British begin hostilities against Turkey
- Category:
- Military operations
- Front:
- War at sea
- Date:
- 1 November 1914
- Author:
- Natalia
- Tags:
- Great Britain, Ottoman Empire, Royal Navy
On 1 November 1914 the first clashes took place between Great Britain and the Ottoman Empire. Formally the two states were not yet at war, and the British ambassador, Louis Mallet, was only leaving Constantinople that evening. Ships of the Royal Navy, however, had since the previous day held an Admiralty order to begin hostilities against Turkey at once. British chronicles therefore record 1 November as the day on which Great Britain and Turkey began hostilities.
The first blow fell in the Aegean. Two destroyers, Wolverine and Scorpion, were sent into the Gulf of Smyrna to seek out a Turkish minelayer which the British believed was hiding near Smyrna. Scorpion was commanded by Lieutenant-Commander Andrew Cunningham, in the Second World War one of the most famous British admirals. In the harbour of Vourla, today’s Urla, the destroyers came upon the large armed yacht Beyrut and called on her to surrender. The Turkish crew, however, set the vessel on fire. The British opened fire, and the yacht sank amid several powerful explosions, which indicated that she had mines on board. A smaller supply ship sank in the same way.
The same day hostilities also began on the Red Sea. The old cruiser Minerva arrived off Aqaba, a small Ottoman port at the head of the Gulf of Aqaba, not far from the border with British-controlled Egypt. According to the ship’s records, when the local garrison refused to surrender, Minerva opened fire on the fort and barracks at about 4 p.m. The Turks withdrew into the hills, and over the following days landing parties from the ship destroyed the barracks, post office and stores in the abandoned town.
These were small skirmishes, but they showed that London did not intend to wait for formalities. The Admiralty wanted to strike at the Turks as quickly as possible, before they could prepare. On 3 November British and French ships bombarded the forts at the entrance to the Dardanelles. Great Britain declared war on the Ottoman Empire only on 5 November 1914, together with France.
Remember the articles you have read? Only in this browser; nothing is sent anywhere.How it works
Read ·
Spotted a mistake?Report an error
Meanwhile
(04)Elsewhere in the same days.
- 1 November 1914 · Middle EastMartial law in EgyptAt the start of November 1914 General John Maxwell declared martial law in Egypt. The British promised that they would not call on Egyptians to fight.
- 1 November 1914 · Western FrontMarie Skłodowska-Curie's X-ray carsIn autumn 1914 Marie Skłodowska-Curie and her daughter Irène set off in the first X-ray car for the front-line hospitals. Soldiers called them "little Curies".
- 31 October 1914 · Western FrontCritical day at YpresOn 31 October 1914 the Germans broke the British line at Gheluvelt. A counter-attack by the 2nd Worcestershire closed the gap, ending the Battle of Gheluvelt.
- 2 November 1914 · DiplomacyRussia declares war on TurkeyOn 2 November 1914 Nicholas II issued a manifesto of war with Turkey. The Tsar said it would open Russia's way to its Black Sea aims, that is, the Straits.
Related events
(04)The same battle, people or subject.
- 31 October 1914 · MilitaryAdmiralty orders hostilities against TurkeyOn 31 October 1914 the British Admiralty ordered its ships to begin hostilities against Turkey at once, although war had not yet been declared.
- 3 November 1914 · Middle EastFirst bombardment of the DardanellesOn 3 November 1914 British and French ships shelled the forts at the mouth of the Dardanelles. A magazine blast wrecked Sedd el Bahr but warned the Turks.
- 17 September 1914 · Middle EastBritish naval mission leaves TurkeyIn September 1914 the British naval mission of Admiral Arthur Limpus left Turkey. German officers took over the Ottoman fleet.
- 5 March 1915 · War at seaBombardment of Smyrna beginsOn 5 March 1915 Vice-Admiral Richard Peirse's British squadron shelled the forts defending Smyrna, to destroy the defences and clear the gulf of mines.