why was the gallipoli campaign a failure?

Answer 1

In the great tradition of British battles, it was basically due to ****-ups by the commanders.

The sea assault was a failure because the fleet was sent into an area that had not been properly cleared of mines. There were losses to the mines and the fleet was heavily bombarded by the Turkish artillery before it withdrew.

Following this failure, it was obvious to everyone on both sides that the only way to take Constantinople was by a land assault. There was, however, a delay of 6 weeks before the British were ready to make the invasion, during which time the Turks had more than ample time to restock, rearm, and reinforce their positions.

When the attack came, it was no surprise to the defenders. The battle lead to huge losses on both sides.

................and thank you for that perceptive piece of history McQ.

Churchill was involved only in the plans for the sea invasion (he was First Lord of the Admiralty) which entailed the mines being cleared before the fleet went in. It was hardly his fault that the minesweepers all legged it before completing the job properly. That responsibility would have been with the local command.

The land invasion was the responsibility of Kitchener and Hamilton..........nothing to do with Churchill.

and to call the man a coward after his actions in the Boer War - I think not. Glory hunter, yes.........coward, no.

Answer 2

Wrong leadership. The commanding general not only failed to order the landing units forward upon taking the beach-heads (they had the opportunity but let it slip as they allowed the Turks to reinforce their originally weak defensive positions) but "commanded" from a ship, far from the fighting lines where he could have appraised the situation properly.

Answer 3

Because cowardly leaders (W Churchill)) sent hundreds to their certain death - straight into machine gun fire for reasons unknown.