| Description |
1 online resource (streaming video file) (58 min. 22 sec.) ; 348687726 bytes |
| Summary |
*Images of war dead and animal treatment that may concern*More than 130,000 Australian horses served in the Great War of 1914-18. Nearly 30,000 were engaged in the Middle East. Popularly known as 'Walers', it was in the desert sands that their legend was born. They carried their men to victory on the long road to Damascus, but at war's end they did not come home.Australia's Great War Horse takes us on an epic journey from the outback of Australia, across the vast Indian Ocean, to the pyramids of Egypt, the living hell that was Gallipoli, and the unforgiving desert sands of the Middle East. After the disaster of Gallipoli, and with the Ottoman Turks threatening the Suez Canal, regiments of the Australian Light Horse were to undertake a gruelling three-year campaign to drive the Turks from the Sinai and Palestine, culminating in the 'Great Ride' through the Jordan Valley and the capture of Damascus.This epic desert war couldn't have been undertaken without the horses or the small army of horse-breakers, veterinarians, farriers, saddlers and feed suppliers who were essential to keeping thousands of horses in the field and battle-ready. Intense bonds between man and horse developed, and the loss of a horse in battle was a harrowing experience. For the first time, Australia's Great War Horse goes behind the legend of two celebrated partnerships - Michael Shanahan and 'Bill the Bastard', and Guy Haydon and 'Midnight'.This is the story of the horses' colonial origins, their gallant service, and their shameful fate. Featuring many voices, from leading war historians to horse experts, to the descendants of those who served, Australia's Great War Horse uses dramatised sequences (including the celebrated charge at the Battle of Beersheba), rare archival stills and rolling footage, actual battleground landscapes, and computerised compositing techniques, to explore and evoke the record of Australia's horses in the desert war.In an exclusive, Australia's Great War Horse debunks the myth perpetrated by T.E. Lawrence (of Arabia) that he was the one to accept the surrender of Damascus on 1st October 1918. It was actually Major Arthur Olden of Australia's 10th Light Horse who accepted the surrender of the city.PRODUCTION DETAILS:Australia's Great War Horse is produced by Mago Films Production. Producer: Marion Bartsch, Director: Russell Vines, Writer: Barry Strickland. With thanks to the Department of Veterans' Affairs. Commissioned as part of the Anzac Centenary national program. The ABC's full Australia Remembers Gallipoli coverage is available at: abc.net.au/anzac/programming. To view a promo of our Australia Remembers Gallipoli coverage click here, and join the conversation at #AnzacABC |
| Notes |
Closed captioning in English |
| Event |
Broadcast 2015-04-19 at 19:40:00 |
| Notes |
Classification: PG |
| Subject |
Horses -- Behavior.
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Horses -- Breeding.
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Waler horse.
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War horses.
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World War (1914-1918)
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Australia.
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| Form |
Streaming video
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| Author |
Vines, Russell, director
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McInnes, Willam, cast
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