Andrew Upton

Factual error: The rifles used are somewhat anachronistic in various respects for 1905. Many have 1908 Pattern webbing slings fitted. Most of the soldiers and rebels carry Mk III Lee-Enfields - these would have been brand new and in the process of replacing the older Long Lees at this time. Not impossible for the soldiers to use, but large numbers captured by rebels is very unlikely. And some soldiers/rebels are using No. 4 type Lee-Enfields - these didn't go into mass production until WW2.

Andrew Upton

Factual error: Captain Scott is sometimes seen with a Mk VI Webley, a historical anachronism as these date from 1915 onwards, whilst the film is set in 1905. This is also a continuity error as sometimes (particularly later in the film when he is fighting van Layden on the train roof) he now carries a much more period-correct Webley (MK V or earlier).

Andrew Upton

Factual error: The Maxim guns are mounted on Mk IV tripods, not introduced until 1906 (plus with direction dials fitted, which didn't get introduced until 1915), and metal ammunition boxes are used with them (again introduced in 1915 - they should be wooden at this date).

Andrew Upton

Factual error: In the scenes set during 1918, Clive is shown wearing a typical late 1930s/WW2 military production British steel helmet with its distinctive canvas covered sprung chinstrap.

Andrew Upton

Factual error: Although set in 1860, virtually all the costumes/clothing in the film are far more typical of the later Victorian period. For example, the police are wearing cork helmets, tunics, and Duty Armlets with upright stripes. These items were not introduced into the Metropolitan Police until 1863, 1864, and 1886 respectively (and this would have been delayed further in a small backwater Cornish town). In 1860, they would be wearing top hats, swallow-tail coats, and Duty Armlets with horizontal stripes.

Andrew Upton

Factual error: The film begins in 1860, but the majority takes place 20 years later, so 1880. When James Rankin obtains files on the Haymarket Strangler/Edward Styles case we are shown another box labelled with details about Jack the Ripper, who wasn't active until 1888.

Andrew Upton

Factual error: In 1915 Tolkien was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant with the Lancashire Fusiliers. He (plus various other officers) is constantly shown in the film wearing bright metal cap badge, collar badges and shoulder titles on his Service Dress tunic and greatcoat. However, in the Lancashire Fusiliers officers did not wear shoulder titles on their SD tunics/greatcoats, and their cap/collar badges would have been in a darkened bronze finish, not bright metal (which was for Other Ranks and NCO's).

Andrew Upton

Factual error: At the end of the film, Hellfire Jack returns the toy soldier to the son of the late William Hawkins in 1917. Hawkins son is shown taking it upstairs and placing it in front of a photo of his father, in between two medals. These are the British War and Victory Medals - these did not exist until 1919, and in most cases were not even issued until the 1920's.

Andrew Upton

Factual error: The plane used in the film to take Juliet back to London towards the end of the film is a replica of a Dakota C-47. She is painted with black and white "invasion stripes" on both the upper and lower surfaces of the wings - approved in May these were only widely put into use for D-Day in June 1944. After one month the upper surface stripes were ordered removed, and by the end of 1944 they were ordered completely removed. By 1946 when the film is set they would have been long gone from any serving aircraft still flying.

Andrew Upton

Factual error: There are a number of historical inaccuracies with the police uniforms used. The film is set in 1880, but the Duty Armlets with the alternating short blue/white vertical stripes were not introduced until 1886 (in 1880 they would have had three horizontal white stripes separated by two narrower blue stripes). Whistles are shown being carried, but they were not introduced until 1885 (they used rattles before then). The helmet plates have a generic VR on them when they should repeat the officer's collar number (eg P 129 in the case of Constable Flood).

Andrew Upton

Factual error: The film is set in the 1920's. When the policeman appears towards the end of the film on his helmet is a post-1952 helmet plate with the crown of Queen Elizabeth II.

Andrew Upton

Factual error: Throughout the film, the helmet plates worn by the London Policemen are the 1930's pattern with the George V cypher in the centre. In 1912/13 they would have repeated the officer's collar number in the centre. The helmets themselves are also British military pattern blue cloth helmets with Police fittings added, rather than the correct Police pattern ones.

Andrew Upton

Factual error: The film is set during the late 1880's in India. The rifles/bayonets carried by all the British soldiers and Thuggee Indians are American 1890's Krag-Jorgensen rifles. Presumably done for ease of supplying American ammunition compared to British .303 ammunition.

Andrew Upton

Factual error: The red coated British Guards are always shown armed with No. 4 Lee-Enfield rifles. The film is set in 1887 - the No. 4 rifle did not come into use until WW2.

Andrew Upton

Factual error: The cap badge worn by Captain Halliday of the RAMC is the Queen's crown version, which didn't come in to use until the 1950's. It is also made of brass, when it should be in a bronzed finish for officers.

Andrew Upton

Factual error: In the last British battle at Omdurman near the end of the film, the British bugler is shown wearing a Pattern 1903 bandoleer - not made until well after the film is set.

Andrew Upton

Factual error: When Kitchener is shown inspecting Harry's old regiment, one group of African or Egyptian troops is shown to be wearing the Pattern 1914 Infantry Equipment, not made until 1914 at the earliest. Additionally, it has the 1918 modification to have two closing straps, so is over 20 years too late for the 1894 date at that point.

Andrew Upton

Factual error: In the last British battle at Omdurman near the end of the film, the British bugler is shown wearing a Pattern 1903 bandolier - not made until at least 5 years after the film is set.

Andrew Upton

Factual error: Towards the beginning of the film, when Kitchener is shown inspecting Harry's old regiment, one of the African or Egyptian troops is shown to be wearing the Pattern 1914 Infantry Equipment, not made until 1914 at the earliest. Additionally, it has the 1918 modification to have two closing straps, so is over 20 years too late for the 1894 date at that point.

Andrew Upton

Factual error: The Sergeant-Major of the artillery section Corporal Bins and his men are briefly attached to has two of his medal ribbons round the wrong way. He has up the Victory and British War Medal ribbons, when they should be worn BWM and then VM. A mistake an experienced senior NCO would not make.

Andrew Upton