The 21st Lancers were actually looking past the wadi at a large group of Mahdist infantry way off in the distance, which they originally thought was a fence. The charge order came about because the 21st had been made the laughing stock of the other more seasoned troops in Kitchner's battle group. It is believed the leader of the 21st sought to earn his honor with this charge. He was later killed, so he wasn't able to explain this charge. Winston bought the German Mauser pistol from a local vendor. The movie does show the Fuzzy Wuzzies chopping with their swords. They attacked the horses to bring down the lancers. In the end, the 21st regains the initiative through extreme bravery and disperse the enemy from the wadi. A foolish charge, but thanks to a "lucky roll of the dice" they attained glory.

@jonmce1

3 жыл бұрын

My Grandad actually fought at the battle of Omdurman and usually became irritated when someone mentioned Fuzzy Wuzziies or Kipling's poem. He would say the Fuzzy Wuzzies were porters and not who they actually were fighting. Given that he was there and was awarded medals, a Queen's Sudan Medal and a Khedive's Sudan Meda with bar for being there (I have his discharge papers) I suspect he knew what he was talking about.

@davidherber7096

2 жыл бұрын

@@jonmce1 My great grandfather fought at Omdurman too as a member of the 21st. I still have his epaulettes and his sword. Sadly I never saw the medals or met him as he died the year after I was born. There was a family rumor he was Churchill's batman and witnessed the action where Thomas Byrne won his VC but I have never been able to prove or disprove that. I suspect that is a story a lot of people tell their families. do you know of any resources online I could find more information? Is there a regimental archivist? He was a private at Omdurman but eventually became an RSM and then a commissioned Lieutenant.

@jonmce1

2 жыл бұрын

@@davidherber7096 Fantastic , I knew my grandad, he died when I was in university. He was in the 1st Lincolnshire regiment. Following Omdurman, his regiment marched south meeting the French at Fashoda. He told stories of seeing Kitchener on a white horse. He said he was actually stationed on one of the gunboats during the battle. During the battle, a division of the Mahdi cavalry came around some hills attacking the right(I think) flank. Grandad said one of the gunners on the boat said watch this and landed a shell among the flag bearers. Many years later I was reading Churchill's River War and he describes a shell landing among the flag bearers. Grandad described a hippo taking out a boat full of soldiers. A cartoon in the paper they received showed the British lion sitting at a dinner table with a caricature of a Frenchman on it. The caption read we dined on dervishes at Omdurman and this must be desert. He said also how irritated the troops were when the paper said the queen had given up on her wine( I think) to show support of the troops. From Sudan, he was transferred to Sucundrabad in India. They were sent to Calcutta to take ship for the Boxer rebellion but that war ended and they did not go. He then was transferred to the 2nd Lincolnshire and was in the Boer war for a short time, then returning to England. He was discharged in 1903 and came to Canada. I have nothing like swords but I do have some pictures and his discharge papers.

@davidherber7096

2 жыл бұрын

@@jonmce1 My great grandfather was discharged after serving in India and Pakistan as well. My grandmother and 2 of her brothers were born in Rawalpindi. My great grandfather rejoined his regiment at the outbreak of WWI when he was commissioned as a Lieutenant and ended up back in the North West Frontier. He was finally discharged again before they merged with the 17th Lancers. He loved to enthrall his grandchildren (my father included) with his stories of the Sudan, but sadly my father has passed also so those stories and their truth is long gone. All I have are the historical pieces, including the dress sword and his pips still attached to the chainmail epaulettes. Wonderful pieces of history though.

@gordonferrar7782

9 ай бұрын

Lt: We've lost all but one of the battalion sir. Officer: did they die gloriously. Lt: yes sar.

What a nice impression of Winston. Probably the bests voices ever.

However, this wasn't the last full charge of British cavalry. That was in 1917 at El Mughar.

1:37 "Bloody Hell!" lol

How can the cavalry go forward without infantry support? What's the matter with you?

@mikem9001

4 жыл бұрын

They didn't realise how many there were. Even so, the impact of the charge was devastating. Churchill wrote that for a full ten seconds the Mahdist warriors were stunned by the huge impact. Some lancers who had been unhorsed even had time to remount. They then spent about a minute in melee before drawing clear. The cavalry then wanted to have another go! Fortunately, as Churchill wrote, "cooler heads prevailed" and they moved off to a flank and began shooting, so the Mahdist infantry moved off down the gully.

@dolsopolar

4 жыл бұрын

@@mikem9001 it's a movie reference I think

@mikem9001

3 жыл бұрын

@@dolsopolar I was referring to the actual battle. Monarchist is right that the cavalry attacked without infantry support, and they would only do this against a weak opponent. They wouldn't have made this attack if they realised how many enemy there were in the gully behind.

@dolsopolar

3 жыл бұрын

@@mikem9001 yeah its a quote from waterloo

@mikem9001

3 жыл бұрын

@@dolsopolar Sorry I don't understand - what is a quote from Waterloo?

and went on to rule them again in 1942,8th army against the Afrika Korps,Auchinleck/Monty 2 Battles of El Almein

I was going to say they got it wrong, but they gave him a C96

@justsomerandomguynamedsam3657

5 жыл бұрын

It was privetly bought by him

@dolsopolar

4 жыл бұрын

Why you even care about a c96 look at those swords lol

@norwegianwiking

4 жыл бұрын

@@dolsopolar Churchill specifically mentions it in the book and credits it with keeping him alive. He hurt his shoulder first time he arrived in India and ever after it would dislocate easily, so he could not use a lance or sword. He says had he not had the C96 he would have died that day.

@dolsopolar

4 жыл бұрын

@@norwegianwiking I'm not talking about churchill's sword lol

@user-wx8xs5bo4k

6 ай бұрын

​@@norwegianwikingI want the name of the movie

Sept. 2, 1898, decisive military engagement in which Anglo-Egyptian forces, under Major General Sir Herbert Kitchener.

I'm looking for Winston ChurChill in this movie, but where he is?

@jamestheman1962

5 жыл бұрын

The Young officer you see swapping his sabre for the German made mauser or the broomhandle automatic pistol,Simon Ward is staring role in this movie,

@rizzlebazzle5845

4 жыл бұрын

He is distinguishable by his white horse! Played by Simon Ward who actually bares quite a large resemblance to the real young Winston!

*c h a r g e ! ! !*

@AbrahamLincoln4

Жыл бұрын

*b l o o d y h e l l*

Glorious British Army puting down the rebel buggers fighting for the their home land. All we wanted was their natural resources.

I saw a documentary yesterday by Afua Hirsch in which she explained that Churchill was nasty, a racist, and a wretched bigot to boot. I think she left out the ‘courageous’ bit.

The first version of the Islamic state got their arses handed to em on a plate after this battle and were slaughtered.