| Passchendaele
|
|
Cinema Poster
|
| Country
|
 Canada
|
| Directed by
|
Paul Gross
|
| Release Date
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2008
|
| Language
|
English
German
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| Studio
|
Damberger Film & Cattle
Rhombus Media
Whizbang Films
|
| Distributor
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Alliance Films
|
|
|
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
Handguns
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.
Rifles
Lee-Enfield No. 1 Mk III*
Most Canadian soldiers carry Lee-Enfield No. 1 Mk III* rifles, including Sgt. Dunne (Paul Gross), Pte. Highway (Michael Greyeyes) and Pte. Mann (Joe Dinicol).
Lee-Enfield No. 1 Mk III* - .303 British
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. Also note the cocking piece is the later flat version, suggesting a Mk. III*, though the round knob could be found with or without the magazine cutoff.
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.
Machine Guns
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.
Vickers MK1
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.
Other
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.
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.
German Weapons
Handguns
Mauser C/96 "Bolo Model"
A German Sergeant is seen with what appears to be a postwar Mauser C96 "Bolo" model.
Mauser C96 7.63x25mm Mauser - Short Barreled "Bolo" Model
The German Sergeant aims his Mauser pistol.
Pte. Mann is captured by the Mauser-carrying Sergeant
The German Sergeant fires his Mauser
Rifles
Mauser Model 1938
German soldiers throughout the Passchendaele battle carry anachronistic Turkish Mauser M1938 rifles fitted with M98/29 Persian Mauser and AS.FA M1935 Knife bayonets. According to 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 Model 1938 - 7.92x57mm ("8mm Mauser")
German soldiers advance with their Mausers in No Man's Land.
Another German soldier aims his Mauser with the Persian bayonet. Note the smaller stripper clip bridges what makes it different to the
M1903.
Machine Guns
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.
Other
10.5 cm leFH 16
What appears to be a leFH 16 is briefly seen left behind on the battlefield.
Krupp 10.5 cm leichte Feldhaubitze 16.
The gun on the battlefield while an enemy target marker is in the air.
17 cm mittlerer Minenwerfer
Seen being fired at Canadian troops during the Passchendaele attack.
17 cm mittlerer Minenwerfer
German troops load the Minenwerfer.
9.15 cm Minenwerfer
A 9.15 cm Minenwerfer is also seen briefly on the battlefield.
9.15 cm leichtes Minenwerfer System Lanz.
The Minenwerfer behind Michael Dunne.
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