But the complete absence of strategic intelligence and total lack of drive from higher command was all ours. The whole debacle was prosecuted so ineptly due to British arrogance and the inbuilt superiority complex of the higher command, especially Churchill, Haig, and the Lunatic Jackie Fisher. The prevailing attitude was that we simply had to turn up and Johnny Turk would run away. When they didn’t, the only plan we had was to throw more and more men at the problem because we couldn’t be seen to withdraw…..it might give other foreigners ideas above their station! Oh, and we attacked the Dardanelles with battle cruisers on Churchill’s orders before we actually declared war on the Ottoman Empire……
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I know from personal experience squaddies were involved in evaluating APCs, AFVs (and clothing, small arms) etc. We wrote lengthy reports that were promptly disregarded by the suits and (mainly) civilian manned committees! Never was there a better truism than 'A camel is a horse designed by a committee!'
SteveComment
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Yes, there was a lot of incompetence on the British side, although the basic concept of forcing Germany to fight on a second front, without their supply channels via the Black Sea, was a great idea. I don't think that Churchill supposed that the Turks would run away, rather that they would join the British, or at least keep out of our way - I presume that was the intelligence failure. Some amazing mistakes include as you said the shelling by cruisers in spite of the unsuitable trajectory of their armament thus giving the Turks and Germans ample warning of the intended invasion, and the local commander on Lemnos whose name I can't recall who decided that to acclimatise the troop to the hot weather, they should unload the supply ships then reload them in a different order, so the items needed first, particularly water tanks, were at the bottom of the holds. Many of the first invading force were carrying 200 rounds of ammunition that didn't suit their weapons, and at least one was disciplined for throwing away what for him was a useless dead weight, especially when wading through chest-deep seawater under machine gun fire.
I have some personal connection to the debacle; my paternal grandfather had lied about his age to join up in December 1914, was sent to Gallipoli for the second invasion at Suvla Bay. Within 3 weeks he was in hospital for three bullet wounds in his shoulder and back. He lost the use of the upper muscles in his left arm, could use the wrist and hand but had to lift his left arm with the right. He was discharged from the army two weeks before his 18th birthday, but of course he'd signed up to serve His Majesty for the duration, so he was posted to an ammunition factory as a checker. It was there he met my grandma, so I suppose I wouldn't exist if it weren't for a few Turkish bullets.
PeteComment
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Good summary. At the start of hostilities we basically stole two battleships (that we didn’t need) off of the Turks that had been bought and paid for. We never gave back the money after keeping the ships either. That was an exceptional diplomatic error, and possibly the single biggest reason Turkey turned to the central powers. Only an egomaniac would think they’d join us after that? Germany of course compounded that error and cemented the alliance by giving them Goeben after it was chased into their territory.
The Dardanelles scheme was better than Fishers other plan to invade Germany via Denmark though. That one could’ve lost the war in a week.Comment
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Very true. I actually fitted the SCAT mount for the battalions 432's so that the WOMBAT could be not only transported inside but could be hoisted up through the hatch and used in the open mounted version. And this was my workmate through the conversions...
... Great fun riding around in this, fitters wondered why it had no fuel when they came back and all their tea bags were missing - I soon confessed....Comment
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