Sackville Carden
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Admiral Sir Sackville Hamilton Carden, KCMG (1857-1930) was a British admiral who, in cooperation with the French Navy, commanded British naval forces in the Mediterranean Sea during World War I.
Born in County Tipperary, Ireland, Carden entered service in the British navy in 1870. Rising steadily through the ranks, Carden won promotion to Captain in 1897 and eventually to Rear Admiral by 1908. Appointed superintendent of the Malta dockyard in 1912, Carden was assigned command of the British battle squadron to coordinate activities with the French Mediterranean Fleet on September 20, 1914.
Following Turkey's entry intro the war on the side of the Central Powers in November 1914, carden was asked by the British Admiralty to develop a strategy to force open the Dardanelles Straits (Kanakkale Bogazi) in January of the following year. Carden's plan called for the systematic destruction of Turkish fortifications along the Dardanelles and, while advancing slowly up the strait, in addition to extensive minesweeping operations.
Initially commander-in-chief of British naval forces during the Dardanelles campaign, Carden was successful in early offensives against Turkish defenses from February 19 until early March when he was relieved of command due his failing health and replaced by Admiral John de Robeck. Resigning from the British Navy two years later with the rank of Admiral, Carden lived in retirement until his death in 1930.
[edit] References
- Callwell, C. E., The Dardanelles. Boston, 1919.
- Corbett, Sir Julian S., Naval Operations. London, 1924.
