The Royal Navy and the Dardanelles

In early 1915, seeking to break the bloody stalemate on the Western Front, Winston Churchill, First Lord of the Admiralty, instigated a high-stakes naval campaign to force open the Dardanelles Strait. The strategic objective was to knock Ottoman Turkey out of World War I, relieve pressure on Russia, and open a critical Black Sea supply route.

However, the campaign severely underestimated the Ottoman defenses. It ended in a catastrophic naval defeat that directly triggered the tragic ground invasion of the Gallipoli Peninsula.

Our speaker Dr John Peaty has a remarkably distinguished military historian and geographer and joins us with a wealth of knowledge, having spent a long and varied career in government service with the Ministry of Defence’s Army Historical Branch.

He holds his PhD and Master’s in War Studies from King’s College London, and is a Fellow of both the Royal Historical and the Royal Geographical Societies. Beyond his impressive academic credentials, John is widely known across the historical community for his incredible depth of insight, his extensive work leading battlefield tours, and a wonderfully sharp, engaging delivery.

All are welcome to attend this event, and everyone is guaranteed a warm welcome with the doors opening at 6.30pm ready for a 7pm start.