Large Scale Central

What's special about 26 Jan?

Rudolf,
a history of the Dardanelles, 1915, is interesting reading. The English sufffered incredible losses as they similarly attempted a landing folly right into a machine gun nest. However, like at Gallipoli, the English officers refused to withdraw and so soldier fodder was ordered to exit their landing craft, knowing full well that death was a more than even option. Unlike their English compatriots, the Australian soldiers after withdrawing from Gallipoli and being sent straight into the fray on the western front, actually mutinied against their English overlords and refused to fight. They had seen enough drunken folly from their overlords in the Dardanelles. Australian losses were in the order of 8000 dead. Offhand, I believe English losses amounted to over 100,000 on the shores of the Dardanelles.

     Who was responsible for the fiasco in the Dardanelles?  None other than a young Winston Churchill,  Lord of the Admiralty.  He underestimated the national fervour of the Turkish people,  thinking that over running Turkey would bring a back door fight to the Germans. Remember,  this was the same Admiralty that 'forgot' to advise the Lusitania of the presence of a German U-boat in 1915,  resulting in the loss of 1500 lives.  If the Lusitania captain had been advised of the presence of an enemy submarine, then he would have ventured closer to the shoreline where the submarine could not travel.   It was well known that neutral American ships were ferrying arms to England and seen as part of a plot to embroil America into WW1.

     I similarly,  have an insatiable urge to learn of Scottish history.  Scottish history is entwined with English history and so by learning one we learn of the history of the other country.  Involvement with the French also plays a big part in the history at this time.