Sackville Carden

Infobox Military Person
name=Sackville Hamilton Carden
lived=3 May 1857-6 May 1930
placeofbirth=Templemore
placeofdeath=Lymington
allegiance=United Kingdom
branch=Royal Navy
rank=Admiral
serviceyears=1870-1917
commands=HMS London
relations=Sackville Berkeley (grandfather)

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.

Early life

Carden was born in County Tipperary, Ireland, the third son of Andrew Carden and Anne Berkeley. [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/32286 Dictionary of National Biography, online edition, accessed 25 Aug 2007] ] Although both his father and grandfather had served in the army, he elected for a naval career, and joined the Royal Navy in 1870.

Military career

His early career was marked by service in Egypt and the Sudan, and later, under Harry Rawson in the Benin expedition of 1897. Two years later, he was promoted to captain, and in 1908 to rear admiral. After two years on half-pay, he was assigned to the Atlantic Fleet, and raised his flag aboard HMS London for one year. Following his return to London, he was posted to the Admiralty until August 1912, at which point he was appointed superintendent of the Malta dockyard.

World War I

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 (Canakkale 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.

Post war

Resigning from the British Navy two years later with the rank of Admiral, Carden lived in retirement until his death in 1930.

Notes

References

*Callwell, C. E., "The Dardanelles". Boston, 1919.
*Corbett, Sir Julian S., "Naval Operations". London, 1924.
* [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/32286 Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, online edition, accessed 25 Aug 2007]

External links

* [http://www.firstworldwar.com/bio/carden.htm Biography of Sackville Carden at First World War.com]

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