THE headlines of London’s Daily Mail of November 13, 1915, screamed:
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I’M FINISHED
SHADOW OF GALLIPOLI DISASTER CUTS SHORT HIS DAZZLING CAREER.
The headlines were referring to none other than Winston Churchill, who had just previously been removed as First Lord of the Admiralty from the British government, in which capacity he was held responsible for the dismal lack of success of the campaign in the Dardenelles, of which he was the architect.
As First Lord, Churchill had promoted the campaign against Germany’s ally the Ottoman Empire. He first sent the navy through the Dardenelles straits and then landed men on the Gallipoli peninsula with the eventual aim of capturing Constantinople (now Istanbul).
He was to say that the Allied force "was within a few miles of such a victory as the world has never seen". The Ottoman Turks, however, proved indomitable and thousands of Allied men were lost for no result.
The number of soldiers killed during the tragic and disastrous campaign, amounted to a total of over 131,000, with the British losing over 21,000, the Australians over 8000, New Zealand over 2700; the French lost more men than the Anzac forces. To put those figures into perspective, the victors, the Turks, lost over 87,000.
Recently, a British historian was to question Australia’s obsession with a Turkish victory, which goes to show that it is not necessarily what happened in an event, but what people think happened. To many Australian eyes, Gallipoli represents "the birth of the nation".
The man sometimes regarded as Churchill’s arch rival, Lord Kitchener, described him in the Sudan conflict of 1898, as "publicity seeking", "medal seeking" and "an upstart". Churchill in reply stated that, "He may be a general – but never a gentleman".
The newspaper, unflatteringly, said that, "With his departure from the government, Winston Churchill can now resume his drinking habit (If indeed he ever stopped)."
Apparently he was one of a number of British Cabinet members asked to sign the King’s Pledge, promising to give up alcohol for the duration of the war. This idea was instigated by the Chancellor, David Lloyd George, to set an example to munitions workers, whose drinking habits were supposedly endangering lives.
The paper claimed that Churchill always started the day with a whisky, a habit acquired in India. When he travelled to the Boer War as a reporter, he allegedly took with him 40 bottles of wine, 18 of whisky and five of brandy. Churchill thought that there was no point to Lloyd George’s idea.
As most people know, Churchill was to revive his career during World War II as the pugnacious British leader.
Notices
Victor Onopko exhibition – drawings of Vahland’s buildings and Anzac display at Specimen Cottage Tuesday and Thursday 10am to 4pm and Saturday 1pm to 4pm.
Shamrock tours every Sunday at 2pm. Cost $10 includes cake and coffee. Book at Shamrock on 5443 0333.