Source: File: Eric Robinson returning wounded to England from the Dardanelles,
1915.jpg, 2015. Chapter 4. Kipper in the Dardanelles. Persona Naval Press. [online] Available at :
<http://www.personanavalpress.co.uk/kipper_vc1.htm> [Accessed: 24
February 2015].
The Dardanelles
A passable
channel in Turkey,
Formed a
passageway between
The Aegean and
Sea of Marmara.
A navigable
waterway once known
As the sea of
Helle, then became
Strait of the
Dardanelles - to play
A significant
part by February 1915.
One of two waterways,
between
The lands of
Europe and Asia -
A second being
Bosporus - to take
Its name from a
city on the Asian
Shore of Dardanus,
in the Dardania
District - a
colony of Greek Aeolians.
An area with a
history of battles
Genocides, massacres
and revolts
To follow on from
a Crimea war -
The narrow Aegean
strait would
Soon to take a
new strategy with
Russia's part in
the European war.
A shrinking Ottoman
Empire had,
By 1914 - been
driven from Africa
And Europe, to
enter war from an
1879 coalition - on
side of the Central
Powers - uniting
Austria Hungary,
Bulgaria and
Germany, in a Quadruple
Alliance against
the armies of allies.
The Dardanelles
straits was seen
As a significant
place, being a route
Between Russian
Empire and allied
Powers - so a decisive campaign
Was formulated to
shorten the war.
The Strategy
As First Lord of
the Admiralty,
Winston Churchill
believed that
A pathway could be
gained
Through the
Dardanelles -
Forcing Turkey
from the war.
The Straits that
kept apart
Asia and Europe, fed
the waters
Of Marmara and
the Black Sea.
A turnabout would
have advantages
Of putting
pressure on Germany's
Eastern Front - and in opening up
Routes between
Russia and Europe,
In exchanges of
supplies, to give
Needed relief to
the Western Front.
This campaign did
not need troops,
But would be done
by the forces
Of the navy - on
paper such ideas
Seemed simple - with battleship
Broadside guns
aiming at Batteries
And forts on
shore - Surely Turkish
Resistance would
crumble under this.
Great calibre naval
guns could
Provide a spectacular
destruction
On land targets - but as had been
Seen on the
western front, troops
Digging in could
survive barrages.
Turkish defences also
lay in waters
By the placing of
mines - these
Could destroy the
largest war ships.
With the idea of
converted trawlers
To push such
mines aside - this would
Have to be done
under fire of Turkish
Gunnery - a
problem also being close
Enough to break
down Turkish guns -
Still the mines would
be in the way.
The operation
commenced on a day
Of 19 February
1915, but bad weather
Worked against the
plan - not until
25 February did
the attack resume.
Under guide of Vice
Admiral Carden,
Commodore Roger
Keyes planned
Out the campaign
- to clear minefield
The forts had to
be crushed - men
Would be landed
to destroy gunnery.
The Attack
Without supply of
troops, a landing
Force of marines
and sailors would
Hit the Turk's
guns - to achieve this
Royal Naval
officer, First Lieutenant-
Commander Eric
Robinson assigned
To take full charge
of the landing raid.
This keen officer
known as 'Kipper'
Had been in the
navy since 1897,
Well known to
Commodore Keyes,
Who believed his
coolness under
Fire and
expertise with explosives,
Was needed to
make this a success.
The gateway to
the strait was held
By Turkish forts
Seddulbahir on the
European side and
Kumkale on the
Asian side. Such
positions were open
To easy warship
attacks - from a sea
Maneuver any ship
might turn about
To fire on them
from a lengthy range.
The Turkish
decision was to give out
Only minimal
resistance, to allow
The war ships
into the narrow strait -
After which they
abandoned the forts,
Late in the day
of the 25 February -
To turn to their
other sea defences;
Mines and other
gun emplacements.
The Raid
Almost nothing
was known about
The Turkish
situation on the ground,
As First
Lieutenant Kipper Robinson,
With his party of
raiders, made
A move to land on
the Asiatic side -
Without meeting
any resistance.
The sailors and
marines, in normal
Issue of white
uniforms, edged
Along to where a
gun was under
Observation by
HMS Vengeance.
At a point near a
village cemetery
They were
suddenly under rifle
Fire, coming from
varied directions.
Support came from
ship's salvos,
Aimed on the
village, which only
Destroyed a
number of windmills.
Still fire came
on them from front
And flank, as
Kipper and the party
Made their way to
Achilles’ Mound,
A burial site
of an ancient Greek god.
At the hills top,
the Turkish guns
Were sat in a
hollow - Kipper
Was faced with
the uncertainty
If these guns
were manned -
While their white
uniforms made
For easy targets to
the snipers.
Under their
officer's decision,
The party
remained in position
Halfway - as
Kipper loaded with
Fuses and
explosives moved on.
Aware of his
visibility, Kipper
Stepped out in
sight of snipers,
And watched by
British crews
At his
audacity - a lone figure
Making his way up
the hill,
Seemingly dodging
bullets.
He found a lone
75 mm Field
Gun, on which he
fixed charges.
With all fuses
set he walked
Clear, as the gun
was blown -
Being completely
destroyed.
The job was not quite
over
As the group, led
by fearless
Kipper,
approached fort no four,
Orhaniye - At the abandoned
Tower, Kipper
unable to carry
Enough explosives
for purpose,
Went forward with
a selected
Small group - inside
A fierce 240 mm
Fortress gun.
They worked and
carried out
Their mission in
its destruction.
With damage
inflicted, the men
Hurried to make
their return
To their
boats - to encounter
Fire of Turkish
troops - help
Came from
Vengeance, to allow
The party escaped
to safety.
The success of
the raid left one
Marine killed and
three wounded.
Kipper and his supporting
party
took the risk to
destroy gunnery
By the very act
of his being in full
View, as a white
target, had taken
Immense courage -
a Victoria Cross
Was recommended
for Kipper's
Bravery in the
face of the enemy.
by Jamie Mann.
Source: File:
Chapter 4. Kipper in the Dardanelles. Persona Naval Press. [online] Available
at: <http://www.personanavalpress.co.uk/kipper_vc1.htm> [Accessed: 28
February 2015].
Mann, J., 2015. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal
communication, 28 February 2015).
#WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #ww1centenary
#worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered #WW1Turkey #WW1Dardanelles #WW1Turkey
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