HMS Formidable Loss Assessed
The Admiralty assesses the loss of HMS Formidable after the battleship is torpedoed by U-24.
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1915 in Great Britain
Explore 626 historical events and records for Great Britain in 1915.
Historical records for Great Britain in 1915
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 40 of 626 unique records.
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January
Western Front
Suggests an attack on Turkey or Austria to end the deadlock in western front
Dardanelles Naval Strategy Advocated
Churchill proposes forcing the Dardanelles with naval power to threaten Constantinople and assist Russia.
Churchill Requests Dardanelles Feasibility Opinion
Churchill asks Carden whether the Dardanelles can be forced by ships alone and requests his professional assessment.
Rush through Straits Rejected
Carden replies that a sudden rush through the Straits is impracticable but sustained operations with sufficient force may succeed.
Systematic Reduction Strategy Proposed
Carden proposes reducing forts, suppressing mobile guns and clearing minefields rather than attempting a rapid passage.
Battle of Dardanelles
Suggests an attack on the Dardanelles at a War Council meeting
Planned Offensive in Flanders
The War Council meeting agrees French's plan for an offensive in Flanders
Battle of Dardanelles
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
Dardanelles Attack Plan Submitted
Carden submits a staged plan for reducing Ottoman forts and clearing the Dardanelles minefields.
Six Submarines Requested
Carden's plan includes six submarines for operations beyond and within the Straits.
Sixteen Destroyers Requested
Carden asks for sixteen destroyers to support the fleet during the proposed Dardanelles operation.
Three Battlecruisers Requested
Carden includes three battlecruisers in the force he considers necessary for sustained operations in the Straits.
Three Light Cruisers Requested
Carden's force proposal includes three light cruisers for reconnaissance, support and protection duties.
Twelve Battleships Requested
Carden's scheme requests twelve battleships as the core heavy force for the proposed Dardanelles operation.
Twelve Minesweepers Requested
Carden requests twelve minesweepers because clearing Ottoman minefields is essential to any advance toward the Narrows.
Battle of Dardanelles
The British War Council resolve that the Admiralty should prepare for a naval expedition in February against the Dardanelles
Battle of 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
War Council
The British War Council resolve that the Admiralty should prepare for a naval expedition in February against the Dardanelles
War Council Approves Naval Expedition
The War Council approves preparation for a naval expedition based on Carden's staged Dardanelles scheme.
Agreement on Mutual support between Italy and Rumania announced
Existence of secret agreement for mutual support between Italy and Rumania announced by respective Governments
Battle of 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
Endurance Expedition
Endurance becomes trapped in Weddell Sea pack ice, ending the planned crossing of Antarctica
Blockade of Great Britain
German zeppelins launch the 1st air raid on Britain
First Zeppelin Raid on Britain
German Zeppelins launch the first air raid on Britain.
Great Britain Home Front under Blockade Pressure
German attacks on Britain occur alongside the wider effort to pressure the country through maritime and aerial warfare.
Admiralty Dogger Bank Interception Planned
British naval intelligence gives the Admiralty enough warning to organise an interception of Hipper's force.
Battlecruiser Force Dispatched from Rosyth
Beatty sails from Rosyth with five battlecruisers after the Admiralty orders an interception of Hipper.
Harwich Force Sorties for Dogger Bank
Tyrwhitt's light cruisers and destroyers sail from Harwich to join the planned interception near Dogger Bank.
Room 40 Deciphers German Dogger Bank Orders
Room 40 deciphers German naval signals revealing Hipper's planned operation toward Dogger Bank.
Aurora Encounters SMS Kolberg
HMS Aurora encounters SMS Kolberg near Dogger Bank, helping trigger the opening exchanges of the battle.
Battle of Dogger Bank
Beatty's battlecruisers intercept Hipper's squadron at Dogger Bank. SMS Blücher is sunk while the surviving German battlecruisers escape.
Battlecruiser Pursuit of Hipper Begins
Beatty begins a high-speed pursuit as Hipper's force retreats from the approaching British battlecruisers.
Beatty Pursuit Signal Misunderstood
Confusing signals from the damaged Lion are misunderstood, disrupting Beatty's attempt to continue pursuing Hipper.
Blücher Sinking Welcomed
Churchill treats the destruction of Blücher as evidence of British battlecruiser superiority.
British Battlecruisers Open Long-Range Fire
Beatty closes the range and his battlecruisers open fire on Hipper's retreating ships.
British Dogger Bank Rendezvous Arranged
Beatty's battlecruisers are directed toward a rendezvous with supporting cruisers and destroyers near Dogger Bank.
British Fire Redirected onto SMS Blücher
British battlecruisers concentrate on the crippled Blücher instead of continuing the pursuit of Hipper's surviving ships.
Dogger Bank Battle Report Sent to Kitchener
Churchill reports the battle to Kitchener and describes the pursuit and sinking of Blücher.
Dogger Bank German Sortie Intercepted
Admiralty intelligence helps British battlecruisers intercept Admiral Hipper's force at Dogger Bank.
How these records were prepared
Generated from the World History Database historical_events table. Identical display records are collapsed; descriptions otherwise retain the stored text. Coverage and source quality vary. Check primary and specialist sources before citing individual historical claims.