The collection contains papers and correspondence, mainly relating to the period of the First World War, and especially to Carden's involvement in the naval campaign at the Dardanelles.

Page from the Times including marked article describing the naval attack in the Dardanelles as "a legitimate war gamble". [Retained in connection with the proceedings against Lord Alfred Douglas arising from his claim that WSC misreported the Battle of Jutland to allow Jewish interests led by Sir Ernest Cassel to profit on the stock market].

Telegram from General Sir Ian Hamilton to Vice Admiral John de Robeck encouraging him to persevere in his naval attack on the Dardanelles. Typescript copy. Sent with CHAR 2/74/33.

Letter from General Sir Ian Hamilton (Deanston House, Perthshire, [Scotland]) to WSC enclosing a copy of a telegram from him to Rear Admiral John de Robeck [see CHAR 2/74/2] to show that he did not influence de Robeck in his abandonment of purely naval attacks at the Dardanelles. Signed typescript.

Minute by WSC on the plan for concentrating naval forces in the Mediterranean ("Pola") with a view to forcing the Dardanelles. Typescript copy.

Minute by WSC on the naval arrangements for the forcing of the Dardanelles and the seizure of Alexandretta. Typescript copy.

Letter from WSC (Admiralty) to Lord Kitchener arguing that only those battleships needed for the initial stage of the Dardanelles bombardment should be used at the outset and that the seizure of Alexandretta should be attempted at the same time as the bombardment so that it can be represented as the main operation if the attack on the Dardanelles is checked. Printed copy. Another copy at CHAR 2/81/9,.

Letter from Lord Fisher [earlier Sir John Fisher] (36 Berkeley Square, [London]) to WSC reporting that he has heard that WSC is to go to Scotland with David Lloyd George and is involved in a conference on a British military advance along the Belgian coast in conjunction with a naval action. Asserts that "success depends on smoke and gas from the sea." Typescript copy at CHAR 2/92/22.

Letter from Lord Fisher [earlier Sir John Fisher] to WSC on: the danger that WSC might hamper his "Great Resolve" [the plan for an offensive on the Belgian coast] by associating Fisher with it, even though Fisher himself feels very fit for his age; the aircraft, mine-laying facilities, submarines and other vessels required for the attack; the need for an immediate "Big Change" in Admiralty building policy. Typescript copy at CHAR 2/92/40-41.

Letter from Lord Fisher [earlier Sir John Fisher] (Ferne, Donhead, Salisbury, [Wiltshire]) to WSC stating that he will be glad to see him "at this tragic moment with the Germans only a few miles from Amiens [France] and so threatening the starvation of London by stopping the Channel traffic". Deplores the fact that the Royal Navy is still to be kept "in cotton wool" and announces his intention of speaking about it in the House of Lords.

Secretary's notes [minutes] of a War Council meeting on 28 Jan 1915 on the general policy of the war, gunboats for the Danube, naval attack on Zeebrugge [Belgium] and the Dardanelles. Printed for the Committee of Imperial Defence, July 1916. Sent with CHAR 2/86/1.

Letter from WSC to Lord Kitchener commenting on communications between Vice-Admiral Sackville Carden and General Sir William Birdwood on operations in the Dardanelles and complaining about the recruitment of persons engaged in Admiralty work. Typescript copy.

Letter from Lord Kitchener (War Office) to WSC stating that preparations are continuing for land operations in the Dardanelles and hoping that the Navy will continue to engage the forts so that the Turks expend their ammunition. Typescript copy.

Letter from WSC to Lord Kitchener enclosing a memorandum on naval operations in the Dardanelles and the Sea of Marmara which he has sent to Herbert Asquith [later Lord Oxford and Asquith] and Arthur Balfour [later Lord Balfour] [see CHAR 2/88/32-38]. Typescript copy.

Memorandum [by WSC] describing a plan whereby 3 or 4 monitors may be got through the Dardanelles into the Sea of Marmara and, with protection from submarines, cut Turkish communications across the Bulair Isthmus. Typescript copy.

"Naval operations in the Dardanelles. Admiralty telegrams. January 3-May 29, 1915." Printed in Sep 1916.

Letter from (Admiralty Transport Division) enclosing lists of the transports which conveyed the Royal Naval and military divisions to the Mediterranean for the Dardanelles operations [see CHAR 2/88/45-53].

Lists of transports conveying the Royal Naval and military divisions to the Mediterranean for the Dardanelles operations. Sent with CHAR 2/88/44.

"The possibility of a joint naval and military attack upon the Dardanelles. I. Memorandum by the General Staff. II. Note by the Director of Naval Intelligence." Written 20 Dec 1906. Printed for the Committee of Imperial Defence, Feb 1907.

Letter from Lord Kitchener (War Office) to WSC stating that preparations for land operations [at the Dardanelles] are continuing and hoping that the Navy will engage the forts vigorously so that the Turks expend their ammunition. Typescript copy annotated by WSC for inclusion in a publication.