Author(s): Michael Hickey

First World War

In January 1915, Churchill, as First Lord of the Admiralty, overrode the advice of his First Sea Lord and persuaded the Cabinet to sanction a naval expedition to force its way to Constantinople. It was to eliminate Turkey from the war and thus sustain Russia's war effort. The campaign, which veered from the brink of victory to final resounding defeat, was one of the grimmest in modern history.