1853
Dardanelles Fleet
Commands the British Mediterranean Fleet as it moves toward the Ottoman Straits during the diplomatic crisis.
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Browse historical events and people recorded at Dardanelles in Great Britain. The records below are rendered directly from the World History Database into this page's initial HTML.
Commands the British Mediterranean Fleet as it moves toward the Ottoman Straits during the diplomatic crisis.
Designs a prefabricated hospital for wounded soldiers.
Carden strengthens the watch on the Dardanelles entrance as Allied planners consider operations against Ottoman defences.
Carden conducts reconnaissance of the Ottoman forts and mine defences guarding the Dardanelles entrance.
Churchill instructs Admiral Carden to conduct a limited bombardment against the outer Dardanelles forts.
Churchill orders the first British attack on the Dardanelles following the opening of hostilities between Ottoman and Russian empires
Holbrook brings B11 back through the minefield despite currents, grounding and Ottoman pursuit.
Holbrook takes submarine B11 beneath the defended minefield in the Dardanelles.
Winn serves as first lieutenant during B11's successful attack on Mesudiye and hazardous return passage.
Commands the military forces at the Dardanelles
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.
Churchill supports stronger minesweeping efforts as Ottoman minefields block progress through the straits.
The Admiralty increases naval gunfire against Ottoman forts while attempts continue to open the straits.
The Admiralty commits the modern battleship HMS Queen Elizabeth to long-range bombardment at the Dardanelles.
Carden plans to suppress intermediate batteries and mobile guns after reducing the entrance forts.
Carden makes systematic minesweeping essential before battleships can safely approach the Narrows.
Carden's phased scheme culminates in close attack on the forts defending the Narrows once a safe channel is created.
Carden identifies the entrance forts at Cape Helles and Kum Kale as the first targets of the naval operation.
Churchill asks Carden whether the Dardanelles can be forced by ships alone and requests his professional assessment.
Carden replies that a sudden rush through the Straits is impracticable but sustained operations with sufficient force may succeed.
Carden proposes reducing forts, suppressing mobile guns and clearing minefields rather than attempting a rapid passage.
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
Carden submits a staged plan for reducing Ottoman forts and clearing the Dardanelles minefields.
Carden's plan includes six submarines for operations beyond and within the Straits.
Carden asks for sixteen destroyers to support the fleet during the proposed Dardanelles operation.
Carden includes three battlecruisers in the force he considers necessary for sustained operations in the Straits.
Carden's force proposal includes three light cruisers for reconnaissance, support and protection duties.
Carden's scheme requests twelve battleships as the core heavy force for the proposed Dardanelles operation.
Carden requests twelve minesweepers because clearing Ottoman minefields is essential to any advance toward the Narrows.
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 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
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.
Carden begins implementing a phased plan to destroy outer forts, clear mines and attack the Narrows.
Carden concludes that troops ashore would improve observation and help naval gunfire deal with concealed and mobile batteries.
The new battleship HMS Queen Elizabeth joins the powerful Allied force assembled for Carden's operation.
Commodore Roger Keyes joins Carden as Chief of Staff and becomes closely involved in minesweeping and operational planning.
Carden requests approximately ten thousand troops for limited landings after the outer forts have been silenced.
Kitchener declines Carden's request for troops, leaving the operation dependent on naval bombardment and minesweeping.
The War Cabinet decides to send troops to the Dardanelles
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
HMS Cornwallis and HMS Vengeance answer Ottoman fire during the first major day of Carden's February operation.
The War Cabinet decides to send troops to the Dardanelles.
Carden employs long-range fire from outside effective Ottoman gun range as the opening method against the entrance forts.
Ottoman batteries fire on British destroyers probing the entrance before the main bombardment develops.
Carden directs the opening Allied bombardment of Ottoman forts guarding the entrance to the Dardanelles.
The opening bombardment suppresses portions of the outer defences but does not permanently destroy the fortifications.
The Allied fleet destroys outer forts of the Dardanelles
Carden resumes the naval assault and heavily engages the outer forts near Cape Helles.
Carden's fleet moves farther into the Straits after Ottoman resistance at some outer positions is reduced.
Allied battleships engage intermediate batteries as Carden moves from the entrance phase toward operations deeper in the Straits.
Naval landing parties inspect and demolish guns at outer positions after bombardment has reduced Ottoman resistance there.
Carden sends demolition parties ashore to destroy abandoned Ottoman guns and fort installations.
Keyes supports using naval personnel when civilian trawler crews struggle under Ottoman fire.
Carden's command experiments with sending trawlers upstream before turning to sweep with the current through the minefields.
Royal Navy volunteers increasingly replace reluctant civilian trawler crews in attempts to improve minesweeping under fire.
Carden shifts much minesweeping work to darkness in an attempt to reduce exposure to Ottoman guns and observation.
Keyes pushes minesweepers deeper into the straits despite heavy fire and strong currents.
Ottoman searchlights illuminate slow trawlers at night, allowing shore batteries to interfere repeatedly with minesweeping.
Some civilian trawler crews fail to stream minesweeping gear when Ottoman fire becomes intense during an attempted sweep.
A night attempt sends trawlers without close battleship protection in hopes of surprising Ottoman defenders.
Carden's trawler minesweepers struggle against current, searchlights and mobile artillery while operated largely by civilian crews.
Battleships bombard intermediate positions while minesweepers begin the difficult effort to clear a passage toward the Narrows.
HMS Amethyst supports six minesweepers during a costly attempt to clear mines under heavy Ottoman fire.
Several trawlers are hit during minesweeping operations, demonstrating the vulnerability of the improvised sweeping force.
French minesweepers make another attempt under covering fire but fail to open the required passage through the minefields.
Further minesweeping is attempted under Carden's command as the fleet struggles to create a safe channel toward the Narrows.
Another minesweeping effort continues under Commodore Keyes while Carden presses for progress against the mine barrier.
Commodore Keyes leads naval volunteers in another determined attempt to clear mines and suppress searchlights in the Straits.
Carden intensifies attacks on forts covering the Narrows while minesweeping remains incomplete.
Carden's forces precede the volunteer minesweeping attempt with prolonged gunfire against searchlights and mobile batteries.
The Admiralty accepts Carden's revised plan for a heavily supported daylight assault and minesweeping effort.
Carden's final operational plan places the minesweepers under close protection of the battle fleet for the proposed daylight clearance.
Carden reports severe strain as pressure mounts for a decisive fleet assault.
Carden proposes a daylight minesweeping operation closely protected by the battle fleet after repeated night attempts fail.
Carden leaves command through illness and de Robeck takes over the naval operation.
Severe illness and nervous exhaustion prevent Carden from continuing direct command on the eve of the major fleet assault.
De Robeck assumes command of the Allied naval force on the eve of the major Dardanelles attack.
De Robeck inherits Carden's operational concept and prepares the large fleet attack scheduled for 18 March.
Carden formally relinquishes the Eastern Mediterranean Squadron to John de Robeck because of his deteriorating health.
De Robeck confirms the plan for battleships to silence the forts while minesweepers clear a passage.
Commands a naval attack fails & the Inflexible & Irrepressible are lost
A naval attack fails & the Inflexible & Irrepressible are lost
De Robeck withdraws after mines and Ottoman fire sink three Allied battleships and damage several others.
HMS Inflexible is badly damaged by a mine while withdrawing from the Narrows.
De Robeck's fleet loses HMS Irresistible after the battleship strikes a mine during the assault.
De Robeck orders the principal British and French battleship attack against the Ottoman straits defences.
HMS Ocean is lost after striking a mine while attempting to assist damaged ships.
De Robeck suspends another immediate battleship assault after the heavy losses of 18 March.
Keyes argues that determined minesweeping could still open a path through the straits.
De Robeck tells Allied commanders that troops are required to capture shore batteries before another naval advance.
Stoker takes submarine AE2 into the defended Dardanelles on the morning of the Allied landings.
Stoker receives instructions to enter the Sea of Marmara and attack Ottoman communications.
Boyle takes submarine E14 beneath the Dardanelles minefields toward the Sea of Marmara.
Demands an end to the Dardanelles campaign in cabinet. Accuses Churchill of being "a determined mad gambler"
Fishers resignation, on top of poor progress in the campaign, precipitated the fall of the Government and Churchills replacement as First Lord. 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
Nasmith takes E11 through the heavily defended Dardanelles toward the Sea of Marmara.
Boyle returns through the Dardanelles after a successful first patrol in the Sea of Marmara.
De Robeck withdraws major warships from close offshore support after submarine attacks sink Triumph and Majestic.
Nasmith returns after a patrol that sinks or damages numerous Ottoman vessels.
Boyle again takes E14 through the straits for a second offensive patrol.
Boyle returns from E14's second patrol after further disruption of Ottoman shipping.
Nasmith begins another patrol intended to disrupt reinforcements and supplies for Gallipoli.
Writes to Asquith, Kitchener & Balfour suggesting a naval attack, the plea is rejected
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, his last generals command
The Dardanelles Committee decides to recall Hamilton
Involved in the successful bomardment of the outer-Dardanelles
Forced to hand over his command to John de Robeck, due to ill health
Learns Asquith witheld documents in the Dardanelles enquiry which would clear him
Refuses release of documents connected with the Dardanelles inquiry.
The Cromer Commission is announced to investigate the Dardanelles Campaign
The formation of a Commission is announced to investigate the Dardanelles Campaign
The Cromer Commission is announced to investigate the Dardanelles Campaign
Announces the Cromer Commission 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
Allies occupy the Bosporus, Dardenelles, Marmara, Imros, Lemnos, Smathrace & Tenedos
Provenance
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