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Letter from WSC, First Lord of the Admiralty, to Sir Edward Grey [Foreign Secretary], sending a message to be forwarded to the Grand Duke Nicholas [Russian Minister of War], on the progress of the attack on the Dardanelles. WSC suggests that the Russian Black Sea Fleet should prepare to come to the entrance of the Bosphorus, with any troops that could be spared. [Hand-written copy].

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Letter from WSC [First Lord of the Admiralty] to Field Marshal 1st Lord Kitchener [Secretary of State for War], on fixing a date for the military attack on the Dardanelles, and approving the choice of General Sir Ian Hamilton as Commander-in-Chief. [Typescript copy; further copy at CHAR 13/48/30-32].

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Letter from WSC [First Lord of the Admiralty] to Field Marshal 1st Lord Kitchener [Secretary of State for War], on fixing a date for the attack on the Dardanelles, and also approving the choice of General Sir Ian Hamilton as Commander-in-Chief. Includes forwarding note from WSC to the Prime Minister [Herbert Asquith, later 1st Lord Oxford and Asquith] and Sir Edward Grey [Foreign Secretary]. [Typescript copy; further copy at CHAR 13/48/24-25].

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Minute from WSC [First Lord of the Admiralty] to Sir Edward Grey [Foreign Secretary], stating that Eleutherios Venizelos [Prime Minister of Greece] should be told that the Royal Navy intended to force the Dardanelles without military assistance. If so, the Turks on the Gallipoli peninsula would be cut off and could be reduced at leisure, and Greek military movements should be decided in relation to these facts. [Hand-written, initialled by WSC, annotated "not sent"].

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Letter from WSC [First Lord of the Admiralty] to Field Marshal 1st Lord Kitchener [Secretary of State for War], on the transport of troops from Egypt to the Dardanelles, and the results for reinforcements for India and Iraq. WSC also mentions the claims of Russia on Constantinople [later Istanbul, Turkey] and progress in attacks on forts in the Dardanelles. [2 copies].

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Telegram from WSC [First Lord of the Admiralty] to Vice-Admiral Sackville Carden [in command of naval operations at the Dardanelles], on the Dardanelles campaign, urging him to destroy the forts at Chanak, and stating that the results to be gained were great enough to justify the loss of ships and men which success could not be obtained without. [Hand-written drafts, initialled by WSC. See also CHAR 13/45/165.].

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Minute from WSC [First Lord of the Admiralty] to Field Marshal 1st Lord Kitchener [Secretary of State for War], on the landing of the Royal Naval Division in the Dardanelles: WSC suggests that a good General be sent there to take command of the troops, including the Royal Naval Division, and suggests Lieutenant-General Sir Aylmer Hunter-Weston. [Hand-written copy].

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Telegram from Sir Louis Mallet [British Ambassador to Turkey] to the Foreign Office, on his concerns about causing panic in Turkey with reinforcements to the British fleet, and a warning to the forts at the Dardanelles that they would be bombarded by the fleet if German ships came out. [Typescript copy].

Scope and Contents Letter from WSC to Lieutenant-Colonel Oswald Fitzgerald [Personal Military Secretary to Field Marshal 1st Lord Kitchener, Secretary of State for War], hoping that Kitchener would not keep General Sir Ian Hamilton [commander of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force] too short of men. WSC states that he felt that there should be another 20,000 men in [the Dardanelles] and urges Fitzgerald not to lose two or three precious days. [Hand-written copy, signed by WSC, with envelope and covering note...

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Letter from WSC [First Lord of the Admiralty] to Field Marshal 1st Lord Kitchener [Secretary of State for War], hoping that he would not keep General Sir Ian Hamilton [commander of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force], too short of men, adding that a loyal man like Hamilton would go on with what he had and never say a word until he cracked up. WSC suggests that another 20,000 men be sent to the Dardanelles. [2 Hand-written copies signed by WSC].

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Draft note from WSC [First Lord of the Admiralty] to [Vice-Admiral Sackville Carden, in command of naval operations at the Dardanelles], on the Dardanelles campaign, stating that the results to be gained by attacking were great enough to justify the loss of ships and men which success could not be obtained without. [Hand-written drafts, initialled by WSC. See also CHAR 13/45/120-122.].

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Letter from WSC [First Lord of the Admiralty] to Field Marshal 1st Lord Kitchener [Secretary of State for War], on the naval attack on the Dardanelles. WSC states that it would be desirable for an attack on Alexandretta [Iskenderun, Turkey] to be simultaneous, so that if the attack on the Dardanelles was a failure it could be presented as a mere demonstration to cover the seizure of Alexandretta. [Hand-written copy].

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Comments by WSC on letters from Admiral of the Fleet Lord Fisher on naval operations in the Dardanelles[typescript with handwritten annotations].

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Letter from Lord Lytton, Knebworth House to Edward Marsh, Admiralty, asking about the date of the next despatch to the Dardanelles, as he wished to contact General Henderson about a possible job on his staff.

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Letter from Vice-Admiral John de Robeck (HMS Queen Elizabeth, Dardanelles) to WSC, First Lord of the Admiralty, report on the Gallipoli landings, the work of the British submarines and aircraft, praising the co-operation between the two services.

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Letter from Captain Neston Diggle, Royal Naval Hospital, Bighi, Malta, to WSC, First Lord of the Admiralty, account of landing at Fort Sidd-el-Bahr, in the Dardanelles, at which he was wounded and 50% of is men killed.

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Telegram from WSC to Vice Admiral John de Robeck, Naval C. in C., Dardanelles, on naval and troop movements [handwritten copy, initialled by WSC].

Scope and Contents Letter from WSC, First Lord of the Admiralty to Herbert Asquith, Prime Minister, on statement by Lord Fisher, 1st Sea Lord, that he had been against the Dardanelles all along. Stating that Fisher had agreed in writing to every executive telegram, and that he was "attached to the old boy" but that there would probably come a time them the Admiral and General on the spot would wish to run a risk with the fleet for a "great and decisive action", stating that if he agreed he would sanction it,...

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Telegram from WSC to John S Churchill, on Lord Fisher's resignation as 1st Sea Lord, largely on Dardanelles questions, and his own departure from the Admiralty, stating that ther two friends (Vice Admiral John de Robeck and Gen Sir Ian Hamilton) would be supported and should not be disheartened [handwritten copy].

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Telegram from WSC to John S Churchill, on his departure from the Admiralty, reporting that he had accepted post of Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, with a seat in the Cabinet and War Council, enabling him to "watch over the Dardanelles....Although I am down the policy goes on and will be well supported" [handwritten copy, initialled by WSC].

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Letter from WSC to Arthur Balfour, his successor as First Lord of the Admiralty, stating that he was leaving him with one task of great difficulty, the protection of the Dardanelles Fleet against submarine attack, also wishing hin success in his new appointment [handwritten copy, signed by WSC].

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Minute from WSC, First Lord of the Admiralty to the Prime Minister, Lord Kitchener, War Office and Sir Edward Grey, Foreign Office, enclosing details of concentration for attack on the Dardanelles [handwritten, initialled by WSC].

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Minute from WSC, First Lord of the Admiralty, to the Director of Transports, Admiralty, Graeme Thomson, on arrangements for transport of the Royal Naval Division to the Dardanelles [typescript, annotated "Secret, please return" and initialled by WSC].

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Telegram from WSC, First Lord of the Admiralty, to Vice-Admirla Sackville Carden, on naval operation to force the Dardanelles without military assistance, diving details of the troops which were on their way to the area, under the command of General Birdwood.

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Telegram from Admiral Sir Henry Jackson Admiralty to Vice-Admiral Sackvile Carden, on the employment of military forces in the Dardanelles.