Passchendaele is a 2008 World War I film that is the brainchild of director/writer/star Paul Gross. Canada's first big budget war movie effort, the film follows Canadian Sergeant Michael Dunne (Paul Gross) of the 10th Battalion CEF during the Battle Of Passchendaele and while recruiting on the home front.
The following weapons were used in the film Passchendaele:
Allied Weapons
Short Magazine Lee-Enfield (SMLE)
Most Canadian soldiers carry Lee-Enfield rifles, including Sgt Dunne (Paul Gross), Pte Highway (Michael Greyeyes) and Pte Mann (Joe Dinicol).
Lee-Enfield No.1 Mk.III* - .303 British. This was the main battle rifle of British and Commonwealth forces during the First World War, introduced in 1907 it has seen action throughout the 20th century.
Sgt Dunne takes cover with his SMLE.
Pte Highway runs with his SMLE.
Sgt Dunne sets his SMLE to the side while using a McAllister trench periscope.
A 10th Battalion soldiers aims his SMLE.
Sgt Dunne fixes a P'07 bayonet to his SMLE.
Sgt Dunne cradles his SMLE.
Pte Mann cradles his mud-covered SMLE at Passchendaele
A 10th Battalion soldier fires SMLE at Passchendaele. Note the ejected casing
An 8th Battalion soldier lies prone with his SMLE. Note that it's cocked.
Special - the 10th Battalion's deputy commander indicates a position with a .303 Mk.VII cartridge. This is an error, as at Passchendaele the Canadian Corps was still using the round-nosed Mk.VI round.
No.36 Mills Bomb
Sgt. Dunne uses a Mills Bomb to kill the German machine gun crew.
Mills Bomb High-Explosive Fragmentation hand grenade
Sgt Dunne prepares his Mills bomb - note that his fingers should be holding the safety lever.
Vickers MK1 Machine Gun
A Vickers MK1 Machine Gun is mounted on display at a recruiting tent in Calgary..
A Vickers gun on display outside of a recruiting tent in Calgary.
Lewis Gun
The Lewis Gun is used by Canadian soldiers through the Passchendaele scenes, most noticeably Pte. Godin (Justin Michael Carriere).
Pte Godin carries his Lewis gun, demonstrating that the 30lb gun was light in relative terms only.
Pte Godin tries to keep his Lewis gun above water.
A soldier from the 8th Battalion (Winnipeg Rifles) fires his Lewis gun.
Pte Godin mans his Lewis gun while cursing in French. The movie never explains why a Quebecois is serving in an Albertan battalion.
Webley Mk.VI
The Webley Mk VI is carried by Canadian officers throughout the movie, although the Canadian Corps was actually issued the Smith & Wesson Mk.II Hand Ejector, and the first troops to arrive in France (which included the 10th Battalion) were issued Colt 1911s.
Webley Mk. VI .455 Webley
A 10th Battalion company commander takes cover with his Webley.
A 10th Battalion company commander shouts orders while carrying his Webley.
Ordnance QF 18 Pdr
Fired at German lines at the opening of the Passchendaele attack.
Ordnance QF 18 Pdrs prepare to open fire on the German positions.
Knives
True to life, many knives and improvised weapons are carried by Canadian troops.
Pte Highway carries a US M1918 Trench Knife - unlikely, but not impossible as Canadian troops were notorious scroungers
Sgt Dunne carries a Ross rifle bayonet cut-down into a fighting knife - very commonly used by Canadian troops.
German Weapons
Turkish Mauser 1903
German soldiers throughout the Passchendaele battle carry Turkish Mauser 1903. According the movies' armorer, a supply of correct German Mauser Gewehr 1898 rifles was located for this film, but could not be imported in time and the Turkish model was substituted.
Turkish Mauser 1903 - 7.92x57mm Mauser
A German soldier advances with his Mauser
A German soldier aims his Mauser
Mauser C/96 "Bolo Model"
A German Sergeant is seen with what appears to be a postwar Mauser C96 "Bolo" model.
The German Sergeant aims his Mauser pistol.
Pte Mann is captured by the Mauser-carrying Sergeant
The German Sergeant fires his Mauser
7.58cm Mittlerer Minenwerfer
Seen being fired at Canadian troops during the Passchendaele attack.
German troops load the Minenwerfer.
Maxim MG08
A German Maxim MG08 is seen placed in a shelled-out church at the beginning of the film.
Maxim MG08 7.92x57mm Mauser on sled mount
The German machine gun crew fires their Maxim
The German crew commander spots for targets.
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