One of the most unusual exploits of WW2, revealed after British security restrictions were lifted in 1978, was the destruction of a German merchant vessel that was sending coded messages to German U-boats in the Indian Ocean. These messages revealed the location of ships, which were then torpedoed and sunk. The problem facing the British was that the radio transmitter was on a ship that was interned in a neutral territory, Goa, on India’s western coast.

This was a true “mission impossible.” The British did not want to violate Goa’s neutral status, so they devised a plan to destroy the transmitter by using civilian volunteers. The remarkable thing about the volunteers was that they were all retired military men, members of the Calcutta Light Horse, which last saw active service in the Boer War in 1900. Simple mathematics tell us that in 1943, these men were all in their sixties or even, perhaps, in their seventies.

They were advised that they would get no recognition, no pay, no medals, and if they were caught, they would be on their own. Still, they willingly risked their lives to serve their country.

The movie recounts how these men commandeered a river barge in Calcutta and a few of them sailed it around the tip of India. They briefly stopped to pick up the rest of the volunteers, who had traveled by train to the meeting place. The entire group then sailed to the harbor at Goa, boarded the German ship, restrained the crew, found the hidden radio room, took the code books, and then destroyed the vessel.

One of the technical advisors of this movie was Col. Lewis Pugh, who was the military leader of this 1943 mission. Also credited as technical advisors were four survivors of the German ship. Consequently, I assume that most of the details of this mission were accurate.

The mission was a huge success. The movie ends with the following statement: “During the first 11 days of March 1943, U-boats sank 12 Allied ships in the Indian Ocean. After the Light Horse raid on Goa, only one ship was lost in the remainder of that month.”

So, how did I rate it?

I was very skeptical of how the movie portrayed the activities of the advance party as they reconnoitered Goa, trying to pinpoint the exact location of the transmitter and to discover how the shipping information was obtained. They made some blunders in dealing with unsavory individuals, which led to attempts on their lives. One character seemed more interested in courting a lady than fulfilling his military duties. However, since Col. Pugh was one of the technical advisors of the movie, and he also was one of the advance party, perhaps this is what really happened. If this was so, then it is surprising that the mission went so well.

The film spent time showing how the aging warriors attempted to get into shape, and pictured the confusion of their wives, who did not know the reason for the sudden interest in exercise and weight lifting. One suspicious wife accused her husband of having an affair.

While on the barge, there was quite a bit of seasickness and barfing over the railing, and of course, there were constant attempts to keep the ancient barge seaworthy, ala The Guns of Navarrone or The African Queen. It makes one wonder why they didn’t take a look at the motor before they hijacked the vessel.

The roster of stars is impressive: Gregory Peck, Roger Moore, David Niven, Trevor Howard, and Patrick MacNee are among the headliners, and you will probably recognize most of the crew of volunteers. There is a sampling of polo and cricket before the real action begins.

Despite the slow sections, the film moved along nicely, and built up to a suspenseful climax. Over all, it was an interesting movie and well worth watching.

This 1980 movie was based on a book by James Leasor: Boarding Party: The Last Action of the Calcutta Light Horse


Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Good for a Rainy Day
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older