Winston Churchill and Gallipoli

Churchill proposes forcing the Dardanelles with naval power to threaten Constantinople and assist Russia.

Suggests an attack on the Dardanelles at a War Council meeting

At Churchills request, the commander of the Royal Navys Mediterranean Squadron, Vice Admiral S.H. Carden proposed a plan for forcing the Dardanelles using battleships, submarines and minesweepers

The British War Council resolve that the Admiralty should prepare for a naval expedition in February against the Dardanelles

The British War Council approves the plan, and Carden is supplied with additional pre-Dreadnought battleships, the battleship HMS Queen Elizabeth and the battlecruiser HMS Inflexible. Churchill argues for just a naval attack at the War Council. Cabinet approves the attack with ships

The British War Council resolve that the Admiralty should prepare for a naval expedition in February against the Dardanelles

The War Council accepts Churchills idea for a naval expedition to the Dardanelles. A plan to create a supply link to the Russian front & secure the Balkan states

Churchill argues for just a naval attack at the War Council

An attack on the Dardanelles could give Russia a supply route and might encourage Bulgaria and Romania to join the allied side

In a new year review submitted to the Prime Minister, Herbert Asquith, outlines two possible new fronts against the Germans, intended to break the stalemate and accompanying enormous loss of life which had rapidly set in on the western front.

The Russian plea for assistance, coupled with a perception of the Ottoman Empire as a weak enemy ("the sick man of Europe"), made the prospect of a campaign in the Dardanelles seem appealing.

What was to become the Battle of Gallipoli, a 10-month Battle of attrition, begins at 7.30am on February 19, 1915. The War Cabinet decides to send troops to the Dardanelles. Only 6 British ships are involved & 3/4 of the Turkish guns survive. Bombardment of the outer ports of the Dardenalles begins

What was to become the Battle of Gallipoli, a 10-month Battle of attrition, begins at 7.30am on February 19, 1915

George V & Churchill inspect the Royal Naval Div before it sails to the Dardanelles

The Allied fleet destroys outer forts of the Dardanelles

Demolition parties of Royal Marines raided the Sedd el Bahr and Kum Kale forts, meeting little opposition. Another attempt is made on February 25, this time the Ottomans evacuate the outer defences and the fleet enters the straits to engage the intermediate defences

The operation was originally intended to be purely naval due to a lack of available troops and the independence of Lord of the admiralty Winston Churchill but.

by early February, it was decided that more regular infantry was needed.

Churchill presses the Admiralty to begin systematic attacks on Ottoman forts and minefields.

Allied troops land at Kum-Kale, the Asiatic side of the Dardanelles

The event that decided the battle took place on the night of March 8 when the Ottoman minelayer Nusret laid a line of mines in Eren Key Bay, a wide bay along the Asian shore just inside the entrance to the straits

The operation went ahead without the British or French becoming aware of the recent additions to the Ottoman minefields

March 18 is a significant victory for the Ottoman Empire

A naval attack fails & the Inflexible & Irrepressible are lost

With the failure of the naval assault, the idea that land forces could advance around the backs of the Dardanelles forts and capture Istanbul gained support as an alternative, on 25 April, the Gallipoli Campaign is launched

Churchill and Fisher continually quarreled throughout the campaign, and Fisher finally resigned on 15 May 1915 after repeated threats to do so

Fishers resignation, on top of poor progress in the campaign, precipitated the fall of the Government and Churchills replacement as First Lord

Writes to Asquith, Kitchener & Balfour suggesting a naval attack, the plea is rejected

Despite heavy losses Churchill recommends troop reinforcements to the Dardanelles Comm

Proposes to the Dardanelles Committee Lloyd George replace Kitchener at the War Office. Proposes to the Dardanelles Committee French & Kitchener swap roles in Turkey & France

Proposes to the Dardanelles Committee French & Kitchener swap roles in Turkey & France

The Dardanelles Committee decides to recall Hamilton

At the outset of the operation, the expected role of the infantry was to be the occupation of Istanbul; the taking of the straits was to be accomplished by the Entente naval forces.

The British hope to turn the Balkans against the Axis. The British hope to capture Constantinople & force Turkey to surrender

The operation was originally intended to be purely naval due to a lack of available troops and the independence of Lord of the admiralty Winston Churchill but, by early February, it was decided that more regular infantry was needed.

Learns Asquith witheld documents in the Dardanelles enquiry which would clear him

The formation of a Commission is announced to investigate the Dardanelles Campaign

Writes to Earl Cromer asking to present his own case without Counsel

Cromer informs Churchill the Commission will meet secretly & Churchill cannot examine

Says there was full authority & at the time there was a reasonable prospect of success. Appears at the enquiry to defend the Dardanelles Campaign

The findings are published but Churchills evidence is not. Churchill has his account of the Antwerp expedition published in the Sunday Pictoral