Submarine at Gallipoli

Press, 18 February 1989, Page 27

Submarine at Gallipoli

Destination Dardanelles. By Michael Wilson. Leo Cooper Heinemann Reed, 1988. 194 pp. $32.95. (Reviewed by Ted Glasgow) All the naval activities recorded in this book occurred in the early years of World War I, some 75 years ago, and some readers may well wonder if they have any relevance today. This feeling is not dispersed by the somewhat dreary opening chapters describing the situation and events leading to the outbreak of war in 1914. However, Michael Wilson, a former submarine commander and an enthusiastic historian, soon brings the story of H.M. Submarine E 7 to life. He quotes extensively from the diary of Oswald Ernest Hallifax, first lieutenant in E 7. Some of the language employed in the diary is reminiscent of an adventure story in the “Boys’ Own Paper” of that era. This all helps to keep the reader’s mind back in 1914, when war almost seemed like some gigantic game. (A British admiral not many years before had called the submarine “a damned unEnglish weapon.” He later changed his mind.) The diary also served to demonstrate the absolute devotion to duty and discipline of the officers and men of the Royal Navy. The early forays by submarines into the Heligoland Bight are described in great detail. Many of them were

fruitless because of bad weather, poor communications, or misunderstood orders. Here is evidence of Mr Wilson’s vast and meticulous research, and the bibliography and list of sources show that he delved into German as well as British records. When reading of these exploits of 75 years ago one must constantly bear in mind the benefits of hind-sight. What now seems almost stupid did not so appear to those submariners in their primitive and dangerous boats. The best part of the book describes the work of the E 7 and other submarines which penetrated the Dardanelles into the Sea of Marmara. Of these operations Winston Churchill wrote: “The naval history of Britain contains no page more wonderful than that which describes the prowess of her submarines at the Dardanelles Their orders were to attack the shipping in the Sea of Marmara which was taking supplies to the Turkish troops fighting on the Gallipoli Peninsula. This they did, with considerable success, but not without losses. It makes an interesting story, and is well told by a master historian. It is difficult to foretell who and how many will be interested in this book. This reviewer’s advice is plough on, even if the opening seems dull. It gets better all the way.