Helles: The French

IWM: HU 59222 Senegalese troops of the French Corps Expéditionnaire d’Orient

IWM: Q 13502 Infantry of the Corps Expeditionaire d’Orient, in first line trench within 30 yards of the Turks.

IWM: Q 13502 Infantry of the Corps Expeditionaire d’Orient, in first line trench within 30 yards of the Turks.

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The French forces at Gallipoli

In most histories of Gallipoli there is little said about the French. Events in the trenches nearer home overshadowed this Mediterranean ‘side show’ to an extent, but to neglect the French contribution to the Allied force is still surprising considering that up to 15,000 French soldiers died in Gallipoli in 1915.

Immediately after the war, the French criticized the Gallipoli campaign, pointing out they had suffered under British command. But, just like the British, in 1915 they had been keen to get involved, hoping that it would hasten the defeat of Germany and result in territorial gains in the Near East.

When it failed they realized that to take Gallipoli would require a combined military operation and they organized a Corps Expéditionnaire d’Orient. Two French divisions fought in Gallipoli, made up largely of black colonial troops and Foreign Legionnaires.

Eleanor van Heyningen (IWM)

Download the full version of this paper by clicking here.
(This essay looks mostly at the ground forces on Gallipoli, rather than at the naval effort. It draws some conclusions about the French involvement in the campaign by looking at four major operations in which the French were involved).

To see a brief film of the French Cemetery taken during the IWM/AWM Battlefield tour, click here.
(Requires QuickTime 4 player.)