The film tells the story of the Australian Light Horse (mounted rifleman as distinct from cavalry) which operated in the desert at the Sinai and Palestine campaign during World War I.

The film was clearly a propaganda weapon, to aid in recruitment and lift the pride of Australians at home during World War II.

[9] In 1916 Jerusalem, German troops led by Hauptmann Von Schiller arrest French wine seller Paul Rouget for spying and hang him.

Three members of the Australian Light Horse, Red, Larry and Jim, are enjoying themselves (including playing a game of two-up)[10] on leave in Cairo, when called to fight the Turks.

Red manages to rejoin his unit in time to participate in the charge of the Light Horse at the Battle of Beersheba, and stops Von Schiller before he detonates the explosives.

[11][12] To raise funds for the project, Chauvel shot a £5,000 "teaser" sequence, consisting of a cavalry charge based around the Battle of Beersheba.

The cost for this was paid for by Herc McIntyre, managing director of Universal Pictures in Australia who was a long-time friend and associate of Chauvel's.

Filming of this sequence took place on 1 February 1938 on the Cronulla sand dunes using a cavalry regiment of the Australian Light Horse, which had been performing in the New South Wales sesquicentenary celebrations.

[13] The charge was filmed by a four-camera unit, composed of Frank Hurley, Tasman Higgins, Bert Nicholas and John Heyer.

"[32] It was a massive success at the box office, grossing £10,000 within its first three weeks of release, enabling Famous Features Ltd to buy out the interest of the New South Wales government for £15,000.

[36] "Yippee for brawling, boisterous entertainment", wrote a critic for The New York Times, praising Betty Bryant ("whatever it is that leaps across the celluloid barrier, she has") although claiming the story was "foolish".

[37] The Los Angeles Times reported the film was "conventional in formula but enlivened by stirring battle scenes – and new faces.

Six years later George Lucas produced an episode of the Young Indiana Jones Chronicles featuring the battle, also directed by Simon Wincer.