Dardanelles Campaign

The Ottomans close the Dardanelles to Allied shipping after an incident when the British Dardanelles squadron had seized a Ottoman torpedo boat

Entertains plans of capturing the Dardanelles as early as September 1914

Churchill orders the first British attack on the Dardanelles following the opening of hostilities between Ottoman and Russian empires

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 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.

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

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

The Allied fleet destroys outer forts of the Dardanelles

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

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.

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

A naval attack fails & the Inflexible & Irrepressible are lost

Commands a naval attack fails & the Inflexible & Irrepressible are lost

Demands an end to the Dardanelles campaign in cabinet. Accuses Churchill of being "a determined mad gambler"

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

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

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

The Dardanelles Committee decides to recall Hamilton

The Dardanelles Committee decides to recall Hamilton, his last generals command

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.

Venizelos wishes to send 3 Greek Divisions to the Dardanelles Constantine refuses. Venizelos resigns over Constantines policy

Commands the military forces at the Dardanelles

Involved in the successful bomardment of the outer-Dardanelles

Forced to hand over his command to John de Robeck, due to ill health