Nick Maxwell The weekly posts are primarily based on the letters and diaries of Captain William Maurice ‘Pat’ Armstrong, which provide first-hand accounts of events as they unfolded in the various theatres of war, and the diaries of his sister Jess and mother Rosalie, which illuminate civilian life during the conflict. Pat Armstrong was the son of … Read more
The regular units of the British Army were unable to meet the demands of the war. New divisions of volunteers were raised in 1914, including three Irish divisions—the 10th (Irish), 36th (Ulster) and 16th (Irish). It was, however, two battalions of Irish regulars who were chosen to be part of the hazardous first landing at … Read more
The triumph of the Young Turk Revolution of 24 July 1908 was sudden, unexpected, always patchy, and never complete in the way revolutions are meant to be. Only after five years did the Committee of Union and Progress definitively move to fully consummate its power. The over-arching aim of the Young Turks was to find … Read more
Probably the single most important event that poisoned the already strained relations with Britain was the seizure of the warships Sultan Osman and Res¸adiye on 31 July, before the outbreak of the war and the signing of the Turco-German alliance agreement. This was perceived as an act of open aggression and caused tremendous indignation and … Read more
Britain persistently opposed the main reforming policies of the Young Turks, and actively worked to create zones of influence for herself within the Ottoman Empire. Whenever the Ottomans took steps that they deemed necessary for them to move forward, survive and reform, they had to face Britain’s resistance and active intervention. The antagonistic relations in … Read more