The fighting in the Gallipoli or Dardanelles campaign began in 1915 as a
purely naval affair undertaken partly at the instigation of Winston
Churchill, who, as First Lord of the Admiralty, had entertained plans of
capturing the Dardanelles as early as September 1914. It was the Royal
Navy that bore the brunt of the initial action, supported by the French
and with minor contributions from, the Russian and Australian fleets.
On 3 November 1914, Churchill ordered the first British attack on the
Dardanelles following the opening of hostilities between Ottoman and
Russian empires. The British attack was carried out by battle cruisers
of Carden's Mediterranean Squadron, HMS Indomitable and HMS
Indefatigable, as well as two French battleships. This attack actually
took place before a formal declaration of war had been made by Britain
against the Ottoman Empire. Royal Navy submarines had already been
operating in the region.
When the naval operations failed, a full invasion of the Gallipoli
Peninsula was launched. The bitter fighting that followed resonated
profoundly among all nations involved. The campaign was the first major
battle undertaken by the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC),
and is often considered to mark the birth of national consciousness in
both of these countries. For the Turkish forces it would prove a major
victory.
