Bashford, Rex Churchill as Warlord in WWI

The Admiralty, Tanks, Gallipoli and Munitions

Winston Churchill is best known today for his role as commander-in-chief of the British Empire during the Second World War. He led Britain through the darkest days of the war and achieved timeless fame through his defiant rhetorical eloquence in defending the values of the democratic philosophy behind Western civilisation. However, his contribution to the Allied victory in the First World War is less well known or understood. He held two important ministerial posts during the war First Lord of the Admiralty and Minister of Munitions. His fame was tarnished by the widespread view that he was responsible for the Gallipoli campaign and its disastrous outcome. But do the facts match this popular view? In fact, he was only responsible for the naval operation against the Dardanelles and never had the opportunity to make decisions regarding the army, which were the sole responsibility of Lord Kitchener, the Minister of War. He also opposed the army offensive at the time it was being discussed because he considered it very risky and knew that the Turks were fully mobilised to defend their position at Gallipoli. In fact, his replacement at the Admiralty at the same time as the Gallipoli campaign was reaching its climax was the result of political manoeuvring by the Prime Minister in forming a coalition government and bitter animosity arising from Churchill's departure from the Conservative Party 12 years earlier. It is therefore time to review all the evidence concerning the Dardanelles campaign and determine his actual contribution during the First World War. This book deals with the facts about the Dardanelles campaign and Churchill's other contributions to victory in the First World War. It is not surprising that the facts differ greatly from popular opinion.