's only the saddle too heavy" "You can't even lift your saddle?" "What you think you're going?" "You're in the hospital, Al Arish" "Al Arish?" "The horses... they're alright?" "That's good" "Dave" "... it's wonderful to see you up" "Yeah, it's good" "You'll be back to the regiment soon" "I hope so" "You're not anxious to get back?" "No, I'm not anxious now..." "I'll miss you very much" "Thank you" "That's the way it seems to be here... but your going back is what's so important" "Yes, you'll... especially there..." "What's it, Dave?" "Out there... it's nothing" "Well, you know..." "I'm a wood cutter" "All past now... that's all..." "Same old life..." "Should be more than that... much more" "I miss home..." "Don't you trust me try to understand?" "You must understand... the Turks still in my sight, but I couldn't shoot" "I keep telling myself... just because I didn't mean it" "I didn't want to shoot a man in the back" "What's wrong with that?" "I wonder if I was making excuses... actually I won't be able to kill" "I saw a lot of soldiers feeling like that" "I don't know how many of them have the courage to confront their feelings" "Courage... funny sort of courage?" "I don't even have the nerves to ask you about that" "You should" "Really?" "Of course" "You know that... it's marvelous" "You'd get better first" "I'm better already" "You're still sick... you been delirious for two days" "Maybe it's only a laugh" "No, I know what I'm saying" "I'll write" "I'll write too" "I'll get back as soon as I can" "Dave" "Scotty" "I thought to bring a friend to meet you" "Thank you, you maybe right" "I gave it a bit of exercise" "I tried to ride as an urban boy so it couldn't think anything wrong" "Thanks, Scotty" "So give it back to you" "Padre, I want to make a personal reconnaissance towards Beersheba" "I need a horse leader a couple of days later" "Okay, I give you Dave Michel... he's just from hospital, duty free" "Michel?" "Good" "Ask him to collect my horse from the line..." "and report for a rifle" "Meet me at 0900 hours" "Wondering about the rifle, son?" "Yes, Sir" "If we get close to the Turks the revolver won't be of any use" "We both will be in hell of trouble" "They're there, Sir" "There's a British officer with them... or someone wearing British uniform" "He's coming this way" "Get your horse to the well and come back here quickly" "Yes, Sir" "Now son, you listen to me..." "you cover that guy..." "If he makes any suspicious move..." "you shoot him, alright?" "Yes, Sir" "Colonel" "Major" "Friends of yours?" "Friends of ours, Colonel" "I didn't expect a British officer alone in this sector" "I would say the same, Sir" "But you see, Major, I'm not quite alone" "Where are you from?" "Headquarters" "Which headquarters?" "Cairo" "Of course, it would take a long time to check" "Yeah, I suppose it would" "Colonel, I would feel a good deal happier if that man wouldn't point that bloody thing at me" "You hand me your revolver and I'll see what to do about it" "Very slowly... and the lanyard, Major" "After you, Major" "Are you going to be in the firing squad aren't you?" "A Joke, private not a very good one I admit" "Ah, Colonel" "Thank you" "You've found what you're looking for?" "Possibly, the uniform is made by Egyptian tailor and the brand new papers are made up for a Major Meinerzhagen" "The name is Dutch, not German..." "as you so suspect" "If I was a German, would I use an non-English name?" "Everything is new because I was torpedoed in my way to Palestine" "I lost all my kit" "Very possible story, Major... but I'll check with headquarters in Cairo" "I'd rather hope you didn't mind for a very good reason which I can't discuss in front of unlisted man" "Thanks, Michel... good work, son" "Well?" "It's very embarrassing..." "I'm in charge of the intelligence for the new Commander-in-Chief, the man who is to replace Sir Bourchier Murray only at the moment when Sir Bourchier doesn't know he's being replaced" "So there's a new Commander-in-Chief?" "General Sir Edmund Allemby" "General Sir Edmund Allemby" "Lieutenant Colonel Burton" "Colonel" "My Second-in-Command Major Rankin, Sir" "Sir" "Major" "I believe you've already met Major Meinertzhagen" "We have, Sir" "Colonel" "Look at that bastard..." "typical bloody idiot English brass who only knows bloody camel" "Well kept, Colonel" "Our horses are in very good condition... perhaps what you said a fashion too good?" "Normally I would, Sir" "But the next day or so I'll take the whole regiment out of the country to Beersheba, so as to make sure the condition they've got" "Any garrisons?" "The Turkish cavalry lay ambush where our lighthorsemen patrol" "I'll take them on their own game" "Do you?" "What you have in mind?" "Road from Beersheba runs through here" "Each morning a large Turkish patrol passes the way to the border" "We hide out a troop by the road..." "and three troops on the ridge ass base" "Come on" "Cease fire" "Get him bastard" "drop him" "Sergeant, six men to kill the wounded horses and bring in any still alive" "The rest of you cover the ridge" "Come on, Mitchel" "This one... check it" "I may help you" "(In Turkish)I'll kill you" "What the hell happened?" "That I..." "Serge" "Help me get this one out of here" "He could hardly stand" "Let him lie down" "Poor bastard... he's down on the line" "Anything we can do?" "He has drained his own blood" "AUSTRALIAN MOUNTED DIVISION REST CAMP, MARAKEB" "Ah, Colonel" "Major" "I must make the point, Sir" "This is a rest camp, but same military standard must be maintained" "Shorts mustn't be worn" "I'll make sure with my men... no shorts" "Morning, Major" "Come on" "We get to do something about it before it's too late for the kid" "The Turks come in anytime in the sideway easily getting himself killed" "Are you worried about Dave or yourself?" "Alright, yeah, I want to get back home" "So as Chilla" "So as you" "Why this kid gets linked with the section?" "He's a nice kid" "He gets guts all that, Jesus... but he's supposed to be a soldier" "He's gonna to kill a man" "If he can't do, it's pretty bad" "Piss off, Dave" "So, you're going to tell him?" "I know what you mean, Tas" "Sorry I let you down" "Oh, look, son..." "you didn't let anybody down" "But it's just..." "I don't know what to say" "You're not cut out to be a soldier" "You know that, don't you?" "I suppose I do... so important to me... my family... my brother..." "really want to be proud of me" "You get to believe one thing, Dave" "It isn't a matter of cowardness of being a real man" "I don't believe I could kill" "Nobody expects you to, Sir" "That's true... but if you transfer to the field ambulance that may suit you better" "Then nobody would expect you to kill would they?" "No" "You'll be unarmed... medical corps doesn't allow to carry weapons" "Often in the thick of battle" "To do a better job takes a lot of guts" "If you like the idea, I can talk to Major Lawson" "First I've take this back to the armorer" "I can help do that" "Thanks, Tas" "If you need, just give us a yell" "I'll do that, Scotty" "You guys drop by in the field ambulance anytime" "Sure" "Alright" "Yeah" "Well, I'll be seeing you" "Take care of yourself, will you?" "Take care, Dave" "Dave" "I feel like getting piss" "Every time you get piss you hit somebody" "Alright, I'd already hit somebody" "It's a good thing, isn't it?" "I think it is" "Especially good for the kid practically we've saved his life" "Yeah, I suppose so" "Jesus, I'm sick of this bloody war" "What I want basically is very simple" "GENERAL ALLENBY'S HEADQUARTERS, KHAN YUNIS" "I want the Turks to think we're taking Gaza again" "Actually we'll strike the other end of the line" " Beersheba" "We'll try to break the lock so as to take off the inch" "But it must be a complete surprise and the town must fall in one day" "Otherwise my army will run out of water" "As you say sir... basically it's simple" "I can arrange a certain document to fall into the hands of the Turks indicating the attack on Beersheba will be affected, a decoy by a small force designed to draw away the attention of the attack on Gaza" "not much is easy... making them believe the document is genuine that could be a trick" "I didn't write about this" "You're not sorry?" "Probably... that's great" "There're a lot of things to do in the regiment to be shared by others" "You know..." "I'm now very happy" "But you still think you've failed somehow" "I don't know, Anne" "I wonder what my family might be thinking..." "My friends back home..." "I wonder..." "Morning, Major" "Morning" "Well, I think there'll be no more firing squad for you?" "Right, Sir" "I'm looking for the matron" "Yeah... perhaps you could help me, nurse" "If I can, Sir" "Would you write your name for me?" "I don't understand, Sir" "No, of course, you don't" "Please" "Charming... thank you, nurse" "Thank you very much..." "I might see you later, then" "Trooper" "Strange man" "Who's he?" "Just an English officer" "If you want to ask more about bloody..." "I'm sorry" "You're still talking like a lighthorseman" "I'm still a lighthorseman" "Of course" "You see... even you do it" "So I thought like somebody else" "Dave, what other people say..." "or even think doesn't matter" "You know what you want to do and why you want to do it" "The address is 36 Balham... spelling B... a..." "I... h... a... m Gardens, London S.W." "dated August 21, 1917" "Now, begin..." "Dearest, I have wonderful news..." "No, you write the letter..." "Imagine you just had a baby" "You're writing to his father" "Don't think of me..." "Think of someone... someone you love" "I can't" "You can..." "I know you can" "You haven't seen him for many months" "You may never see him again" "He may never see his child" "Now, imagine that..." "and write what you feel..." "How I wish you're here now" "I'm longing for you as I have since you left me" "And I would love to show you our little baby son" "He's so good" "You mustn't worry about either of us" "I'm getting stronger everyday" "And the doctor says the baby couldn't be better" "I would have sent you a telegram" "Of course... you did" "Then I... no, that's he would have replied it would take about 3 days" "If it'd been you arriving here instead of the telegram how wonderful it would have been" "I look forward so very much to the day when we can hold our little son and be together for the rest of our lives in peace" "Goodbye, my darling... nurse said I mustn't tie myself by writing so much but I'll write a longer letter very soon" "Take care of yourself and please..." "please come back to us" "Your loving wife..." "Anne" "Baby sends his kiss to Daddy" "Charming... everything could be possible" "Anybody home?" "Nobody told you're coming" "No, you won't... all those harsh jobs you know... real paper stuff" "Sorts of things make lighthorsemen think the English intelligence officer like bunch of school boys playing wizard jakes on the enemies" "But this one is different" "It could open its way to Jerusalem" "What can I do?" "I need an escort out to Beersheba" "I'll be delighted" "No... not quite simple as that" "I need an unlisted man... a good man... a man who knows the country and could look after himself and me, of course" "But above all... a man who thinks English officers a bunch of idiots and can be relied on... to gossips" "I think we can manage that" "We now get in enemy territory, Sir" "Yeah, I thought we would be" "You see..." "I don't have to get as far east as I can" "May I ask why, Sir?" "Of course, you see... migratory birds a hobby of mine..." "I don't know much about migration habits of the stork in Palestine" "We see them fly north in the spring... but we don't see them fly south in the autumn" "Now, my theory is... there's a southerly route is further to the east" "Are we right now to see the stork fly in the south?" "Hopefully" "Look, Major... it's a bloody miracle" "We're running into a Turkish patrol area we'd better turn back, Sir" "It's really hostile territory, then" "Aren't you aware of that?" "I'll just rest my horse here for a moment and then we'll turn back" "You care for a sandwich?" "No, Sir..." "I just sit up here and keep an eye on you okay" "Easy boy..." "Good boy..." "Major, there're men up, Arabs" "(In Turkish)Enemies out there" "Major..." "Coming, Corporal, coming..." "(In Turkish)They're going too far... stop chasing" "They've given up" "Major..." "(In Turkish)They're firing at us..." "Major... for Christ sake" "Oh, dear..." "(In Turkish)Let's get them... come on..." "let's go" "Leave them there" "Come on..." "let's go" "You're right... his papers make it clear" "TURKISH HEADQUARTERS, BEERSHEBA" "Two brigades will make a limited attack on our defenses at Beersheba to divert our attention of major offence against Gaza" "But this could be a trick" "Plenty information" "That's possible, Colonel Ismet..." "But this letter is from the officer's wife... it's speaking about the newborn baby... it's from the heart..." "not something deliberately part with" "Now General Kressenstein has made me responsible for all military operations in this sector and I take my military career on it, Colonel" "I accept that letter as accidental... therefore, the information is genuine" "Well, assume any attack on Beersheba is a mere decoy" "But I'll plant explosives at all the wells, ammunition dumps and railway stations" "If they capture Beersheba... they'll be in a broken burning ruin" "Their army will end up here without water" "If this is a trick, they've set a gigantic trap for themselves" "The set date is October 31" "British Infantry will make night marches against Beersheba and attack at dawn from the south and the west" "GENERAL CHAUVEL'S HEADQUARTERS, ABASAN" "The desert mounted corps will circle around Beersheba and attack from the east... from the desert" "It's our responsibility to capture the town's wells intact" "How can we carry enough water, Sir?" "You've asked the key question of the entire operation" "The answer is simple, gentlemen..." "we won't because every man has his water bottle... one quart" "There'll be nothing for the horses until we capture the wells of Beersheba" "They'll be 24 perhaps 30 hours without a drink and, if we fail to take Beersheba in one day..." "We can't fail" "What are you doing, Tas?" "Just a letter" "A letter?" "To the wife" "Yeah... haven't written for some time" "Jesus... a man can't write a bloody letter can he?" "Of course, yes" "Dave, you're moving out, too?" "Everybody is... something really big this time" "Yeah..." "Beersheba..." "Tas found out" "What the regiment will be doing?" "What we're told..." "Good luck, Scotty" "Oh, never wish Irishman good luck... comes natural" "Good luck to yourself" "We'll have a beer when we get back" "Any word what we'll be doing?" "We'll be in bloody reserve, don't you know?" "I really had a feeling about this one" "I suppose I still do this one is different bro..." "Not just bigger." "Ah.. come on" "Nobby, help me post this letter" "What can I do about it?" "Isn't it your duty, Nobby?" "Just keep it in your kit until it's sent over, ok" "I'll take it, Tas" "Good luck, Chilla, thanks" "It'll be a silent march... no talking once we're moving" "Z-DAY, OCTOBER 31, 1917" "British Artillaries right on time" "I just worry about the wells" "We move to cover down there" "(InTurkish)Take your positions... hurry up" "How many cavalry?" "Are you certain of that?" "Alright, keep me advised" "There's at least a division of cavalry on eastern flank as well as a large infantry force to the south" "Your men have been deceived, Colonel a clever illusion, men and horses in constant movement are making dust" "They're nothing more than large patrols" "Their main attack will fall in Gaza" "We mustn't be tricked thinking otherwise" "Sergeant Major" "Yes, Sir" "Dismount your men to rest and smoke for 20 minutes" "The remainder in readiness for immediate movement" "Another message from Von Kressenstein refusing reinforcements or permission to evacuate and insisting that only two brigades of cavalry are involved in the attack" "Ha, they've bought it... they bought it" "Well done" "Now it's up to Chauvel" "The infantry are gaining control of southern front, Sir" "Yeah, they've done well" "the ANZAC yet to take hell of the place" "I'd rather get shot than being kept in this bloody valley" "now easy on the smoking" "When we'll get the water Tas?" "Beersheba, mate" "That's what I thought" "Don't you feel bloody thirsty?" "What, guys?" "Thirsty?" "Do you still feel bad this one?" "I don't know" "I do feel they moved too slow" "Bloody sad" "How long we'll get the water enough for the whole corps?" "About 12 hours" "Already 2 days the horses haven't got a drink" "You want this?" "We share it... come on" "So now we both don't have any water" "Less than 2 hours to sunset..." "I would like to see General Hodgson and his commanding officers" "Yes, Sir" "Colonel, hello" "Well, Captain" "Area reconnaissance confirmed we've been under attack by 2 to 3 divisions of cavalry and an infantry corps... 50 thousand of men and I'm holding Beersheba with 4,000 with our respect to General (Von Kressenstein) sits in Gaza deny me reinforcements" "Yes... the enemy has taken Tallosapa, Sir" "Hold the remaining reserves to eastern trenches... order the divisional engineers to destroy the wells and water storages" "With due respect, Colonel, this is against the orders of General Kressenstein..." "That's true, Captain... a General who still believes we're being attacked by patrols" "Alright, the wells are responsibility of your esteemed countrymen and you" "As you're well aware, our advance to Beersheba has been seriously delayed" "Qualifications of unknown strength still face us across the plain of some 3 miles and the sun set in one hour, by which time some of our horses will be without water for 48 hours..." "Unless we take the wells of Beersheba intact, we'll face a military disaster" "Any views?" "Sir..." "Yes, Grant?" "I believe my brigade can take the town and give a free hand" "I must know what you propose" "Make a mounted charge against the eastern defenses..." "I have two regiments, No.4 and No.12..." "General Chauvel... to take charge command surely must be my cavalry with mounted swords..." "Grant's are mounted infantry" "I'll discuss this with General Hodgson... obviously in mind to that effect" "Shall we?" "60 thousand men have failed to take this town in 12 hours..." "How can 800 lighthorsemen possibly succeed in less than one hour?" "You don't believe they can do it?" "No one ever attempted to cavalry charge against trenched infantry supported by machine guns and artillery" "It's unheard of, Sir" "Do you see any alternative in the time available?" "Unless we're..." "Very well, let Grant go ahead with it" "Form up in column approach..." "Hello..." "Form up in column approach..." "What's going on?" "Better to find out, mate" "Ready to march by the flag..." "Form squad in line extended..." "What we're supposed to do, pal?" "Clay, what's going on?" "We gonna charge Beersheba, mate" "Jesus" "Sir Henry..." "I must re-iterate my opposition to this maneuver..." "You have..." "Good luck, gentlemen" "British cavalry advance by the eastern flank..." "They're not cavalry..." "they're Australian Lighthorse" "Load... wait until they dismount..." "and fire by order" "2900 meters..." "(In Turkish)Set your target..." "Australian Lighthorses advance eastern defenses... they seem to be deployed to charge" "They won't charge" "2,600 meters..." "Charge... 2,500 meters..." "Fire..." "Shit... 2,400 meters..." "Hey, how can they shoot at us?" "The Turks are selling their bloody bombs..." "Tas... 2,300 meters..." " 2,100 meters - we can't do it" "Fire..." "They're under the guns" "Cease fire... withdraw the guns..." "(In Turkish)Put on defense... wait for orders" "Set your sights at 1,600 meters..." "Set your sights at 1,600 meters..." "Hold it, mate..." "let me check" "Come on, Dave..." "what's the matter with you?" "michael" "1,600 meters..." "Fire... 400 meters..." "Hold... hold your position" "100 meters..." "Dismount..." "Colonel, what's happening?" "Your clever illusion has breached Beersheba... but What are you doing?" "the Only the same thing..." "I'm surviving..." "Damn you to hell..." "Blow up the wells..." "The demolition officer isn't here, Sir ...only he has the demolition coding" "Then blow up everything you idiot..." "What has happened?" "The artillery fire..." "it must have broken the wires..." "Get out and repair them" "Yes, Sir" "Give him a hand" "kill him" "He is dead, sir" "Put them down... look out... a grenade..." "Chilla..." "On your knees... yes turks" "stop it, stop that gun... listen, will it get me back to Australia?" "I reckon it will, mate" "It's a fair... and animal game" "Dave... no..." "Dave..." "I'll try to..." "Stretcher here... stretcher, help..." "Can you hold them for me?" "Yeah... all hands up, men..." "put the guns away" "I don't know if you can understand me..." "I'll be very appreciated if you give me the chance to blow your head apart" "easy, it's me" "Get him out of here" "Leave them at the stable for water" "Sir, we only lost 39 boys... so much miraculous" "You should be one of those" "Hey, Arch... have you seen the field ambulance guys?" "They're all in the valley" "Have any in mind?" "Yeah" "They've got a lot" "How bad?" "Pretty bad" "Excuse me, Sir" "Is trooper Michel on this convoy?" "I remember the name... but we lost the list, sorry" "Anne..." "What does it say?" "Please tell me" "It says we're not going to lose you"