War Horse

Film Review by Allan Robertson


When the war broke out in Western Europe in August 1914, both Britain and Germany had a cavalry force that each numbered about 100,000 men. There were also mounted imperial cavalry units such as the ANZAC Mounted Division, NZ Mounted Rifles, Australian Light Horse, The Imperial Camel Corp and Lord Strathcona's Horse. They all had tremendous war service. Such a number of men would have needed a significant number of horses but probably all senior military personnel at this time believed in the supremacy of the cavalry attack. In August 1914, no-one could have contemplated the horrors of trench warfare - hence why the cavalry regiments reigned supreme. In fact, in Great Britain the cavalry regiments would have been seen as the senior regiments in the British Army, along with the Guards regiments, and very many senior army positions were held by cavalry officers. However, the cavalry charge seen near Mons was practically the last seen in the war. Trench warfare made such charges not only impractical but impossible. A cavalry charge was essentially from a bygone military era and machine guns, trench complexes and barbed wire made such charges all but impossible. However, some cavalry charges did occur despite the obvious reasons as to why they should not. In March 1918, the British launched a cavalry charge at the Germans. By the Spring of 1918, the war had become more fluid but despite this, out of 150 horses used in the charge only 4 survived. The rest were cut down by German machine gun fire. However, though a cavalry charge was no longer a viable military tactic, horses were still invaluable as a way of transporting materials to the front. Military vehicles, as with any mechanised vehicles of the time, were relatively new inventions and prone to problems. Horses, along with mules, were reliable forms of transport and compared to a lorry needed little upkeep. Of course we also had eye witness accounts in 1918 of a cavalry charge by an army of Angels which saved the British Army during the German offensive of spring 1918! The Germans were thrown into retreat and panic. 

Material from History Learning Site


All of the above is reflected in this fantastic film (except the Celestial intervention). Benedict Cumberbatch leads a cavalry charge of 300 men against what he thinks is a weak sector of the German flank. They appear from a corn field and the charge has a dramatic effect on the Germans as well as film reviewers like yours truly. The Germans retreat to the forest and their machine guns cut down all but 3 riders. War Horse is captured, his rider Captain Nicholls is killed. Two young Germans soldiers care for him and his friend a strong black stallion previously ridden by Cumberbatch. The two Germans decide to desert and hope to reach Italy. They are captured and are summarily executed. They were caught on a french farm. Celine Buckens, aged 16, hides the horses in her bedroom! My blood boiled when I saw the scenes of the German ravaging the farms and countryside stealing whatever they can lay their hands on. We learn at the end of the film that the 16 year old farm girl did not survive the war. She had a brittle bone disease and the deprivations of the war finished her off. Her grandfather is instrumental in rescuing War Horse. The trench warfare scenes are brutally realistic, there is a gas attack, German machine posts are taken out by hand grenades by War Horse's original owner Albert Narracott. War Horse's ecsape from German war service is dramatic and wonderfully staged, including galloping over a tank. His release from a tangle of barbed wire in No Mans lands is brilliantly staged with lots of humour between the two British and Gerrman soldiers working together to cut the poor horse free. A forest of wire cutters thrown from the trenches end up in the mud. I should say that my bloood boiled again when I saw how the Germans mistreated their horses, working them to death and not treating wounds. There were mass graves of horses. I felt like standing up and shouting that this is the future with rule by the European Union.


So an inspirational film with patriotism celebrated; the British Army shown as the most reliable army in the field and a wonderful horse who never gave up.





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