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Dardanelles Commission

October 21, 2023

The Dardanelles Commission was an investigation into the disastrous 1915 Dardanelles Campaign.[1] It was set up under the Special Commissions (Dardanelles and Mesopotamia) Act 1916.[2] The final report of the commission, issued in 1919, found major problems with the planning and execution of the campaign.[1]

Winston Churchill (pictured in 1919) was largely blamed for British failures during the Dardanelles Campaign.

Investigation and findings Edit

Winston Churchill had been largely blamed for the failures of the British forces during the campaign since, as First Lord of the Admiralty, he had been responsible for instigating the plan and obtaining Cabinet approval to carry it out. The resignation of First Sea Lord Admiral Fisher in May 1915, because of escalating disagreements between himself and Churchill, triggered the collapse of Asquith's Liberal government. Asquith formed a new coalition government, with Churchill's removal from the Admiralty a price of Conservative support. Churchill remained in the new Cabinet in the sinecure post of Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, and served on the Dardanelles Committee. When the Dardanelles Committee was dissolved and replaced by the new War Committee, Churchill was not included in the new committee, so he resigned from the government in November 1915. For a time, he took up a position as a battalion commander on the Western Front (while remaining a Member of Parliament). He returned to parliamentary duty in 1916, where he attempted to rehabilitate his reputation, when the battalion was amalgamated with another.

Churchill sought to obtain the release of government papers, which, he felt, would vindicate his own actions. In May Bonar Law had indicated on behalf of the Prime Minister that this might be possible, but by June, Prime Minister H. H. Asquith, had decided that it could not be done. Matters were complicated by the death of Field Marshal Kitchener, who had been Secretary of State for War, on 6 June 1916.

Instead, Asquith agreed to the setting up of a Commission of Enquiry into the affair, which was announced on 18 July 1916. The Earl of Cromer, known to Churchill, was to be the chairman. Churchill anticipated that he would be able to attend meetings of the commission, but they were held in secret. Instead he had to be content with giving evidence himself in September and arranging for other witnesses whom he felt important to be heard by the commission.[3]

Witnesses of those involved in the expedition were interviewed, with its final report issued in 1919. It concluded that the expedition had been poorly planned and executed and that difficulties had been underestimated; problems were exacerbated by supply shortages and by personality clashes and procrastination at high levels.

Appointees Edit

 
Andrew Fisher was a member of the commission.

The following were appointed:[4]

References Edit

  1. ^ a b Lambert, Nicholas A. (1 April 2021), "Introduction", The War Lords and the Gallipoli Disaster, Oxford University Press, pp. 1–17, doi:10.1093/oso/9780197545201.003.0001, ISBN 978-0-19-754520-1, retrieved 7 July 2023
  2. ^ "Special Commissions to Enquire into the Operations of War in Mesopotamia (Hamilton Commission) and in the Dardanelles (Cromer and Pickford Commission): Records". Kew, London: The National Archives. 1916–1919. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  3. ^ Jenkins pp. 313–315
  4. ^ From: 'Appendix 1', Office-Holders in Modern Britain: Volume 10: Officials of Royal Commissions of Inquiry 1870–1939 (1995), pp. 85–8. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=16611. Date accessed: 12 August 2007.[dead link]

Bibliography Edit

External links Edit

  • Summarised conclusions of the report
  • UK Report conclusions Summary page of general conclusion from UK national archives

October 21, 2023
dardanelles, commission, investigation, into, disastrous, 1915, dardanelles, campaign, under, special, commissions, dardanelles, mesopotamia, 1916, final, report, commission, issued, 1919, found, major, problems, with, planning, execution, campaign, winston, c. The Dardanelles Commission was an investigation into the disastrous 1915 Dardanelles Campaign 1 It was set up under the Special Commissions Dardanelles and Mesopotamia Act 1916 2 The final report of the commission issued in 1919 found major problems with the planning and execution of the campaign 1 Winston Churchill pictured in 1919 was largely blamed for British failures during the Dardanelles Campaign Contents 1 Investigation and findings 2 Appointees 3 References 4 Bibliography 5 External linksInvestigation and findings EditWinston Churchill had been largely blamed for the failures of the British forces during the campaign since as First Lord of the Admiralty he had been responsible for instigating the plan and obtaining Cabinet approval to carry it out The resignation of First Sea Lord Admiral Fisher in May 1915 because of escalating disagreements between himself and Churchill triggered the collapse of Asquith s Liberal government Asquith formed a new coalition government with Churchill s removal from the Admiralty a price of Conservative support Churchill remained in the new Cabinet in the sinecure post of Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and served on the Dardanelles Committee When the Dardanelles Committee was dissolved and replaced by the new War Committee Churchill was not included in the new committee so he resigned from the government in November 1915 For a time he took up a position as a battalion commander on the Western Front while remaining a Member of Parliament He returned to parliamentary duty in 1916 where he attempted to rehabilitate his reputation when the battalion was amalgamated with another Churchill sought to obtain the release of government papers which he felt would vindicate his own actions In May Bonar Law had indicated on behalf of the Prime Minister that this might be possible but by June Prime Minister H H Asquith had decided that it could not be done Matters were complicated by the death of Field Marshal Kitchener who had been Secretary of State for War on 6 June 1916 Instead Asquith agreed to the setting up of a Commission of Enquiry into the affair which was announced on 18 July 1916 The Earl of Cromer known to Churchill was to be the chairman Churchill anticipated that he would be able to attend meetings of the commission but they were held in secret Instead he had to be content with giving evidence himself in September and arranging for other witnesses whom he felt important to be heard by the commission 3 Witnesses of those involved in the expedition were interviewed with its final report issued in 1919 It concluded that the expedition had been poorly planned and executed and that difficulties had been underestimated problems were exacerbated by supply shortages and by personality clashes and procrastination at high levels Appointees Edit nbsp Andrew Fisher was a member of the commission The following were appointed 4 Earl of Cromer initial chairman died 29 January 1917 Sir William Pickford chairman Andrew Fisher former Prime Minister of Australia Thomas Mackenzie former Prime Minister of New Zealand Sir Frederick Cawley Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Lord Clyde Privy Counsellor Stephen Gwynn MP for Galway Walter Roch MP for Pembrokeshire Admiral of the Fleet Sir William May Field Marshal The Lord NicholsonReferences Edit a b Lambert Nicholas A 1 April 2021 Introduction The War Lords and the Gallipoli Disaster Oxford University Press pp 1 17 doi 10 1093 oso 9780197545201 003 0001 ISBN 978 0 19 754520 1 retrieved 7 July 2023 Special Commissions to Enquire into the Operations of War in Mesopotamia Hamilton Commission and in the Dardanelles Cromer and Pickford Commission Records Kew London The National Archives 1916 1919 Retrieved 8 July 2023 Jenkins pp 313 315 From Appendix 1 Office Holders in Modern Britain Volume 10 Officials of Royal Commissions of Inquiry 1870 1939 1995 pp 85 8 URL http www british history ac uk report asp compid 16611 Date accessed 12 August 2007 dead link Bibliography EditJenkins Roy Churchill 2001 ISBN 0 333 78290 9 Macmillan Carlyon Lee Gallipoli 2001 Doubleday ISBN 0 385 60475 0External links Editdiggerhistory Summarised conclusions of the report UK Report conclusions Summary page of general conclusion from UK national archives Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Dardanelles Commission amp oldid 1173659811, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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