‘Inside GHQ’ The Gallipoli Diary of Orlo Williams

Wessex WFA warmly welcomes Stephen Chambers on his first visit to the branch.  Stephen is one of the leading military historians of the Gallipoli campaign. Although this is his prime passion, he has also a great interest in British military history from the Crimea to the Second World War. Stephen has authored several very well received books on aspects of the Gallipoli campaign and was joint editor of the diary of Orlo Williams on which this talk is based.  

As a cipher officer within General Headquarters (GHQ), Captain Orlo Williams possessed privileged access to the secret communications that shaped the ill-fated 1915 expedition. He gives an insider’s account of life at GHQ, detailing the planning and execution of crucial moments – the landings, key battles, and the final evacuation. Witness the complex interplay between military commanders and politicians, illuminated by Orlo’s candid, often critical, assessments of figures like Hamilton, Churchill, and Kitchener.  This diary is an essential primary source, revealing the internal machinations, strategic debates, and political pressures defining one of the First World War’s most controversial campaigns.

Stephen's talk will give an insight into the workings of GHQ at Gallipoli, and what the key players, politicians and generals alike, knew, thought, or decided at the time.

Members and non-members of The Western Front Association are equally welcome. Any new visitors are guaranteed a friendly atmosphere and a warm welcome from a group of like-minded enthusiasts.