Lions led by donkeys? > Gallipoli
Gallipoli, 1915
In 1915, Britain’s political and military leaders began to realise that the war would be long and
costly. Casualties were increasing on the western front as the fighting became bogged down in
the stalemate of trench warfare.
British, Empire and French leaders began to look for other ways to attack the enemy and
possibly achieve a knockout blow. The First Lord of the Admiralty, Winston Churchill, put
forward a daring plan to attack Germany’s ally, Turkey. In this case study are a range of
sources that help to tell the story of that campaign at Gallipoli.
You will probably find it helpful to study the Background before you
start looking at the sources.
Use the Worksheet as you look through the sources. This will help you
plan your research and think about how to present your findings.
Sources
British intelligence
report on Gallipoli,
1914
British War Council
meeting, 1915
News from the commander at Gallipoli,
March 1915
Award of Victoria
Crosses for heroism
in 1915
Report by General
Birdwood at ANZAC
Cove, 1915
Soldiers’ experiences
of conditions at
Gallipoli
Photos of troops,
1915
News from the commander at Gallipoli,
May 1915
Admiral Fisher
objects to the plans,
May 1915
Debate in government committee,
August 1915
Letter about senior
officers, August 1915
Report on withdrawal, November 1915
http://www.learningcurve.gov.uk/greatwar/
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Lions led by donkeys? > Gallipoli
Source 1
Extracts from a British military intelligence report on the Gallipoli area, September 1914
(Catalogue ref: WO 106/1463)
1a
1b
1c
How to use this source:
Study this source carefully. It contains information that could be useful in your presentation. As
you study the source, ask yourself:
z
z
z
z
z
z
z
z
What does the map tell you about the landscape of Gallipoli?
What information about Gallipoli is contained in extract 1b?
Do you think this type of landscape would suit defending or attacking forces?
Does extract 1b suggest that attacking Gallipoli is a good idea?
What information about Gallipoli is contained in extract 1c?
According to 1c, what had changed since 1906?
Does extract 1c suggest that attacking Gallipoli is a good idea?
Will you use any of these sources in your presentation?
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Lions led by donkeys? > Gallipoli
Source 1a
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Source 1b
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Lions led by donkeys? > Gallipoli
Source 1c
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Lions led by donkeys? > Gallipoli
Source 2
Extract from a meeting of the British government's War Council, January 1915
(Catalogue ref: CAB 42/1/26)
How to use this source:
Study this source carefully. It contains information that could be useful in your presentation. As
you study the source, ask yourself:
z
z
z
z
z
z
z
Who was 'the brains' behind the Dardanelles Campaign?
What was the attitude of Lord Fisher to the plan?
Did the other politicians at the meeting support the plan?
What were the main advantages of the plan?
What were the main risks?
Does this source suggest the risks were considered carefully?
Will you use this source in your presentation?
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Lions led by donkeys? > Gallipoli
Source 2
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Lions led by donkeys? > Gallipoli
Source 3
Extracts from a report by Sir Ian Hamilton, British commander at Gallipoli, to Lord
Kitchener, March 1915
(Catalogue ref: PRO 30/57/61)
3a
3b
3c
3d
How to use this source:
Study this source carefully. It contains information that could be useful in your presentation. As
you study the source, ask yourself:
z What was Hamilton's reaction to actually seeing Gallipoli for the first time?
z What does this suggest about the planning of the campaign?
z What went wrong with the naval attack? What does this suggest about the planning of the
campaign?
z Will you use this source in your presentation?
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Lions led by donkeys? > Gallipoli
Source 3a
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Source 3b
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Source 3c
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Source 3d
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Lions led by donkeys? > Gallipoli
Source 4
Report in 1917 of the award of Victoria Crosses to soldiers for actions on 25 April 1915
(Catalogue ref: WO 32/4995)
How to use this source:
Study this source carefully. It contains information that could be useful in your presentation. As
you study the source, ask yourself:
Which soldiers were awarded the Victoria Cross?
Which regiment did they come from?
What does this source tell you about the dangers the troops faced at Gallipoli?
Does this source suggest that the soldiers performed well under fire?
Does the source suggest that the VC winners were completely exceptional?
Why were the two VC winners unable to collect their medals and what does this suggest
about the nature of the fighting at Gallipoli?
z Will you use this source in your presentation?
z
z
z
z
z
z
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Lions led by donkeys? > Gallipoli
Source 4
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Lions led by donkeys? > Gallipoli
Source 5
Extract from a report by General Sir William Birdwood at ANZAC Cove, May 1915
(Catalogue ref: PRO 30/57/61)
How to use this source:
Study this source carefully. It contains information that could be useful in your presentation. As
you study the source, ask yourself:
z
z
z
z
z
What does this source tell you about conditions for the troops at Gallipoli?
How well did they adapt to the conditions?
What does this source suggest about relations between the officers and troops?
What have General Birdwood and his other senior officers been doing?
Will you use this source in your presentation?
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Lions led by donkeys? > Gallipoli
Source 5
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Lions led by donkeys? > Gallipoli
Source 6
Soldiers' experiences of conditions at Gallipoli during the campaign in 1915
(Catalogue ref: c. The National Archives RAIL 253/516, a. & b. Courtesy of the Imperial
War Museum, 007396, 008667)
6a
6b
6c
How to use this source:
Study this source carefully. It contains information that could be useful in your presentation. As
you study the source, ask yourself:
z What do these sources tell you about the fighting and general conditions in Gallipoli?
z Do any of these sources help to explain how the soldiers coped with the conditions?
z Source 6a was an officer and source 6b and 6c were ordinary soldiers. Do these sources
suggest their experiences were very different?
z The letter was written in 1915. The two interviews were recorded in 1984. Does this matter
in terms of the value of these sources for historians?
z Will you use any of these sources in your presentation?
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Lions led by donkeys? > Gallipoli
Source 6a
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Source 6b
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Source 6c
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Lions led by donkeys? > Gallipoli
Source 7
Photographs of troops involved in the Gallipoli campaign, 1915
(Courtesy of the Imperial War Museum, a. Q13659, b. Q13622, c. Q13689, d. Q14849, e.
Q13462)
7a
7b
7c
7d
7e
How to use this source:
Study this source carefully. It contains information that could be useful in your presentation. As
you study the source, ask yourself:
z What do these photos tell you about the fighting and conditions at Gallipoli?
z What do they suggest about how the troops coped with the conditions and adapted to
them?
z Do these sources support or contradict the impression of Gallipoli given in any of the other
sources in this case study?
z Will you use any of these sources in your presentation?
http://www.learningcurve.gov.uk/greatwar/
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Lions led by donkeys? > Gallipoli
Source 7a
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Source 7b
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Source 7c
http://www.learningcurve.gov.uk/greatwar/
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Source 7d
http://www.learningcurve.gov.uk/greatwar/
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Source 7e
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Lions led by donkeys? > Gallipoli
Source 8
Extracts from a report by Sir Ian Hamilton, British commander at Gallipoli, to Lord
Kitchener, May 1915
(Catalogue ref: PRO 30/57/61)
8a
8b
How to use this source:
Study this source carefully. It contains information that could be useful in your presentation. As
you study the source, ask yourself:
z
z
z
z
z
What problems is Hamilton facing by May 1915?
How many of these problems are outside his control?
What is Hamilton's answer to his problems?
What is Hamilton's attitude towards the Turks and did he prove to be right?
Will you use this source in your presentation?
http://www.learningcurve.gov.uk/greatwar/
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Lions led by donkeys? > Gallipoli
Source 8a
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Lions led by donkeys? > Gallipoli
Source 8b
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Lions led by donkeys? > Gallipoli
Source 9
Extracts from a letter by Admiral Sir John Fisher to Winston Churchill, May 1915
(Catalogue ref: CAB 63/4)
9a
9b
How to use this source:
Study this source carefully. It contains information that could be useful in your presentation. As
you study the source, ask yourself:
z
z
z
z
z
What is Admiral Fisher's attitude towards the Gallipoli campaign?
What does Fisher base his views on?
What connections can you find between this source and source 2?
Does this source suggest that the military commanders supported the Gallipoli campaign?
Will you use this source in your presentation?
http://www.learningcurve.gov.uk/greatwar/
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Lions led by donkeys? > Gallipoli
Source 9a
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Source 9b
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Lions led by donkeys? > Gallipoli
Source 10
Extracts from a meeting of the Dardanelles Committee, 27 August 1915
(Catalogue ref: CAB 42/3/17)
10a
10b
10c
How to use this source:
Study this source carefully. It contains information that could be useful in your presentation. As
you study the source, ask yourself:
z
z
z
z
What is the attitude of the politicians towards the Gallipoli campaign at this time?
What are their main concerns?
In what ways does this source present a contrasting picture compared to source 2?
Will you use this source in your presentation?
http://www.learningcurve.gov.uk/greatwar/
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Lions led by donkeys? > Gallipoli
Source 10a
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Lions led by donkeys? > Gallipoli
Source 10b
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Source 10c
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Lions led by donkeys? > Gallipoli
Source 11
Extracts from a letter by General Sir Henry de Beauvoir de Lisle to General Sir Henry
Wilson, August 1915
(Catalogue ref: WO 106/707)
11a
11b
How to use this source:
Study this source carefully. It contains information that could be useful in your presentation. As
you study the source, ask yourself:
z
z
z
z
z
What problems does the writer describe?
Does he blame anyone for the problems?
Have the senior officers suffered casualties?
Do you get the impression that the senior officers are doing well in this campaign?
Will you use this source in your presentation?
http://www.learningcurve.gov.uk/greatwar/
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Lions led by donkeys? > Gallipoli
Source 11a
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Lions led by donkeys? > Gallipoli
Source 11b
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Lions led by donkeys? > Gallipoli
Source 12
Extracts from a report by the British General staff, 22 November 1915
(Catalogue ref: CAB 42/5/20)
How to use this source:
Study this source carefully. It contains information that could be useful in your presentation. As
you study the source, ask yourself:
z
z
z
z
What are the arguments in favour of staying in Gallipoli?
What are the arguments against?
Why was the decision difficult?
Will you use this source in your presentation?
http://www.learningcurve.gov.uk/greatwar/
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Lions led by donkeys? > Gallipoli
Source 12
http://www.learningcurve.gov.uk/greatwar/
Page 41