Read a story about an Australian Division lining some road when the King and Douglas Haig drove through the area, followed by a string of staff officers. The king got a mild round of applause. When some french farmer appeared at the rear of the column riding a donkey and pulling a cart, everyone went freaking nuts and cheered him on.
I would not be surprised! You have to love the Aussies! Wonderful people and magnificent soldiers! I had the pleasure to live in Australia for 10 years, the best years of my life!
That's him at 1:57. I saw Vincent Ball on stage in Sydney in 1978 as Capulet in a production of Romeo and Juliet, which he also produced. (We were doing R&J at school that year.) One of many talented Aussie actors who went to England in the 50s because there was nothing for them back home, until the resurgence of the Australian film and TV industry in the 70s when they started to come back - prominent ones including Ed Devereaux (Skippy), Ray Barrett (Thunderbirds, The Troubleshooters), Charles 'Bud' Tingwell (Emergency - Ward 10, Catweazle), Keith Michell (The Six Wives of Henry VIII), Leo McKern (Rumpole of the Bailey) and Robert Helpmann (The Red Shoes). EDIT: And I think that might be Nick Tate (Space 1999, later a leading voiceover artist in the US) on the right at 2:35.
Laughing with him...he's not a Pommie staff officer, just another PBI (poor bloody infantry). The Aussies would laugh AT the British staff officers, if they weren't cursing them.
Don’t mess with people who come from a land of crocodiles, poisonous spiders, snakes, belly slashing kangaroos and brutal weather. God bless Australia 🇦🇺 from Canada 🇨🇦
Australian diggers thought pommie officers were all idiots. My grandfather was in the first AIF, there was a joke the diggers had. A British officer rode past a group of diggers, when one Australian said "look at the so and so on the horse". When the officer heard it he said "Oh I thought I was riding a mare not a gelding!"
@@gioojisba2758 will say it as an Aussie would say it. might get it. British officer is riding by, an Aussie says "look at that c*nt on that horse" officer "Oh I thought I was riding a mare not a gelding!". male horse, not a female.
When deadly wildfires swept across California in 2018, New Zealand and Australia sent more than 130 firefighters to help control the blaze. Now, for the first time since 2010, American firefighters are providing the same lifesaving assistance to Australia. I’d have to check but I think there is an agreement to help each other during fires, and of course other things I guess. We also have the Canadians and New Zealand fireies helping us out, and boy are we so very very grateful indeed. Saw a video when the American fireies arrived in Australia, Aussies at the airport were applauding them at the airport ❤️
The Aussie soldier is played by Vincent Ball. He is 99 years old and still around, played a mechanic in " A Town like Alice". He also saw action in WW2 as an air gunner in the RAAF.
I have realized how inaccurate and very narrow this films view of the first world war really was as I have never heard of a world war that was only fought in Europe. plus there is no portrayal of black and brown commonwealth soldiers or any scenes show different parts of the world. Richard Attenbourgh films come across as very disingenuous and that includes Gandhi. Gallipoli was the scenario that really hack off the ANZACS as the way they were perceived to be treated was seen by them as a betrayal of the British Empire. REBOOT me thinks.
harvestcanada This was following only a scant few from the Western front. Colored troops did not have that much of a role in the combat, as much as it pains anyone to hear this day and age. Many were either fighting in the hotter climates or just relegated to behind the lines duty. It's just how it was.
I love the bit where they call it wipers. I just find it so funny. Ypres would probably make sense to some draftee who can't read too well, let alone knows how to read French. Eep
I've heard from US Vietnam veterans that the Australian controlled areas were some of the quietest sectors as from experiences in Burma the Australians were absolutely lethal bush fighters.
No amount of Australians in Burma in notable size, I'm sure you mean New Guinea. Also I wouldn't call Long Tan a quiet sector, around 2,500 Viet cong to 108 Aussies.
One staff officer jumped right over another staff officer's back, And another staff officer jumped right over that other staff officers' back A third staff officer jumped right over the two staff officers' backs, And a fourth staff officer jumped right over all the other staff officers' backs. They were only playing leap-frog, They were only playing leap-frog, They were only playing leap-frog, When one staff officer jumped right over The other staff officer's back.
What is wrong with me? I am breaking out with a tremendous amount of pride for these guys and this film portraying the tragedy of WW1 in a really tuneful format!? both my own guys the British! but in equal measure the beautiful Aussie's!!!
@@railbaron1 and also Glory glory what the hell of way to die Glory glory what the hell of way to die Glory glory what the hell of way to die And he ain't gonna jump no more
"Ah yes, what's that? You advanced all the way to the enemy communication trenches? Didn't you hear, the attack was postponed until tomorrow. Now abandon the captured ground, head back to your trenches and wait for tomorrow, that's an order!"
To all those men and women who have fought and worked for the armed services of my country. Thankyou for you service. You will always have my respect and loyalty. You did it while still showing the world how to have a laugh. Raise a glass🍺 cheers.
Most of those boys will become casualties, many will become injured 🤕 many worse down will lose a log or arm maybe a eye. All good proud boys helping to liberate France 🇫🇷 , a salute for them and all Australian 🇦🇺
I read that Haigs family tried to get this movie stopped due to the way he was portrayed.....but really, you would think after losing tens of thousands of troops any sane person would change tactics. My family lost a few men, most buried "somewhere in France "
"and since the 1980s many historians have argued that the public hatred with which Haig's name had come to be associated failed to recognise the adoption of new tactics and technologies by forces under his command, the important role played by British forces in the allied victory of 1918, and that high casualties were a consequence of the tactical and strategic realities of the time.[4][5][6][11][12][13]" I mean Haig was just hated for being the guy who gave the order in my opnion. And the somme was a success in the end, it took away german troops from verdun.
Yes, and if I remember rightly Richard Attenborough said that they failed because the information about Haig (including the idiotic comments he made) were taken from Haig's personal diaries, so they didn't have a case.
Funny to note, despite the bad press and (regrettably true) rather backwards mentality of Field Marshal Haig and his staff officers, British FIELD officers suffered the highest fatality rate compared to other nations, and their mortality rate was comparable to even that of the enlisted Tommy.
Too true, Aussies suffered one of the highest loss rates per Capita of any country during WWI. British offers often led from the front and suffered horrendous losses... it was expected they show no lack of moral fibre. Australians were no more or less courageous than their allies, but had a somewhat jaundiced view of inept authority and were not used to the system of class as was prevalent in British society. BLESS EM ALL.
At the start of the war when generals fought with their men the casualty rate for generals could be upto 97%. No army could afford that much knowledge and experience to be lost so it was quite obviously necessary to ban them from the front lines. This also made it impossible for Trench raiders to capture a general,with the resultant intelligence gained by the enemy.
A fucking awful movie, based on a truly lousy book and produced by a duplicitous Marxist bitch (Joan Littlewood, in case you're wondering). This appalling film is largely responsible for abysmal understanding of WW1 held by most people in the UK today, and in Australia to by the sound of it. If you think this is history then you need your head examined.
Something I just noticed, the NCO who musters the troops in the beginning is the photographer who I think is meant to represent death….. I don’t fancy those reinforcements’ chances
It wasn’t just the British,Canadians, Australians, New Zealanders, North Africa and soldiers from the British empire. It was the French that bore the brunt of the Great War.
Somehow I think if a bunch of soldiers tried this during a Field Marshal's inspection in real life they'd all be scrubbing toilets for the next decade.
Actually - its not that far from the truth, the Diggers had very little regard for British Officers during the war, especially Staff Officers. My favourite story is an Australian sentry getting chewed out by a British Officer who told him to stand at attention while he was talking to him. The Digger replied 'Sure mate, can you hold my pie?' and handed him his pie so he could stand at attention!
As a fourteen year old, I took my first salute from the cast, supposedly for finding the uniforms. It was only when I was actually doing a Staff Officers' job forty years later that I realised there was a message going the other way, then as now, it's the young who die.
Dutch (Before it was Belgium): Ypres Brit Farmboy Conscript: _"Wipers"_ The volunteers and originals: Close enough _(I've been watching the entirety of the ANZACS miniseries I forgot how to meme)_
I was astonished to hear of the horrendous lack of supplies available to the Allies in the early days and months of WW1. Heavy guns in some sectors were reduced to four or five rounds a day in 1914-1915. The French and British had something like 400 heavy guns to the 3,000 medium and heavy of the German army. The allies were almost totally unprepared for the Germans and their industrial might.
It was due to doctrine of favoring light gun over heavy gun of Spirit of offense of the french and bef Favor to maneuver warfare with cavalry that cost them heavy Casualty during the early war of 1914 and 1915 but they adapt and change through 1916 and 1917 with new technology And doctrine, in 1918 the british Launch the offensive to win a war that start with cavalry and end with combine arms Warfare
It's an actual song the ANZACs sung, along with "Mademoiselle From Armentières", though they changed the lyrics for that one a bit. It's occasionally sung on Mess Night in a few regiments. It's about a prostitute giving out free grog iirc.
What you missing was back before 1940 was entertaining was done by singing and there was no real radio or television. So communication was by familiar songs anyone could join in. This film came from the musical hall entertainment and so this film represents its origins.
@@Kelvostrass Is it though? Yet to see a war last forever...the natural state of things seem to be conflict. I see it out my window everyday, prey and predators, insects/ ants/ Bees and wasps making mass war, plants and fighting for position, bacteria, viruses, parasites. Life seems to be a battle, Peace seems to be an unnatural human construct it simply doesn't exist in nature. More people died of the natural Spanish Flu in 1919 after World War 1 than in World War 1...So the man made phenomenon paled into insignificance vs a naturally occurring disease.
I mean what other freaking nation has people that walk up to a kangaroo in their back yard and just punches it???? Love Aussies man. Really want to visit before I die...or before shits kicks off over there with China lol.
Yes. The song is meant to be a commentary by foot soldiers about HQ officers more interested in playing staff politics and advancement than worrying about the guys in the trenches. Having the Australians deliver it as British staff filed by fits their national character, and they'd be less likely to face disciplinary action since they were allies, but only indirectly under those officers in the chain of command.
tagryn Also, remembering that the Australian Digger of WW1 found the strict British military hierarchy and class structure extremely comical and went out of their way to 'take the mickey' out of it wherever and whenever possible.
David Read We wouldn't have said "mickey", but. tagryn We were under the command of the Brits, for the most part - not just allies. Still subject to the same discipline; any insubordination would be more likely to be put down by the Brits as being the behaviour of simple colonials :). We did get our own commander, eventually, John Monash, who was, by many accounts, the greatest commander of WWI, and it could rightfully be said he invent combined arms modern warfare.
I saw this film as a kid and always wanted to see it again. Then, many years later I finally got to see it. I thought it was rubbish. What did I see as a kid that I didn't see as an adult?
“John Brown’s Body” and its more successful offspring “Battle Hymn of the Republic” have had a lot of remakes with the same melody, including this one. There’s “blood upon the risers”, “Up went Nelson in old Dublin”, “Karl XII han har hundratusen man”, “Engineer Drinking Song” and probably a lot more marching/drinking/scout songs with that melody around the world.
That's not true...how could an entire peoples have a total disregard for those under their command, the one's they fought and died with. Yes, the higher ups were ignorant of the plights of the common solider, but then no one had fought a war like WW1 before. And even then, there are countless examples of officers going above and beyond for their own troops. I'm not saying there weren't bad officers, but I am saying that stating that the British 'had a total disregard for life' is wrong. This is a well over due comment, I know, but still. Needs to be said.
Aha! The fact the British forces had the lowest casualty rate of any other major allied power who fought the majority of the War says a lot.... And also how the highest proportion of casualties amongst British Army was by fair Junior officers. Yes men of a higher class lead the army but remember it was there sons and nephews in the fray. The first world war partly caused so much social change after it due to how every different group in society mixed and ultimately fought and died together.
Look at the evolution of tactics during the war, it tells of anything but the disregard of human lives. When the war progressed the higher ups were always trying to come up with new ideas of how to get as much progress as possible without losing a regiment or two. War isn't won by killing your men
To this day, one of the primary factors in Aussies having a poor view of British leadership is the gallipoli campaign, where a rumour developed that they were used as cannon fodder. In actuality this is not the case, and believe it or not, British units suffered the highest casualty rates in that campaign. The famous Mel Gibson movie didnt help those view in the modern era, as it gave the Australian generals British accents; which was factually accurate, the Australian high class at the time would have retained that accent. But it gave casual viewers the impression Australian soldiers were being sent to their death by incompetent British generals instead of Australian ones. In reality there was enough incompetence to go around in that war, no matter which country you came from or which side you were on. To most Brits at the time, Australians were a peculiar cousin, but national divisions/differences between the two as we know them now largely didnt yet exist.
Also WW2 when Churchill planned to abandon Australia to the Japanese despite their brutal occupations. He wouldn't allow the Australian troops who had gone to fight for him in Europe/Africa to return home to defend their country. That decision led to Australia becoming essentially a partner of the USA instead of the UK.
For the British and French top brass there was no discrimination, they treated everyone as cannon fodder but the Australians treated the British officers with all the respect they deserved.
Australian troops often paid little attention to British Army disciplinary norms. There were cases of them releasing British troops tied to cannons as field punishment, after threatening their guards with bayonets.
There were severe disciplinary problems with the Australian Corps, their own officers were concerned about it. I'm talking serious stuff, murder, rape, assaults on officers, desertion etc. It was so bad in fact that the senior officers of the ANZAC's appealed to their government for the Death penalty to be allowed as a punishment option at Courts Martial, as it was in the British Army. There was nothing funny or light-hearted about the disciplinary issues in the Australian Corps, it was a very serious matter.
@@paddy864 All of these things happened in the British Army, which did execute over 300 of its men for desertion or cowardice in WW1, a policy that has since been controversial and was not repeated in WW2. Why did the Australian government not allowing executions? Was it an echo of the Breaker Morant affair?
@@kaczynskis5721 Yes, they did happen in the British Army and they were dealt with promptly and effectively, the result being that discipline in the British Army was far better that it was in the Australian Corps, the number of serious disciplinary offences in that Corps was out of all proportion to it's size in fact. Why didn't their Governement allow executions? Naivety and political posturing most likely. As I pointed out, their senior officers petitioned them for it to be permitted, so concerned were they at the abysmal behaviour of their men both on an off duty.
@@paddy864 Or perhaps they were less inclined to treat their own troops as cattle for the slaughter than many other governments did. Attempts to introduce conscription in Australia failed after plebiscites - despite the fact that most Australians were then of British descent, sending troops halfway around the world to get killed proved increasingly unpopular.
@@kaczynskis5721 I don't know what "other Governments" you're referring to, France perhaps, whose army mutinied in 1917 as a result of abysmal leadership, indifferent treatment and poor morale, or Germany (whose army later did the same) which was overwhelmingly responsible for starting the war in the first place, one which it had been preparing for and eagerly anticipating since 1870.
I was like "hm this scene seems similar to "all quiet on the western front" and then they started to sing and jump around. I definitely have to watch this movie.
The Aussies have always been tough buggers, for example Field Marshall Bill Slim said after WW2- "Of all the Allies, it was the Australians who first broke the invincibility of the Japanese army"....:)
Yeah the Aussies strutted their stuff everywhere..:) ......Slim quote in full-"Australian troops had, at Milne Bay, inflicted on the Japanese their first undoubted defeat on land. Some of us may forget that, of all the allies, it was the Australians who first broke the invincibility of the Japanese army." www.azquotes.com/author/19619-William_Slim_1st_Viscount_Slim
Then your history teacher is a fraud, tell him to teach you some facts instead of this tripe. You might try getting hold of a copy of Gordon Corrigan's excellent book, "Mud, Blood and Poppycock" , which in my opinion should be required reading for anyone beginning to study WW1. You'll look at this garbage with new eyes after reading it.
Read a story about an Australian Division lining some road when the King and Douglas Haig drove through the area, followed by a string of staff officers. The king got a mild round of applause. When some french farmer appeared at the rear of the column riding a donkey and pulling a cart, everyone went freaking nuts and cheered him on.
Commonwealth Military in a nutshell - How to dissent subtly...
True spirit of the people
they were cheering for their real leader. The Donkeys pulled the cart they were all in to the front.
Because no one gives two fucks about the royal family
I would not be surprised! You have to love the Aussies! Wonderful people and magnificent soldiers! I had the pleasure to live in Australia for 10 years, the best years of my life!
Blond Aussie at front is Aussie actor Vincent Ball. Served in Australian airforce as a gunner in wwii . Still alive at 95 years.
Plan a trip.....go to his house and sing this song 😄😄
I remember him as a TV announcer on Children s hour in the UK in the 50s
That's him at 1:57. I saw Vincent Ball on stage in Sydney in 1978 as Capulet in a production of Romeo and Juliet, which he also produced. (We were doing R&J at school that year.) One of many talented Aussie actors who went to England in the 50s because there was nothing for them back home, until the resurgence of the Australian film and TV industry in the 70s when they started to come back - prominent ones including Ed Devereaux (Skippy), Ray Barrett (Thunderbirds, The Troubleshooters), Charles 'Bud' Tingwell (Emergency - Ward 10, Catweazle), Keith Michell (The Six Wives of Henry VIII), Leo McKern (Rumpole of the Bailey) and Robert Helpmann (The Red Shoes).
EDIT: And I think that might be Nick Tate (Space 1999, later a leading voiceover artist in the US) on the right at 2:35.
Well what else did we expect from an Aussie.
He's got a little Ryan Reynolds thing going on
It might just be due to hindsight, but that coffin joke would've scared me shitless if I were in his boots!
You are not on your own!
I think it did scare him you saw how unsettled he was.
Nope. New recruits are full of piss and vinegar and have no fear of death. Death happens to the other guy.
Me too, hee hee.
@@albireotheredguard1599 Yeah, the poor guy was sort of laughing nervously
Americans: makes a religous song about christianity and war.
Commonwealth nations:
Staff officers playing leapfrog.
Fact
I now know 3 different lyric sets to this tune. Kept mixing the first two lyric sets together, now I have a 3rd one to worry about. F
Funny how that's the next song in the playlist I'm watching
@@jmight318 there was lyrics in the older days about hanging the school principal and killing the teachers. Nowadays you'd be shot for that
Ask the Marines how to sing in war. Try Guadalcanal.
Aussies helped us in 2 world wars, time to pay them back by helping them with their fires. Only fair.
Jock McScottish ken that’s right the way tae dae it but Boris is in charge so probably not
The Royal Navy has been sent to do what ever they can. So it is a start I guess 🇬🇧🏴
Amen
@@Ruvik92. Can we keep politics out of it.
flying panzer VII sure
Love how it ends with the Staff Officers literally playing leapfrog to figuratively do it, with the call from senior brass.
It's like something Monty Python would do
I love how that officer that does that has such a straight face business as usual as if nothing out of the ordinary has happened.
That's what i call soldiering.
@@Bernie8330 Probably used to their antics
I like how the British soldier puts on a brave face and tries to smile and be a good sport when the Australians are laughing at him.
Laughing with him...he's not a Pommie staff officer, just another PBI (poor bloody infantry). The Aussies would laugh AT the British staff officers, if they weren't cursing them.
I am sure it was only good-natured humor. Aussies are very laid back people. :)
It was a very cruel joke, but an accurate one none the less.
I thought the soldier he was talking to was aussie as well
@@aquariumdude7829 Aussies are wonderful people, I lived there for 10 years. Gorgeous country!
Don’t mess with people who come from a land of crocodiles, poisonous spiders, snakes, belly slashing kangaroos and brutal weather. God bless Australia 🇦🇺 from Canada 🇨🇦
Much love Canada 🇨🇦 from Australia 🇦🇺
Emu
So basically everything in Australia will kill you???
@@SKINWALKER Pretty much mate.
@@SKINWALKER lol yh
Australian diggers thought pommie officers were all idiots.
My grandfather was in the first AIF, there was a joke the diggers had.
A British officer rode past a group of diggers, when one Australian said "look at the so and so on the horse". When the officer heard it he said "Oh I thought I was riding a mare not a gelding!"
Can you explain?
Jack Binks the officer thought the Aussie was saying the horse literally had a dick, rather than just being ridden by one.
@@gioojisba2758 will say it as an Aussie would say it. might get it. British officer is riding by, an Aussie says "look at that c*nt on that horse" officer "Oh I thought I was riding a mare not a gelding!". male horse, not a female.
Or, what's the only animal with a cun* on its back? an officer's horse. we say police horse now.
@@andrewjohnalexanderjordan3449 oooooooh now I get it
When deadly wildfires swept across California in 2018, New Zealand and Australia sent more than 130 firefighters to help control the blaze. Now, for the first time since 2010, American firefighters are providing the same lifesaving assistance to Australia.
I’d have to check but I think there is an agreement to help each other during fires, and of course other things I guess. We also have the Canadians and New Zealand fireies helping us out, and boy are we so very very grateful indeed. Saw a video when the American fireies arrived in Australia, Aussies at the airport were applauding them at the airport ❤️
The Aussie soldier is played by Vincent Ball. He is 99 years old and still around, played a mechanic in " A Town like Alice".
He also saw action in WW2 as an air gunner in the RAAF.
What an absolute legend
He was also in "Where Eagles Dare" and "Breaker Morant" as well as heaps of other stuff in both film and TV.
thanks!@@warrenmilford6848
If there were singers like this at Mass all the time I'd go every Saturday night and Sunday morning 😂
Same 😂
Australians: history's shitposters
I have realized how inaccurate and very narrow this films view of the first world war really was as I have never heard of a world war that was only fought in Europe. plus there is no portrayal of black and brown commonwealth soldiers or any scenes show different parts of the world. Richard Attenbourgh films come across as very disingenuous and that includes Gandhi. Gallipoli was the scenario that really hack off the ANZACS as the way they were perceived to be treated was seen by them as a betrayal of the British Empire. REBOOT me thinks.
harvestcanada This was following only a scant few from the Western front. Colored troops did not have that much of a role in the combat, as much as it pains anyone to hear this day and age. Many were either fighting in the hotter climates or just relegated to behind the lines duty. It's just how it was.
You do know that the movie is meant to be a satire? Of how futile and senseless World War One was?
Yes, it's satire. The whole thing about satire is that it has to be true. An exaggerated truth, so you can see it plain, but true nonetheless.
I like how the Brit in the second row was laughing to. Dude you know he was insinuating you were gonna die right?
those brits marching at the beginning, I'd bet they were professional soldiers hired for the day.
Can you really hire them by the day ? Only I have a little something in mind...
I went to the cinema when this film first came out and I only now fully appreciate it. The songs in the first war were very special.
Love my Aussie brothers and sisters, I'm from Ireland so a lot of them act and have the same blood as us in the ROI and the UK
Same blood? Does that mean when my blood alcohol levels go up ...
And we love the Irish . I have met a few here in Australia .
Filmed in one take from 1:49 - a brilliantly aesthetic piece of British cinematography
I love the bit where they call it wipers. I just find it so funny. Ypres would probably make sense to some draftee who can't read too well, let alone knows how to read French. Eep
They used to call Egypt Egg wiped as well :-)
Wipers Ypres is in begium
Nice to see we American aren't the only ones to re-appropriate melodies
I've heard from US Vietnam veterans that the Australian controlled areas were some of the quietest sectors as from experiences in Burma the Australians were absolutely lethal bush fighters.
No amount of Australians in Burma in notable size, I'm sure you mean New Guinea. Also I wouldn't call Long Tan a quiet sector, around 2,500 Viet cong to 108 Aussies.
@nathanieltraynor6413 Was that all, that's hardly a fair fight.
I liked how the staff officers were moving with the song.
One staff officer jumped right over another staff officer's back,
And another staff officer jumped right over that other staff officers' back
A third staff officer jumped right over the two staff officers' backs,
And a fourth staff officer jumped right over all the other staff officers' backs.
They were only playing leap-frog,
They were only playing leap-frog,
They were only playing leap-frog,
When one staff officer jumped right over
The other staff officer's back.
They were only playing leap-frog
They were only playing leap frog
When one staff officer jumped right over another staff officer's back!
They were only playing leapfrog
How the hell do they squeeze that many words
a song about politics as relevant then as it is today
This songs like a hellva way to die from the airborne
you gotta love australia
What is wrong with me? I am breaking out with a tremendous amount of pride for these guys and this film portraying the tragedy of WW1 in a really tuneful format!? both my own guys the British! but in equal measure the beautiful Aussie's!!!
It’s a bit disingenuous to not show the krauts killing anyone and pin all the blame on officers who had no fucking idea what trench warfare was
*shortage of coffins*
okay have to admit, had me laughing
Aussies rock! From a proud Yank! We are very much alike! :)
One of my late father's favourite motion pictures.
He served in the DLI, God rest his soul.
Kitty Kitty up the Durhams. long live the faithfuls
So Did my Great Grandfather
Had this stuck in my head today
GOOD--IT'S WORKING THEN.
Me too
Proud of my Aussie/British heritage.
TheDuckyBoi same
rule britania - Cheers mate!
God Bless ya!! Greeting from a Canuck.
ok
TheDuckyBoi sad to know a weeb like you is either
General: ..What Were You Doing?
Staff Officers: *Plays Leaf Frog*
Saw this wonderful film way back when, with my dear late father who was stationed in India in the British Army, may God rest his soul.
When I realized that the song was familiar to my ear...
_Glory, Glory, Hallelujah_
_Gory, Gory, What a Hell of a Way to Die_
_They Were Only Playin' Leapfrog_
_And the Teacher Don't Teach No More_
@@railbaron1 and also
Glory glory what the hell of way to die
Glory glory what the hell of way to die
Glory glory what the hell of way to die
And he ain't gonna jump no more
@@shimadaalicell7563 its "gory" mate
I watched this clip 8 times in a row! Such a damn catchy song, thanks Aussies.
Its an American tune...
Glory, Glory Hallelujah.
whats a little plagiarism between cousins, eh?
@William Eaton yeah but it was made better by them Aussies
@@FREECIVVIE yes why not , after all the star spangled banner is an English drinking song with new lyrics .
"Ah yes, what's that? You advanced all the way to the enemy communication trenches? Didn't you hear, the attack was postponed until tomorrow. Now abandon the captured ground, head back to your trenches and wait for tomorrow, that's an order!"
i'd be livid if that actually happened
The best anti-war film ever made, hands down!
They got short of coffins!
*Laughs in Australia*
Not again...
Couldnt drive the sense of humor out of are boys haha anzacs
To all those men and women who have fought and worked for the armed services of my country.
Thankyou for you service. You will always have my respect and loyalty.
You did it while still showing the world how to have a laugh.
Raise a glass🍺 cheers.
Now I have to find this on a dvd in the 🇺🇸!
Respect to those Diggers Down Under!
I like this version of that song much better!
“Battle Hymn of the Republic,” one of the most heavily parodied war songs it would seem.
This is an actual song commonwealth soldiers sung during the war
All the songs in the film were real soldiers' songs from the Great War.
Most of those boys will become casualties, many will become injured 🤕 many worse down will lose a log or arm maybe a eye. All good proud boys helping to liberate France 🇫🇷 , a salute for them and all Australian 🇦🇺
1:48
I read that Haigs family tried to get this movie stopped due to the way he was portrayed.....but really, you would think after losing tens of thousands of troops any sane person would change tactics. My family lost a few men, most buried "somewhere in France "
"and since the 1980s many historians have argued that the public hatred with which Haig's name had come to be associated failed to recognise the adoption of new tactics and technologies by forces under his command, the important role played by British forces in the allied victory of 1918, and that high casualties were a consequence of the tactical and strategic realities of the time.[4][5][6][11][12][13]"
I mean Haig was just hated for being the guy who gave the order in my opnion. And the somme was a success in the end, it took away german troops from verdun.
Haig died several decades before the movie was made. That would have been awkward for him to complain from the grave.
@@neddyladdy HIis family not him.
Yes, and if I remember rightly Richard Attenborough said that they failed because the information about Haig (including the idiotic comments he made) were taken from Haig's personal diaries, so they didn't have a case.
The lads sing this in ANZACs, too.
Such a lovely movie that shows. If only more people could see it.
Best regards to ANZAC from Brazil
Funny to note, despite the bad press and (regrettably true) rather backwards mentality of Field Marshal Haig and his staff officers, British FIELD officers suffered the highest fatality rate compared to other nations, and their mortality rate was comparable to even that of the enlisted Tommy.
It's not funny, it's rather sad. They really did believe in (a) the superiority of England (oh, okay, of "Britain") and (b) their duties as gentlemen.
@@DieFlabbergast You should look at "British officers don't duck" by Lindybeige, if you haven't already.
Too true, Aussies suffered one of the highest loss rates per Capita of any country during WWI. British offers often led from the front and suffered horrendous losses... it was expected they show no lack of moral fibre. Australians were no more or less courageous than their allies, but had a somewhat jaundiced view of inept authority and were not used to the system of class as was prevalent in British society. BLESS EM ALL.
At the start of the war when generals fought with their men the casualty rate for generals could be upto 97%. No army could afford that much knowledge and experience to be lost so it was quite obviously necessary to ban them from the front lines. This also made it impossible for Trench raiders to capture a general,with the resultant intelligence gained by the enemy.
A lot of people critize Haig and the way he managed the war, but no one has yet come up with a better to to have fought that war.
What a great movie! Truly memorable and marvellous.
A fucking awful movie, based on a truly lousy book and produced by a duplicitous Marxist bitch (Joan Littlewood, in case you're wondering). This appalling film is largely responsible for abysmal understanding of WW1 held by most people in the UK today, and in Australia to by the sound of it. If you think this is history then you need your head examined.
What's the movie
It's a common thing to 'put the shit up'' a relieving unit. - very well thought out part of the film
Aussie: They were only playing leapfrog
Germany:Im Wald im grünen Walde ● Lore Lore ✠ German folk song...
marvin tejada Yankees:What a hell of a way to die
My eyes have seen the glory of my lord
Something I just noticed, the NCO who musters the troops in the beginning is the photographer who I think is meant to represent death….. I don’t fancy those reinforcements’ chances
It wasn’t just the British,Canadians, Australians, New Zealanders, North Africa and soldiers from the British empire. It was the French that bore the brunt of the Great War.
British: lets use you as cannon fodder and not care about how many of you die
Australians: stop giving a shit
British: why are the Australians so rude
Somehow I think if a bunch of soldiers tried this during a Field Marshal's inspection in real life they'd all be scrubbing toilets for the next decade.
You're not very bright really, are you?
It not meant to be taken seriously, it's just symbolism. It's like saying animals wouldn't in Animal farm.
Ethan Steffek I'm joking of course.
Actually - its not that far from the truth, the Diggers had very little regard for British Officers during the war, especially Staff Officers. My favourite story is an Australian sentry getting chewed out by a British Officer who told him to stand at attention while he was talking to him. The Digger replied 'Sure mate, can you hold my pie?' and handed him his pie so he could stand at attention!
I believe I'd rather be scrubbing toilets then getting me head blown off in the trenches so I'd gladly sing along.
Great film, a must see. Full of songs from the trenches, quite moving.
The tune sounds like "Battle hymm of the Republic"
USA: Famous patriotic orchestral song
UK: Some soldiers' song how officers were jumping over their backs
French: Onion.
Russia: Dying for propaganda
Who Cares if the USA was any more "Patriotic" they'd march straight up their own Rectum and salute.. Wankers......
@@stuart056 youre lucky we came in and helped your asses in WW1 and WW2 otherwise your grandparents would've starved to death
"We saved your asses in World War II !"
"Well, we saved your arses in World War III !!"
"Alright then."
very under-rated film this and so moving.
As a fourteen year old, I took my first salute from the cast, supposedly for finding the uniforms. It was only when I was actually doing a Staff Officers' job forty years later that I realised there was a message going the other way, then as now, it's the young who die.
Outstanding actors performance Musically, Military drill and Acting 👍👌😇 Cheers 🍻
Just for the record the Brit brass weren''t so dumb, they used massive arty bombardments and then invented tanks, they could do no more.
The Aussies invented tanks, check Wikipedia: Lancelot de Mole.
@@marmztube Aussies, Brits, what;s the difference?
@@Dryhten1801 you fucken take that back mate
Dutch (Before it was Belgium): Ypres
Brit Farmboy Conscript: _"Wipers"_
The volunteers and originals: Close enough
_(I've been watching the entirety of the ANZACS miniseries I forgot how to meme)_
The go to aussie for British films. he was the pilot that rescued Richard Burton and Clint Eastwood in the film Where Eagles Dare
There slouch hats will protect them from Ottoman bullets
I was astonished to hear of the horrendous lack of supplies available to the Allies in the early days and months of WW1. Heavy guns in some sectors were reduced to four or five rounds a day in 1914-1915. The French and British had something like 400 heavy guns to the 3,000 medium and heavy of the German army. The allies were almost totally unprepared for the Germans and their industrial might.
the german warbull vs the anglo-franco defeatists cuck
It was due to doctrine of favoring light gun over heavy gun of Spirit of offense of the french and bef Favor to maneuver warfare with cavalry that cost them heavy Casualty during the early war of 1914 and 1915 but they adapt and change through 1916 and 1917 with new technology And doctrine, in 1918 the british Launch the offensive to win a war that start with cavalry and end with combine arms Warfare
It's an actual song the ANZACs sung, along with "Mademoiselle From Armentières", though they changed the lyrics for that one a bit. It's occasionally sung on Mess Night in a few regiments. It's about a prostitute giving out free grog iirc.
What you missing was back before 1940 was entertaining was done by singing and there was no real radio or television. So communication was by familiar songs anyone could join in. This film came from the musical hall entertainment and so this film represents its origins.
When you realise your whole military, society and culture is getting ready to fight the wrong war.
Nothing like a good-old-fashioned waste of life
+solidsnipz Please elaborate...
War... is the largest waste of human life and resources ever conceived by humanity -Jacque Fresco
@@Kelvostrass Is it though? Yet to see a war last forever...the natural state of things seem to be conflict. I see it out my window everyday, prey and predators, insects/ ants/ Bees and wasps making mass war, plants and fighting for position, bacteria, viruses, parasites. Life seems to be a battle, Peace seems to be an unnatural human construct it simply doesn't exist in nature. More people died of the natural Spanish Flu in 1919 after World War 1 than in World War 1...So the man made phenomenon paled into insignificance vs a naturally occurring disease.
Did you know that the spanish flu started in trenches of ww1?
@@mwnciboo And we are not ordinary animals that just fight to survive like the other animals. We dont kill eachother just for food.
The songs to the beat of Solidarity Forever
Solidarity Forever
Gotta love the aussies.
Cześć i Chwała bohaterskim żołnierzom Australii !!!
I always had a soft spot for the aussies
I could actually believe the Australians *would* take the piss out of everyone.
“Just to piggie back off of what Staff officer just said” if you heard something along those lines you might be a Vet.
Praise John Monash one of the most brilliant military leaders in history 🇨🇦 🇦🇺
Along with Sir Arthur Currie
@@stevenwebb3634 Ken Oath!
Once Monash was put in command of the Australian forces they were unstoppable
I mean what other freaking nation has people that walk up to a kangaroo in their back yard and just punches it???? Love Aussies man. Really want to visit before I die...or before shits kicks off over there with China lol.
"Well, the boys seem in fine fettle Blackadder! But what the devil are they singing?"
"Oh...something about brotherly love, General Melchett."
This is just brilliant.
Advance Australia fair 🇦🇺
LOL. Aussies straight to the point.
The best version out of them all
The always impeccable Sir John Mills.
I've seen John Mills in many roles, and he never delivered a less than stunning performance.
those Aussie soldiers?
Yes. The song is meant to be a commentary by foot soldiers about HQ officers more interested in playing staff politics and advancement than worrying about the guys in the trenches. Having the Australians deliver it as British staff filed by fits their national character, and they'd be less likely to face disciplinary action since they were allies, but only indirectly under those officers in the chain of command.
tagryn Also, remembering that the Australian Digger of WW1 found the strict British military hierarchy and class structure extremely comical and went out of their way to 'take the mickey' out of it wherever and whenever possible.
David Read We wouldn't have said "mickey", but.
tagryn We were under the command of the Brits, for the most part - not just allies. Still subject to the same discipline; any insubordination would be more likely to be put down by the Brits as being the behaviour of simple colonials :).
We did get our own commander, eventually, John Monash, who was, by many accounts, the greatest commander of WWI, and it could rightfully be said he invent combined arms modern warfare.
I was trying to find a nicer way of saying 'pulling the piss' :)
*sheds an Aussie tear*
A good send-up of the archetypal pompous British Army Officer Corp. ;-)
In 1969, there were still plenty of WW1 veterans left alive to actually remember the war
I saw this film as a kid and always wanted to see it again. Then, many years later I finally got to see it. I thought it was rubbish. What did I see as a kid that I didn't see as an adult?
The song " blood on the risers " has the same rhythm. It's cool to see other countries make variations of this song.
that song was useing the same tune as battle hym of the republic
“John Brown’s Body” and its more successful offspring “Battle Hymn of the Republic” have had a lot of remakes with the same melody, including this one. There’s “blood upon the risers”, “Up went Nelson in old Dublin”, “Karl XII han har hundratusen man”, “Engineer Drinking Song” and probably a lot more marching/drinking/scout songs with that melody around the world.
Excellent film and shows how the British had total disregard for life but total regard for the class system and keeping it intact even in death.
That's not true...how could an entire peoples have a total disregard for those under their command, the one's they fought and died with. Yes, the higher ups were ignorant of the plights of the common solider, but then no one had fought a war like WW1 before. And even then, there are countless examples of officers going above and beyond for their own troops. I'm not saying there weren't bad officers, but I am saying that stating that the British 'had a total disregard for life' is wrong.
This is a well over due comment, I know, but still. Needs to be said.
Aha! The fact the British forces had the lowest casualty rate of any other major allied power who fought the majority of the War says a lot.... And also how the highest proportion of casualties amongst British Army was by fair Junior officers. Yes men of a higher class lead the army but remember it was there sons and nephews in the fray. The first world war partly caused so much social change after it due to how every different group in society mixed and ultimately fought and died together.
Look at the evolution of tactics during the war, it tells of anything but the disregard of human lives. When the war progressed the higher ups were always trying to come up with new ideas of how to get as much progress as possible without losing a regiment or two. War isn't won by killing your men
As an infantry officer in ww1 you had a 1 in 8 chance of being killed, ab ordinary soldier had a 1 in 12 chance.
@@victorsteiner6922 LMAO!
To this day, one of the primary factors in Aussies having a poor view of British leadership is the gallipoli campaign, where a rumour developed that they were used as cannon fodder. In actuality this is not the case, and believe it or not, British units suffered the highest casualty rates in that campaign. The famous Mel Gibson movie didnt help those view in the modern era, as it gave the Australian generals British accents; which was factually accurate, the Australian high class at the time would have retained that accent. But it gave casual viewers the impression Australian soldiers were being sent to their death by incompetent British generals instead of Australian ones. In reality there was enough incompetence to go around in that war, no matter which country you came from or which side you were on.
To most Brits at the time, Australians were a peculiar cousin, but national divisions/differences between the two as we know them now largely didnt yet exist.
And the fact there were more English at Gallipoli than anzacs doesn’t seem to sway anyone. But nevermind
Also WW2 when Churchill planned to abandon Australia to the Japanese despite their brutal occupations. He wouldn't allow the Australian troops who had gone to fight for him in Europe/Africa to return home to defend their country. That decision led to Australia becoming essentially a partner of the USA instead of the UK.
For the British and French top brass there was no discrimination, they treated everyone as cannon fodder but the Australians treated the British officers with all the respect they deserved.
Que canção linda demais!!
Love the Aussie soldiers, great song
I know this I supposed to make a serious point in the movie but they could of made a damn good Monty Python sketch with that scene.
Too right, Bruce.
too right Bruce good one Bruce
teaching them a lesson straight out of wallamaloo u
They tried to make a serious point.....unfortunately the point they tried to make is based on lies
Australian troops often paid little attention to British Army disciplinary norms. There were cases of them releasing British troops tied to cannons as field punishment, after threatening their guards with bayonets.
There were severe disciplinary problems with the Australian Corps, their own officers were concerned about it. I'm talking serious stuff, murder, rape, assaults on officers, desertion etc. It was so bad in fact that the senior officers of the ANZAC's appealed to their government for the Death penalty to be allowed as a punishment option at Courts Martial, as it was in the British Army. There was nothing funny or light-hearted about the disciplinary issues in the Australian Corps, it was a very serious matter.
@@paddy864 All of these things happened in the British Army, which did execute over 300 of its men for desertion or cowardice in WW1, a policy that has since been controversial and was not repeated in WW2. Why did the Australian government not allowing executions? Was it an echo of the Breaker Morant affair?
@@kaczynskis5721 Yes, they did happen in the British Army and they were dealt with promptly and effectively, the result being that discipline in the British Army was far better that it was in the Australian Corps, the number of serious disciplinary offences in that Corps was out of all proportion to it's size in fact. Why didn't their Governement allow executions? Naivety and political posturing most likely. As I pointed out, their senior officers petitioned them for it to be permitted, so concerned were they at the abysmal behaviour of their men both on an off duty.
@@paddy864 Or perhaps they were less inclined to treat their own troops as cattle for the slaughter than many other governments did. Attempts to introduce conscription in Australia failed after plebiscites - despite the fact that most Australians were then of British descent, sending troops halfway around the world to get killed proved increasingly unpopular.
@@kaczynskis5721 I don't know what "other Governments" you're referring to, France perhaps, whose army mutinied in 1917 as a result of abysmal leadership, indifferent treatment and poor morale, or Germany (whose army later did the same) which was overwhelmingly responsible for starting the war in the first place, one which it had been preparing for and eagerly anticipating since 1870.
I was like "hm this scene seems similar to "all quiet on the western front" and then they started to sing and jump around. I definitely have to watch this movie.
Definitely contains the word "finite."
@@dunruden9720 thx 4 your support. My English teacher rotated in his grave the whole time.
@@NKDuisburg02 I often ask myself what retired English teachers did before RUclips!
The Aussies have always been tough buggers, for example Field Marshall Bill Slim said after WW2- "Of all the Allies, it was the Australians who first broke the invincibility of the Japanese army"....:)
Kokoda track
Yeah the Aussies strutted their stuff everywhere..:) ......Slim quote in full-"Australian troops had, at Milne Bay, inflicted on the Japanese their first undoubted defeat on land. Some of us may forget that, of all the allies, it was the Australians who first broke the invincibility of the Japanese army."
www.azquotes.com/author/19619-William_Slim_1st_Viscount_Slim
You are correct. Slim, what a legend. Probably the best Pommy Officer getting around but then again he started as a PTE. 🇦🇺
You can also throw in the axis of Germany ww1 and 2.
Wow😍😍😍Superb 😍😍😍Fantastic 😍😍😍
Australia,
how I loved you!
my history teacher played it today and i can’t get it out of my head 😫
Then your history teacher is a fraud, tell him to teach you some facts instead of this tripe. You might try getting hold of a copy of Gordon Corrigan's excellent book, "Mud, Blood and Poppycock" , which in my opinion should be required reading for anyone beginning to study WW1. You'll look at this garbage with new eyes after reading it.