The Dardanelles campaign (Gallipoli)

February 1915-January 1916

The campaign was originally a response to Russian pressure on their British allies to open a front against Turkey, thereby drawing some Turkish troops away from the Caucasus front where Russia was being pushed back. The British intention was to force through the Dardanelles, the narrow straits that separated the Aegean Sea from the Sea of Mamara, and capture the Turkish capital, Constantinople. The British cabinet even hoped that success against Turkey would encourage Greece, Bulgaria and Roumania to enter the war against Germany and Austria. The plan's instigator was Kitchener and it received the enthusiastic support of Churchill, First lord of the Admiralty.

The first attempt was a naval attack on the Turkish forts that overlooked the Straits. After a bombardment the British and French ships tried to force the narrows on March 18; losses were heavy but the attack nearly succeeded and only bad weather prevented the further sweep of mines that was necessary.

Kitchener now favoured a change of tactics that required troops to be landed on the Gallipoli peninsula that commanded the Dardanelles and on 25 April landings were made at beaches at Cape Helles by British, French, Australian and New Zealand forces. The quick seizure of the Turkish forts never came and although beachheads were rapidly established the Allied troops, pinned down by heavier than expected Turkish resistance, were not able to break out from them. Turkish reinforcements were brought up and the campaign soon became, as on the western front, a battle of attrition fought from deeply incised trenches.

An attempt to break the stalemate was launched on 6 August when British, Australian and New Zealand troops landed further up the peninsula at Suvla Bay. Despite heavy losses - 12,000 dead and wounded out of 50,000 in the first four days of fighting - ground was gained, but poor leadership and logistical support meant the gains were not built upon. The campaign was finally abandoned at the end of 1915 when, in what was the its most successful aspect, the allied troops were evacuated.

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