Colonel Meinertzhagen comes up with an idea to fool the Turks and Germans into thinking any attack against Beersheba will be a feint. From the movie "The Lighthorsemen."
He was wonderful in the Scarlet Pimpernel (with Jane Seymour) --he was also great in Ivanhoe and The Woman he Loved; and a lot of things I haven't seen yet: Brideshead Revisited (the original); Upstairs, Downstairs; Danger UXB; and lots more...he's one of my favorite actors!
The soldier concerned was Australian and as someone said "Nothing so disconcerts an Australian as an English gentleman". So the idea would be that the soldier wouldn't suspect what Meinertzhagen was up to, he would think he was just a typically stupid, insouciant product of English Public Schools - an Upper Class Twit of the Year, as the Monty Python sketch puts it. Strange that such a legendary British Spy had such a German name, derived from a picturesque town in the Sauerland.
Meinertzhagen was an incredible individual. He was a close confidant of Winston Churchill and one of those if not the most responsible individual for the setting up of the nation of Israel if my memory is correct. An incredible history and many more accomplishments than that in the world of big game hunting. He was also an ornithologist.
That Pom Major is having too much fun messing with the Corporal XD Bloody good plan, though. I recall the Brits doing something similar in WWII, where they floated a corpse with false orders and personal effects onto an Italian beach.
Well an Aussie corporal would have no problem believing that the British officer would be a stuffy little fob like he was playing. I half expected the major to tell them to stop for tea time. LOL!
You probably can't set the action to the dialogue of Star Wars, Dambusters or 633 Squadron, but his most iconic role was ,as mentioned, Sebastian Flyte in Brideshead Revisited. He was also good as P.M. Baldwin in the King's Speech and, as also mentioned as Sir Percy Blakeney in a version of The Scarlet Pimpernel where he was constantly exclaiming "Stap me victuals!" :).
Probably so he could get a chance to drop the blood from the horse on the bag without anyone seeing it. In order to do that, the soldier would have to be at some distance. A soldier who hated British officers would keep some distance, as Taz does here. You can especially see it when he turns down Meinertzhagen's offer of a sandwich.
I Love the movie Scarlet Pimpernel i watched it in the early 80s when i was still highschool. Anthony Andrew as Scarlet Pimpernel and Jane Seymour as his Aristocratic love! I remember forever in my mind when he was confronted by the French Burgoise crowd and they are suspecting that although he is one of them they smell something fishy on him that he maybe the Robinhood archetype of the French Revolution; he said to them I qoute; They seek him here, they seek him there! Those Frenchies seeks him everywhere! Is he in heaven or is he in hell! That damn elusive Pimpernel! And when he saw Jane Seymour he was mesmerized with her beauty, Jane replied but beauty is in the eyes of the beholder Sir Percy and he replied and this beholder is enchanted! K
@nightravenonline Yes, he's British, and will be 64 in January. He was actually just in The King's Speech last year, as the Prime Minister. Not a big part, but it was nice to see him in something so popular. A new Ivanhoe miniseries might be interesting, if done well...I have no problem watching the older ones though! =)
Makes sense. You can tell by his comments and facial expressions that he thinks Meinertzhagen is a moron. I didn't find the German name odd, though. People of German descent are all over the world. Some famous names include Chuck Yeager, Edward Rickenbacker and Dwight Eisenhower - all of whom fought against the Germans.
All three of your examples, though, do not have the original German name their family might have once had. Rickenbacker's was probably Rickenbacher, Eisenhower's would have been Eisenhauer.
Meinertzhagen used to love needling TE Lawrence (of Arabia) when they were both in the intelligence service. He used to laugh at Lawrence's shortness and call him "Little Lawrence".
More convincing. The Germans and Ottomans had spies in the British and Australian camps. If the soldiers gossiped or told someone else, the ruse could have gotten back to the enemy. Now having the same guy complain about the stuffy British officer getting them in trouble looking for birds could also get back to the enemy and sound more convincing because, from the soldiers POV, he was telling the truth.
warfarehistorynetwork.com/2015/09/21/the-haversack-ruse-in-gaza-impressed-even-lawrence-of-arabia/ To further enhance the realism of the haversack’s contents, a large number of pound bank notes, in a sum large enough to give the impression that they would not have been “lost” on purpose, was included, as were a number of personal letters, including one announcing the birth of a son to the staff officer. Written by Colonel Meinertzhagen’s sister Mary, this letter concluded: “Good-bye, my darling! Nurse says I must not tire myself by writing too much, so no more now but I will write again soon and then it will be a longer letter than this. Take care of your precious self! All my love and many kisses. Your loving wife, Mary. Baby sends a kiss to Daddy.” Two unsuccessful attempts were made to “deliver” the falsified information to the Turks. Colonel Meinertzhagen himself took the haversack on the third try, and on October 10 he rode toward Beersheba with it. His diary notation best relates this episode: Ruse Reinforced With Deceptive Radio Messages “I was well mounted, and near Girheir when I found a Turkish patrol who at once gave me a chase. I galloped away for a mile or so and then they pulled up, so I stopped, dismounted, and had a shot at them at about 600 yards. That was too much for them, and they at once resumed the chase, blazing away harmlessly all the time. Now was my chance, and in my effort to mount I loosened my haversack, field glasses, water bottle, dropped my rifle-previously stained with some fresh blood from my horse-and, in fact, did everything to make them believe I was hit and that my flight was disorderly. They had now approached close enough, and I made off, dropping the haversack which contained the notebook and various maps, my lunch, etc. I saw one of them stop and pick up the haversack and rifle, so I now went like the wind for home and soon gave them the slip, well satisfied with what I had done and that my deception had been successful.” The captured haversack made its way up through Turkish intelligence and command channels. At the same time the British sent dummy wireless messages indicating the objective of the upcoming offensive was not Beersheba, these messages being decipherable with the aid of the captured cipher code notes. The Desert Mounted Corps also sent a message to General Allenby reporting the incident and complaining about “the staff officer’s” stupidity and negligence.
This movie depicts what is commonly know in war history as the last horse cavalry charge. I respectfully disagree. In the USA, the last cavalry charge was when the US Army, under MacArthur's command US cavalry rode down WW 1 Vets protesting for money owed them. Col. Patton and Eisenhower execute those orders. It was called the Bonus March and a very dark period in 1932, I tell all young gung ho men that, they look at me in disbelief. Then they find out its not bullshit, it has an effect on those young boys that are eager to run off and be hero's like I did back in 1968.
@@talbotsplace7316 Just in case this isn't a joke, Polish lancers did not charge panzers. At most, Polish dragoon units rode into the battle area, dismounted, and many of them and their horses were killed in the infantry fighting.
'We're riding out here to watch storks flying south'...Hopefully!
He was wonderful in the Scarlet Pimpernel (with Jane Seymour) --he was also great in Ivanhoe and The Woman he Loved; and a lot of things I haven't seen yet: Brideshead Revisited (the original); Upstairs, Downstairs; Danger UXB; and lots more...he's one of my favorite actors!
@Lilyjaye73 I love the way Meinertzhagen says "Oh dear" so deadpan, then snaps at Tas with "LEAVE IT!!"
I love Anthony Andrews in this role! Thanks for uploading!
The soldier concerned was Australian and as someone said "Nothing so disconcerts an Australian as an English gentleman". So the idea would be that the soldier wouldn't suspect what Meinertzhagen was up to, he would think he was just a typically stupid, insouciant product of English Public Schools - an Upper Class Twit of the Year, as the Monty Python sketch puts it.
Strange that such a legendary British Spy had such a German name, derived from a picturesque town in the Sauerland.
Meinertzhagen had a Danish Father and an English Mother. Quite an interesting fellow.
@@paladinsix9285 Aha! Many thanks indeed for the info.
Meinertzhagen was an incredible individual. He was a close confidant of Winston Churchill and one of those if not the most responsible individual for the setting up of the nation of Israel if my memory is correct. An incredible history and many more accomplishments than that in the world of big game hunting. He was also an ornithologist.
Had this on VHS lost it ,cracking film 🎥
Thanks for uploading
That Pom Major is having too much fun messing with the Corporal XD
Bloody good plan, though. I recall the Brits doing something similar in WWII, where they floated a corpse with false orders and personal effects onto an Italian beach.
Cybermat47 , it was a Spanish beach in Operation MINCEMEAT. It was made in to a movie called 'The Man Who Never Was'.
Well an Aussie corporal would have no problem believing that the British officer would be a stuffy little fob like he was playing. I half expected the major to tell them to stop for tea time. LOL!
You probably can't set the action to the dialogue of Star Wars, Dambusters or 633 Squadron, but his most iconic role was ,as mentioned, Sebastian Flyte in Brideshead Revisited. He was also good as P.M. Baldwin in the King's Speech and, as also mentioned as Sir Percy Blakeney in a version of The Scarlet Pimpernel where he was constantly exclaiming "Stap me victuals!" :).
The trouble with drama is - it never happens like that in real life ...
Probably so he could get a chance to drop the blood from the horse on the bag without anyone seeing it. In order to do that, the soldier would have to be at some distance. A soldier who hated British officers would keep some distance, as Taz does here. You can especially see it when he turns down Meinertzhagen's offer of a sandwich.
I Love the movie Scarlet Pimpernel i watched it in the early 80s when i was still highschool. Anthony Andrew as Scarlet Pimpernel and Jane Seymour as his Aristocratic love! I remember forever in my mind when he was confronted by the French Burgoise crowd and they are suspecting that although he is one of them they smell something fishy on him that he maybe the Robinhood archetype of the French Revolution; he said to them I qoute; They seek him here, they seek him there! Those Frenchies seeks him everywhere! Is he in heaven or is he in hell! That damn elusive Pimpernel! And when he saw Jane Seymour he was mesmerized with her beauty, Jane replied but beauty is in the eyes of the beholder Sir Percy and he replied and this beholder is enchanted! K
@nightravenonline Yes, he's British, and will be 64 in January. He was actually just in The King's Speech last year, as the Prime Minister. Not a big part, but it was nice to see him in something so popular.
A new Ivanhoe miniseries might be interesting, if done well...I have no problem watching the older ones though! =)
Now I feel bad for not realizing he was in any of those. Time for a review!
@tmtv633 He was in a TV movie version in 1982 with James Mason and Olivia Hussey. He was about 34 when it was made. =)
4:58 is probably the funniest moment in the movie.
Do you know any other roles of his that would be worth looking into?
@Procrastimaster "Sink Me,my dear!" "Odds Fish"
Between the two of them they could take out four guys with lancers with their rifles.
GOOD!!!
Makes sense. You can tell by his comments and facial expressions that he thinks Meinertzhagen is a moron. I didn't find the German name odd, though. People of German descent are all over the world. Some famous names include Chuck Yeager, Edward Rickenbacker and Dwight Eisenhower - all of whom fought against the Germans.
All three of your examples, though, do not have the original German name their family might have once had. Rickenbacker's was probably Rickenbacher, Eisenhower's would have been Eisenhauer.
Meinertzhagen was of partial Danish extraction.
@Procrastimaster yes hes a very good actress - but we never seen him anymore.. must be old now - hes british ?
Meinertzhagen used to love needling TE Lawrence (of Arabia) when they were both in the intelligence service. He used to laugh at Lawrence's shortness and call him "Little Lawrence".
I didn't quite understand, why did Meinertzhagen want a soldier who hated British officers?
More convincing. The Germans and Ottomans had spies in the British and Australian camps. If the soldiers gossiped or told someone else, the ruse could have gotten back to the enemy. Now having the same guy complain about the stuffy British officer getting them in trouble looking for birds could also get back to the enemy and sound more convincing because, from the soldiers POV, he was telling the truth.
@Procrastimaster Ivanhoe yes it was very good. time to a make a new one hollywood ?
Meinertzhagen didnt do this someone else did. He took the credit.
warfarehistorynetwork.com/2015/09/21/the-haversack-ruse-in-gaza-impressed-even-lawrence-of-arabia/
To further enhance the realism of the haversack’s contents, a large number of pound bank notes, in a sum large enough to give the impression that they would not have been “lost” on purpose, was included, as were a number of personal letters, including one announcing the birth of a son to the staff officer. Written by Colonel Meinertzhagen’s sister Mary, this letter concluded: “Good-bye, my darling! Nurse says I must not tire myself by writing too much, so no more now but I will write again soon and then it will be a longer letter than this. Take care of your precious self! All my love and many kisses. Your loving wife, Mary. Baby sends a kiss to Daddy.”
Two unsuccessful attempts were made to “deliver” the falsified information to the Turks. Colonel Meinertzhagen himself took the haversack on the third try, and on October 10 he rode toward Beersheba with it. His diary notation best relates this episode:
Ruse Reinforced With Deceptive Radio Messages
“I was well mounted, and near Girheir when I found a Turkish patrol who at once gave me a chase. I galloped away for a mile or so and then they pulled up, so I stopped, dismounted, and had a shot at them at about 600 yards. That was too much for them, and they at once resumed the chase, blazing away harmlessly all the time. Now was my chance, and in my effort to mount I loosened my haversack, field glasses, water bottle, dropped my rifle-previously stained with some fresh blood from my horse-and, in fact, did everything to make them believe I was hit and that my flight was disorderly. They had now approached close enough, and I made off, dropping the haversack which contained the notebook and various maps, my lunch, etc. I saw one of them stop and pick up the haversack and rifle, so I now went like the wind for home and soon gave them the slip, well satisfied with what I had done and that my deception had been successful.”
The captured haversack made its way up through Turkish intelligence and command channels. At the same time the British sent dummy wireless messages indicating the objective of the upcoming offensive was not Beersheba, these messages being decipherable with the aid of the captured cipher code notes. The Desert Mounted Corps also sent a message to General Allenby reporting the incident and complaining about “the staff officer’s” stupidity and negligence.
Meinertzhagen' richard my great great uncle..turns out he was a villan
Arch fiend, really.
This movie depicts what is commonly know in war history as the last horse cavalry charge. I respectfully disagree. In the USA, the last cavalry charge was when the US Army, under MacArthur's command US cavalry rode down WW 1 Vets protesting for money owed them. Col. Patton and Eisenhower execute those orders. It was called the Bonus March and a very dark period in 1932, I tell all young gung ho men that, they look at me in disbelief. Then they find out its not bullshit, it has an effect on those young boys that are eager to run off and be hero's like I did back in 1968.
I love the look on young soldiers faces when I make them aware of the facts on the Bonus March! It has a grounding effect on them!
still not a cavalry charge. that was police role using horses
The last cavalry charge I'm aware is Polish lancers against panzers.
There were charges in WW2, I've heard Beersheba called the last successful charge. I haven't heard of the Bonus March though. Will look it up!
@@talbotsplace7316 Just in case this isn't a joke, Polish lancers did not charge panzers. At most, Polish dragoon units rode into the battle area, dismounted, and many of them and their horses were killed in the infantry fighting.