Instructions, reports, orders of battle, staff diary and related papers of General Headquarters, Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, 1915

References on this page: HAMILTON: 7/4/1-43

HAMILTON: 7/4/1

1906 Dec 20

The possibility of joint naval and military attack upon the Dardanelles, memorandum by Gen Sir Neville Gerald Lyttelton, Chief of the General Staff, with remarks by R Adm Charles Langdale Ottley, Director of Naval Intelligence. Printed for the Committee of Imperial Defence, Feb 1907. 5pp. (With three typescript copies). With Gallipoli, map illustrating Gallipoli Peninsula, Dardanelles, and Asiatic side from Tenedos in South West to Aloni Island in North East; War Office, Feb 1907; scale 1:250,000

HAMILTON: 7/4/2

1913

Manual of combined naval and military operations (HMSO for War Office, London, 1913) recommending principles and practice to be observed for cooperation between the Navy and Army for overseas operations involving a landing on an open beach and re-embarkation. 72pp

HAMILTON: 7/4/3

1915 Mar 12

Typescript instructions for General Officer Commanding Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, produced by FM Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener of Khartoum and Broome, Secretary of State for War, and outlining the strategic objectives of the Dardanelles Campaign [first draft, by Lt Col Basil Thorold Buckley]. 2pp

HAMILTON: 7/4/4

1915 Mar 13

Typed copy of later version of 'Instructions for General Officer Commanding Mediterranean Expeditionary Force', produced by FM Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener of Khartoum and Broome, Secretary of State for War, and outlining the strategic objectives of the Dardanelles Campaign, with manuscript amendments by Maj Gen Walter Pipon Braithwaite, Chief of General Staff, Mediterranean Expeditionary Force. 4pp

HAMILTON: 7/4/5

1915 Mar 13,1966

Photocopy of first page of typescript 'Instructions for General Officer Commanding Mediterranean Expeditionary Force', produced by FM Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener of Khartoum and Broome, Secretary of State for War, and outlining the strategic objectives of the Dardanelles Campaign, with manuscript amendments by Maj Gen Walter Pipon Braithwaite, Chief of General Staff, Mediterranean Expeditionary Force. 1p (Original is in the Public Record Office). With associated correspondence between Mary Forbes Shield and Daphne H Gifford, Public Record Office, 11-12 Mar 1966.

HAMILTON: 7/4/6

1915 Mar 13

Manuscript of final version of 'Instructions for General Officer Commanding Mediterranean Expeditionary Force', produced by FM Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener of Khartoum and Broome, Secretary of State for War, and outlining the strategic objectives of the Dardanelles Campaign [possibly in hand of Lt Col Basil Thorold Buckley]. 4pp

HAMILTON: 7/4/7

1915 Mar 13

Manuscript notes by Maj Gen Walter Pipon Braithwaite, Chief of General Staff, Mediterranean Expeditionary Force (MEF), including instructions from an interview with Rt Hon Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill MP, First Lord of the Admiralty, mainly relating to means of communicating with Churchill (with Hamilton's manuscript notes of same interview); structure and personnel of General Staff branch MEF. With photocopy of manuscript of final version of 'Instructions for General Officer Commanding Mediterranean Expeditionary Force', produced by FM Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener of Khartoum and Broome, Secretary of State for War, and outlining the strategic objectives of the Dardanelles Campaign [possibly in hand of Lt Col Basil Thorold Buckley]. 1 file

HAMILTON: 7/4/8

1915 Mar 13-1915 Oct 17

Printed series of War Office 'Series C' telegrams relating to the Gallipoli Campaign, in thirty one weekly sections, pp 61-704, mainly regarding logistical matters of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force and progress of the campaign, including cable correspondence between the War Office; Hamilton; FM Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener of Khartoum and Broome, Secretary of State for War; Gen Sir Francis Reginald Wingate, Governor General of Sudan; Lt Gen Sir John Grenfell Maxwell, General Officer Commanding Egypt; from Maj [Frank Graham] Marsh, Tiflis, Russia, with intelligence of Turkish military activity on the Caucasian Front. With separate section of printed telegram correspondence between Hamilton and Kitchener, 18 Mar-26 May. 1 file

HAMILTON: 7/4/9

1915 Mar 13-1915 Oct 13

Staff diary of Hamilton as General Officer Commanding Mediterranean Expeditionary Force (MEF), mainly recording Hamilton's inspections of troops, his tours of the Gallipoli peninsula, and his meetings with officers and guests. With schedule of units of ANZAC inspected at Alexandria, Egypt, 29 Mar 1915; orders for inspection of French Corps Expéditionnaire d'Orient at Alexandria, 5 Apr 1915; telegram from FM Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener of Khartoum and Broome, Secretary of State for War, with best wishes for success of MEF, 23 Apr 1915; copy letter from German Gen Otto Victor Carl Liman von Sanders, assenting to an armistice for burial of Turkish dead, 22 May 1915; MEF force order 17, giving estimates of Turkish forces and casualties, 25 May; programme for inspection of 30 Bde, 2 Aug 1915; Special Orders promulgated by Hamilton, including 'Soldiers of France and of the King', prior to initial landings, 21 Apr 1915; requesting all MEF troops on Gallipoli to stand firm, 28 Apr 1915; congratulating MEF on its gallantry, 9 May 1915, and 29 Div on its sacrifices, 12 May and 29 Jun 1915; congratulating 52 (Lowland) Div on its part in battle of Achi Baba Nullah, 17 Jul 1915; special orders prior to Suvla Bay landings, 5 Aug 1915, and congratulating troops who had fought in battle of Sari Bair, 7 Sep 1915. (Diary typed and maintained by Staff Sgt Maj H Stuart, clerk, General Headquarters, MEF). 140pp

HAMILTON: 7/4/10

1915 Mar 16-1916 Jan 9

Typescript extracts from the papers of Capt Guy Payan Dawnay, General Staff, General Headquarters, Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, including letters to his wife regarding progress of the Dardanelles Campaign, Hamilton's recall and the arrival of Gen Sir Charles Carmichael Monro; Dawnay's memorandum for the Imperial General Staff on the strength of Turkish forces and prospects of a renewed offensive at Suvla and ANZAC, Sep 1915; his diary while in London, 10 Sep-3 Oct 1915, including his meetings with FM Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener of Khartoum and Broome, Secretary of State for War, Rt Hon Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill MP, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Rt Hon Herbert Henry Asquith, Prime Minister, Lt Gen Sir James Wolfe Murray, Chief of the Imperial General Staff, Maj Gen Charles Edward Callwell, Director of Military Operations, Rt Hon Andrew Bonar Law MP. 1 file (Original papers are held by the Imperial War Museum)

HAMILTON: 7/4/11

1915 Mar 17

Manuscript notes made by Capt Stephen Hungerford Pollen, Hamilton's aide-de-camp, of statements made by V Adm John Michael de Robeck, at a conference on board RN battleship HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH at Tenedos, indicating reinforcement of Turkish fortifications on the Gallipoli Peninsula, and the difficulties faced by the Allied navies in minesweeping the Dardanelles. 2pp

HAMILTON: 7/4/12

1915 Mar 18-1915 Oct 17

Typescript list of cable numbers and dates of despatch of operation cables of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, mainly between Hamilton and the War Office. 8pp

HAMILTON: 7/4/13

1915 Mar 19

Typescript appreciation by Maj Gen Archibald Paris, General Officer Commanding Royal Naval Division, containing discussion of means and relative difficulties of landing three divisions at Helles, Gaba Tepe, the neck of the Gallipoli Peninsula, Smyrna or opposite Tenedos. 5pp

HAMILTON: 7/4/14

1915 Mar 23

Manuscript appreciation by Capt Cecil Faber Aspinall and Capt Guy Payan Dawnay, General Staff, Mediterranean Expeditionary Force (MEF), containing discussion of strategic objectives of the MEF: estimated Turkish opposition; suitability of Gulf of Saros, Suvla Bay, Gaba Tepe and Cape Helles as landing sites for the MEF; outline plan for landings of 29 Div and ANZAC, and diversionary landing at Bulair. 9pp

HAMILTON: 7/4/15

1915 Mar 30

Manuscript report by Maj Gen Aylmer Gould Hunter-Weston, General Officer Commanding 29 Div, entitled, 'Appreciation of the situation in the Dardanelles according to information received up to 25 Mar 1915, the date of leaving Malta', containing discussion of strategic objectives of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force; difficulties faced by the Allied fleet; Turkish entrenchments on Gallipoli; immediate objectives of landing Allied forces; relative merits of landing sites at Suvla and Helles; conclusions on consequences of success or failure of the expedition. 10pp

HAMILTON: 7/4/16

1915 Mar 31-1915 Sep 3

Typed extracts from four letters to Maj Gen Walter Pipon Braithwaite, Chief of General Staff, Mediterranean Expeditionary Force (MEF), from Brevet Lt Col Oswald Arthur Gerald Fitzgerald, Personal Military Secretary to FM Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener of Khartoum and Broome, Secretary of State for War, illustrating Kitchener's confidence in Hamilton's leadership of the MEF. 2pp

HAMILTON: 7/4/17

1915 Apr 6

'Composition of the headquarters of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force', printed booklet listing names of staff of General Headquarters, Royal Naval Division, 29 Div, ANZAC, and French Corps Expéditionnaire d'Orient. 19pp

HAMILTON: 7/4/18

1915 Apr 12

Printed orders for combined operations of landings on Gallipoli, issued by V Adm John Michael de Robeck, with enclosures on disembarkation, composition of naval squadrons, ammunition expenditure, wireless telegraphy organisation, instructions for naval transport and beach party staff, notes on mines and demolition of guns. 21pp

HAMILTON: 7/4/19

1915 Apr 13-1915 Apr 22

Orders of General Headquarters Mediterranean Expeditionary Force relating to the execution of landings on Gallipoli of 25 Apr 1915, including instructions to Royal Naval Division for diversionary landing at Bulair, 13 Apr 1915; instructions to General Officer Commanding ANZAC for landing at Z Beach, 13 Apr 1915; orders for naval transport officers, 17 Apr 1915; instructions to General Officer Commanding French Corps Expéditionnaire d'Orient for diversionary landing at Kum Kale, 18 Apr 1915; instructions to General Officer Commanding 29 Div for landings at S, V, W, X and Y Beaches, 19 Apr 1915; instructions for military beach personnel, 19 Apr 1915; allotments of transports for 29 Div, ANZAC and Royal Naval Division. 1 file

HAMILTON: 7/4/20

1915 May 25

Typed copy of memorandum from Maj Gen Walter Pipon Braithwaite, Chief of Staff, Mediterranean Expeditionary Force (MEF), to Brig Gen Edward Mabbott Woodward, Deputy Adjutant General MEF, requesting four Gurkali speaking officers for 6th Gurkha Rifles, and surplus staff officers from Egypt. 1p

HAMILTON: 7/4/21

1915 Jun 13

Typescript memorandum to Hamilton by French Gen Henri Joseph Étienne Gouraud, General Officer Commanding French Corps Expéditionnaire d'Orient, giving an appreciation of Turkish opposition and tactics; proposals for the use of the expected fourteen monitors to support Allied offensives on the Asian side of the Straits, at Gaba Tepe and at Bulair; recommendations for measures to bring Bulgaria into the war against Turkey, and to stimulate uprisings throughout the Ottoman Empire. In French. 5pp Four copies

HAMILTON: 7/4/22

1915 Jun 17

Printed memorandum listing names of HQ staff of 52 (Lowland) Div. 2pp

HAMILTON: 7/4/23

1915 Jun 22

Manuscript notes by Lt Gen the Hon Sir Frederick William Stopford of his interview with FM Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener of Khartoum and Broome, Secretary of State for War, in which Kitchener indicated to Stopford the necessity for a surprise general offensive in the Dardanelles on Hamilton's own initiative. 4pp With typed transcript

HAMILTON: 7/4/24

1915 Jul 9-1916 May 8

Correspondence relating to the joint use of steam ship HMT ARAGON in the Dardanelles for the offices of the Principal Naval Transport Officer (PNTO), the Superintending Transport Officer, Mudros (STO), and Inspector General of Communications (IGC), including telegram correspondence between PNTO, STO, IGC, General Headquarters, Mediterranean Expeditionary Force (MEF), War Office, Admiralty and the Mediterranean Transport Commission, regarding transfer of staff of PNTO and IGC to shore based offices, and freeing of ARAGON and transport ship MINNETONKA for troopship duties, 9 Jul 1915-12 Dec 1915. With letter from Lt Gen Sir Edward Altham Altham, former IGC, MEF, to Lt Col Stephen Hungerford Pollen, Military Secretary, Egyptian Expeditionary Force, regarding value of the ARAGON for cooperation between the Army and Royal Navy, and the alleged luxury enjoyed by officers on board the ARAGON, 7 May 1916. 1 file, 17 letters and telegrams

HAMILTON: 7/4/25

1915 Jul 11

Manuscript notes by Maj Gen Gerald Francis Ellison, Deputy Quarter Master General, Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, of his interview with FM Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener of Khartoum and Broome, Secretary of State for War, in which Kitchener indicated Ellison's liaison duties with the navy; Hamilton should consider an offensive on Maidos, Gallipoli; that large expenditure would be allowed for secret service initiatives; Kitchener would send Hamilton all available high explosive ammunition; the British Government maintained confidence in Hamilton. 1p

HAMILTON: 7/4/26

1915 Jul 13-1915 Aug 10

Correspondence relating to distribution of clothing, foodstuffs, cigarettes and gifts sent under auspices of Lady Hamilton's Dardanelles Fund. 1 file

HAMILTON: 7/4/27

1915 Jul 16

Edition of the Peninsula Press, newsletter of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, no 57, including report of the battle of Achi Baba Nullah, 12-13 Jul 1915. 1p

HAMILTON: 7/4/28

1915 Jul 18

Printed order of battle of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, displaying command structure and units of 8 and 9 Corps, ANZAC, French Corps Expéditionnaire d'Orient, General Headquarters troops, Lines of Communications, and units at base in Egypt. 9pp

HAMILTON: 7/4/29

1915 Jul 27,1915 Oct 16

Letters received by Hamilton relating to medical matters at Gallipoli, comprising letter from Surgeon Gen William Babtie, Principal Director, Medical Services, Mediterranean, regarding arrangements for embarking large numbers of wounded troops from the Dardanelles for treatment in hospitals in Egypt and Malta, 27 Jul 1915; letter from Surgeon Gen Sir Alfred Keogh, Director General Army Medical Service, regarding alleged inadequate provision of hospital ships, and offering more Royal Army Medical Corps personnel, 16 Oct 1915. 1 file, 2 letters

HAMILTON: 7/4/30

1915 Jul 31-1915 Aug 23,1915 Oct 1-4

Copy telegrams of Operations Section, General Staff, Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, mainly comprising correspondence between Hamilton and Lt Gen Sir John Grenfell Maxwell, General Officer Commanding Egypt, regarding transfer of contingents of 2 Mounted Div from Egypt to the Dardanelles. 10pp

HAMILTON: 7/4/31

1915 Aug

'Composition of the headquarters of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force', printed booklet listing names of staff of General Headquarters, 8 and 9 Corps, ANZAC, 10 (Irish) Div, 11 (Northern) Div, 13 (Western) Div, 29 Div, 42 (East Lancs) Div, 52 (Lowland) Div, 53 (Welsh) Div, 54 (East Anglian) Div, 1 and 2 Australian Divs, Australian and New Zealand Div, Inspector General of Communications and bases, and French Corps Expéditionnaire d'Orient. 40pp

HAMILTON: 7/4/32

1915 Aug 10-1915 Sep 5

Correspondence relating to the conduct of Lt Cdr A T Smallwood of Anson Battalion, Royal Naval Division, in acting as bearer for a letter from Princess Nicephoru Comnenu Palaeologu of Greece to Hamilton, concerning the possible mobilisation of Greek forces to serve with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force. 1 file, 12 letters

HAMILTON: 7/4/33

1915 Aug 30

The Dardanelles, memorandum on the situation, analysis of tactical situation, the problems of maintaining the Gallipoli Campaign through the winter, and the condition of the rival armies, prepared by Lt Col Maurice Pascal Alers Hankey, Secretary to the Committee of Imperial Defence, following his visit to Gallipoli, and printed for the Committee of Imperial Defence. 16pp (With manuscript annotations by Lt Gen Sir William Riddell Birdwood and Maj Gen Walter Pipon Braithwaite)

HAMILTON: 7/4/34

1915 Aug 31-1915 Sep 21

Correspondence relating to The Dardanelles, memorandum on the situation, the printed report prepared by Lt Col Maurice Pascal Alers Hankey, Secretary to the Committee of Imperial Defence, comprising typed letter to Hamilton from Hankey, explaining his report, and the difficulties in renewing the naval attack on the Dardanelles and providing sufficient drafts to replace casualties, 31 Aug 1915; manuscript letter to Hamilton from Brevet Lt Col Oswald Arthur Gerald Fitzgerald, Personal Military Secretary to FM Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener of Khartoum and Broome, Secretary of State for War, enclosing Hankey's report and requesting Hamilton's comments on the same for Kitchener, 3 Sep 1915; Hamilton's letter to Hankey, congratulating Hankey on his report, 16 Sep 1915; typed letter to Hamilton from Maj Gen Walter Pipon Braithwaite, Chief of General Staff Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, with Braithwaite's comments on Hankey's report, 21 Sep 1915. 1 file, 4 letters

HAMILTON: 7/4/35

1915 Sep 14-1916 Jan 21

Typescript diary of Lt Alexander Muir McGrigor (a nephew of Hamilton, seconded from 2 Bn Gloucestershire Yeomanry as aide-de-camp to Hamilton and subsequently to Lt Gen Sir William Riddell Birdwood during the Dardanelles Campaign) mainly describing Mediterranean Expeditionary Force Headquarters duties, visits to trenches on Gallipoli and the evacuation of the peninsula. 1 vol, 276pp

HAMILTON: 7/4/36

1915 Sep 18-1915 Oct 13

Papers relating to medical conditions on Gallipoli, comprising manuscript resumé, 18 Sep 1915, by Col James Purves-Stewart, Consulting Physician to the Forces, of his observations of nervous exhaustion in ANZAC soldiers, with his recommendations of leave for front line troops, and the provision of canteens to relieve the monotony of diet; Hamilton's reply, 1 Oct 1915, acknowledging the findings of Purves-Stewart; typed copy of report of Lt Col Sir Courtauld Greenwood Thomson, Chief Commissioner of the Red Cross and Order of St John, 18 Sep 1915, detailing stores and facilities provided by the Red Cross to hospitals and bases in Egypt and the Dardanelles; letter, 3 Oct 1915, from Hamilton to Thompson, thanking the Red Cross for services rendered in the Dardanelles, with Thomson's telegram acknowledgement, 13 Oct 1915. 1 file

HAMILTON: 7/4/37

1915 Oct 5

Printed circular memorandum by Hamilton as General Officer Commanding Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, ordering medical officers and nurses on hospital ships and ambulance carriers to maintain the morale of their patients. 1p

HAMILTON: 7/4/38

1915 Nov

'A tale of two interpretations, being the true and inward account of the stupendous events which occurred in the week ending Saturday, 6th November 1915', typescript satirical tale relating to the despatch by Rt Hon Herbert Henry Asquith MP, Prime Minister, of FM Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener of Khartoum and Broome, Secretary of State for War, to inspect the progress of the Gallipoli Campaign in Nov 1915 (author not given). 8pp

HAMILTON: 7/4/39

1915 Dec 17

Typed copy of special army order of Lt Gen Sir William Riddell Birdwood, addressed to soldiers of 9 Corps and ANZAC, explaining the necessity for the evacuation of Suvla and Anzac. 2pp

HAMILTON: 7/4/40

[1915]

'Occupation of Constantinople', typescript memorandum [by Lt Col Sir Mark Sykes MP, 6th Bt] on the measures required in the event of the occupation and administration of Constantinople by the Allies. 12pp

HAMILTON: 7/4/41

[1915]

'Studies of certain Turkish types', typescript memorandum by Lt Col Sir Mark Sykes MP, 6th Bt, describing for the benefit of British Staff Officers the personality and character of typical Turkish military officials, clergy and peasantry. 5pp

HAMILTON: 7/4/42

1915

Turkish anti-British propaganda leaflet, in Hindustani, urging Indian troops with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force at Gallipoli to desert to the Turkish Army, and containing photograph of alleged Indian Army deserters with Turkish officers. With Mediterranean Expeditionary Force Intelligence Section translation of the leaflet. 4pp