676. The First World War: Churchill’s Calamity (Part 6)

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A mother writes a letter to her son Jack during World War I, expressing her relief and pride regarding his deployment. She highlights the praised bravery of the Australian troops at the Dardanelles, as recognized by Mr. Asquith in the House of Commons.

A letter from Sarah Fitzpatrick to her son Jack was found on his body after he was killed at Anzac Cove during the Gallipoli campaign. Jack Fitzpatrick was one of many who died there, but remains highly famous, particularly in Australia.

Dominic Sandbrook and Tom Holland discuss the tragic Gallipoli campaign of 1915, highlighting the legendary figure of John Simpson and his donkey. They detail the strategic failures of Winston Churchill's plan to force the Dardanelles and the heavy casualties suffered by Allied forces in their attempts to advance inland.

Dominic Sandbrook and Tom Holland discuss the brutal stalemate at Gallipoli, highlighting a rare day-long ceasefire between the Anzacs and the Turks to bury the dead. They also profile Aubrey Herbert, the eccentric British officer and diplomat who helped organize the truce.

Dominic Sandbrook and Tom Holland discuss the temporary ceasefire at Gallipoli on May 24, where Turkish and Allied soldiers briefly fraternized to bury their dead. They compare the conditions of the Gallipoli campaign to the Western Front, noting how veterans found the extreme temperatures, dust, and shallow trenches of Gallipoli to be even more grueling.

Dominic Sandbrook describes the grim reality of the Gallipoli campaign, where the inability to retrieve bodies led to overwhelming stench and decay. Through the accounts of Arthur Asquith and an unnamed private, he details how swarms of flies plagued the soldiers in the trenches.

Dominic Sandbrook describes the horrific sanitary conditions faced by soldiers during the Gallipoli campaign. Unlike the Western Front, Gallipoli lacked basic toilet facilities and toilet paper, forcing men to use letters from home.

The hosts discuss the horrific toll that dysentery and diarrhea took on soldiers during the Gallipoli campaign, describing it as a defining and deeply humiliating aspect of the experience. They share personal accounts of the illness, including those of future British Prime Minister Clement Attlee and Ordinary Seaman Joe Murray.

Dominic Sandbrook and Tom Holland discuss the horrific and unheroic conditions of trench warfare during the Gallipoli campaign. They contrast these grim deaths with romanticized ideals and highlight the unexpected resilience and religious devotion of the Turkish soldiers under Mustafa Kemal.

As the Gallipoli campaign grinds to a horrendous stalemate, Winston Churchill faces intense political backlash in London, with newspapers and colleagues turning against him. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Asquith is left devastated after learning that Venetia Stanley plans to marry Edwin Montagu.

As Prime Minister Asquith's government faces collapse, a bombshell report in The Times reveals a severe shortage of high explosive shells on the Western Front. Despite the growing crisis and internal leaks, War Secretary Lord Kitchener insists that Britain must continue the Gallipoli campaign to maintain its prestige.

Dominic Sandbrook and Tom Holland discuss the bizarre resignation of Admiral John Fisher, who opposed the Gallipoli campaign. Prime Minister Asquith attempted to stop him from resigning to avoid a public relations disaster, drawing comparisons to Lord Kitchener.

Admiral Fisher's resignation triggers a major political crisis in Westminster, forcing Prime Minister Asquith to form a coalition government. As part of the political compromise, Asquith is forced to remove Winston Churchill from the Admiralty and sacrifice his close ally Lord Haldane.

As the political crisis deepens in Britain, Prime Minister Asquith moves to form a coalition government, resulting in the ousting of Winston Churchill from the Admiralty. Meanwhile, troops at Gallipoli are left without reinforcements or communication for weeks as politicians in Westminster focus on their own survival. Churchill desperately fights to save his political career, causing further friction with his colleagues.

Dominic Sandbrook and Tom Holland discuss the dramatic fallout of Winston Churchill's removal from the Admiralty in May 1915. They highlight Clementine Churchill's desperate letter to Prime Minister Asquith, the scathing reaction of Asquith's wife Margot, and the widespread relief among Royal Navy admirals like Jellicoe and Beatty.

Following the disastrous Dardanelles campaign, Winston Churchill faces intense public humiliation and depression, yet continues to advocate for the campaign with grandiose rhetoric. Despite warnings from generals like Sir Douglas Haig, the British government decides to send more reinforcements to Gallipoli, deepening the military catastrophe.

Dominic Sandbrook and Tom Holland discuss the upcoming Allied reinforcements landing at Suvla Bay and the planned breakout by the Anzacs during the Gallipoli campaign. They reflect on the high stakes of this operation, which had the potential to dramatically alter the course of the First World War.

The hosts briefly pause their discussion of the First World War to transition into a commercial break, promising to return with more details.

Tom Holland introduces the late summer of 1915, noting that the Gallipoli campaign has been a total mess. He sarcastically asks Dominic Sandbrook if the British reinforcements will successfully enable the Allies to capture Constantinople and end the war.

Dominic Sandbrook outlines the Allied plan for the August Offensive, which involved landing fresh troops at Suvla Bay and launching attacks from Cape Helles and Anzac Cove. The operation quickly ran into trouble as troops faced chaotic landings, extreme heat, and fierce resistance from Turkish forces.

Dominic Sandbrook and Tom Holland discuss the Turkish counterattack led by Mustafa Kemal at Suvla, highlighting his narrow escape from shrapnel. They also detail the tragic Australian and New Zealand breakout attempt at Anzac Cove and criticize the historical inaccuracies in the film Gallipoli.

The hosts discuss the bizarre disappearance of the Sandringham Company during the Gallipoli campaign, which some retrospectively attributed to a UFO. They also describe the grueling conditions of the summer stalemate at Gallipoli and the geopolitical maneuvering of Bulgaria and other Balkan nations during the war.

Dominic Sandbrook and Tom Holland discuss Bulgaria's decision to join the Central Powers and attack Serbia in the autumn of 1915. Both hosts express their personal fondness for Bulgaria, with Dominic sharing memories of backpacking through Bulgarian cities like Plovdiv and Veliko Tarnovo.

This segment explores the shifting public opinion in Britain as the Gallipoli campaign falters and Bulgaria joins the Central Powers. It highlights the pivotal role of Australian reporter Keith Murdoch, who attempted to bypass wartime censorship to expose the military failures to British leadership.

Dominic Sandbrook and Tom Holland discuss how highly critical reports from journalists Keith Murdoch and Ellis Ashmead-Bartlett reached London's political elite. These accounts, shared with figures like David Lloyd George and Lord Northcliffe, turned high society opinion against the Dardanelles campaign. By October, the political discussion shifted from whether to abandon the campaign to when it would happen.

The segment explores the political and military aftermath of the disastrous Gallipoli campaign, leading to the sacking of General Ian Hamilton and the appointment of Charles Monro. Winston Churchill, outraged by the decision to evacuate, resigned from the government and sought redemption by serving on the Western Front.

Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook discuss the harrowing winter conditions faced by soldiers at Gallipoli, leading up to the remarkably successful and stealthy evacuations of Suvla and Anzac Cove. They also contrast Winston Churchill's genuine love of war and bravery with modern figures.

This segment details the remarkably successful Allied evacuation from the Gallipoli peninsula, focusing on the withdrawals from Suvla and Cape Helles. Dominic Sandbrook highlights the involvement of future Prime Minister Clement Attlee and shares a moving firsthand account of the retreat by seaman Joe Murray.

Dominic Sandbrook and Tom Holland discuss the strategic flaws of the Gallipoli campaign, arguing that even a successful naval passage would not have led to the occupation of Constantinople. They conclude, referencing historian Peter Hart, that the campaign was a costly distraction from the grueling war of attrition on the Western Front.

This segment explores the devastating human cost of the Gallipoli campaign and Winston Churchill's primary responsibility for the disaster. Despite the clear failure, Churchill's stubbornness and gambling nature led to immense casualties for British, French, Anzac, and Turkish forces, leaving a permanent stain on his reputation that followed him into the 1930s and World War II.

Dominic Sandbrook and Tom Holland discuss how the Gallipoli campaign served as the foundation for Mustafa Kemal's rise to power as the savior of Turkey. They also explore the profound national impact of the campaign on Australia and New Zealand, where the unprecedented loss of life marked a defining moment in their histories.

Dominic Sandbrook and Tom Holland discuss how the Gallipoli campaign helped forge a distinct Australian national identity. They analyze how figures like Keith Murdoch turned the military tragedy into a patriotic myth contrasting brave Anzacs with incompetent British officers.

The segment explores how the disastrous Gallipoli campaign, combined with sporting controversies like the Bodyline cricket series, severely damaged Britain's reputation in Australia. Historian Charles Bean played a key role in framing the bravery of the Anzac troops at Gallipoli as the foundational myth of Australian national identity. This legacy continues to be commemorated annually on Anzac Day in both Australia and New Zealand.

The hosts discuss the enduring legacy of the Anzac spirit in Australia, referencing a statement by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. They also explore how this national mythos was adopted and weaponized in sports, specifically by legendary Australian cricket captain Steve Waugh during matches against England.

Tom Holland discusses how the Australian team visited the graves at Gallipoli to reflect on mateship before playing against England.

Dominic Sandbrook and Tom Holland conclude their series on the First World War in 1915, reflecting on the tragic legacy of the Gallipoli campaign and the unfair historical reputation of British soldiers. They discuss how cultural depictions and figures like Winston Churchill shaped these perceptions before previewing their upcoming series on national anthems for the World Cup.