John de Robeck

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John De Robeck
10 June 1862 – 20 January 1928
Image:John de Robeck.jpg Sir John De Robeck
Place of birth	Naas, County Kildare, Ireland,
Allegiance	Image:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom
Service/branch	Image:Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg Royal Navy
Rank	Admiral of the Fleet
Battles/wars	World War I
Awards	GCB, GCMG, GCVO

Admiral of the Fleet Sir John Michael de Robeck, 1st Baronet GCB GCMG GCVO, (10 June 1862 – 20 January 1928) was an admiral in the British Navy commanding the Allied naval force at the Dardanelles during World War I.

De Robeck was born in Naas, County Kildare, Ireland, the second son of John Henry Edward Fock, fourth Baron de Robeck (1823-1904), to a family of Swedish origin, long settled in Ireland.

[edit] Dardanelles Campaign

De Robeck was second in command, to Admiral Sir Sackville Carden, of the Allied naval forces at the Dardanelles from February through March of 1915, when he succeeded Carden as Commander in Chief. He assumed command a mere three days before the planned attempt to force the Straits on March 18.

The 1914/15 naval campaign to win the straits and push on to Constantinople was nearly successful due to a lack of ammunition on the Turkish side. Mines laid in the straits sank or damaged 5 allied battleships.

The arrival of General Hamilton and his troops gave Admiral de Robeck the possibility to turn over responsibility of taking the straits to the army. Fearing for his career de Robeck took this opportunity with both hands much to the dismay of Churchill.

The situation on the Turkish side was so dire that if de Robeck had pushed his ships on for another day he may well have seen all opposition disappear and been able to steam on to Constantinople and knock the Ottoman Empire out of the war.