General Sir Charles Harington KCB CMG DSO had been sent to Turkey to negotiate with General Ismet the establishment of an Armistice in preparation for the signing of a peace treaty. During these negotiations the Squadron carried out reconnaissance sorties along the neutral zone, and although the aircraft were forbidden to approach nearer than two miles to the neutral boundary the pilots were able to report Turkish activity in the area. This information was sent by WIT to General Harrington’s ship and was of great value to him in his negotiations with General Ismet. (In the accompanying photograph of the mosaic of the Bosphorous taken in November 1922 shows the uses of aerial photography at the time). A story is told that, during these discussions, General Ismet jokingly said to General Harington that the latter seemed to know more about the disposition of Turkish Troops than he did himself which was of course true!

The experiments with radio-telephony were keenly received and General Headquarters in Constantinople were very interested in all tests carried out. One of the uses to which R/T was put was in assisting the Army, in particular the anti-aircraft batteries, in assessing an aircraft’s height. On 11th July a pilot and wireless operator took off to fly over the 84th Infantry Brigade and the 19th Brigade R.F.A. to show exactly what an aeroplane looked like at different altitudes. Starting at 500 feet and progressing upwards to 10,000 feet wireless messages were sent to the ground throughout the whole flight to notify the various altitudes. All this was excellent training.

For a time, war between Britain and Turkey seemed possible, but Canada refused to agree as did France and Italy. British public opinion did not want a war. The British military did not either, and General Harrington refused to relay an ultimatum to the Turks because he counted on a negotiated settlement. The Conservatives in Britain's coalition government refused to follow Liberal Prime Minister David Lloyd George, who with Winston Churchill was calling for war.

The crisis quickly ended when Turkey, having overwhelmed the Greeks, agreed to a negotiated settlement that gave it the territory it wanted. Flying at San Stefano came to an end after peace was ratified in Lausanne on 23rd August 1923. The following day orders were received to evacuate Turkey.

On the evacuation of all British troops from Turkey General Sir Charles Harrington KCB CMG DSO Commander in Chief, praised the way in which the RAF had co-operated with the Navy and Army. The larger share of this work fell naturally to 208 Squadron where it was taken up with zest. A very efficient liaison officer met with warm and willing assistance both from Naval and Military Staff officers, and this keen and friendly reception, backed up by the energy displayed in the Squadron generally, accounted for the results which helped to gain the Commander-in-Chief’s commendation.

The Chanak Crisis - 03

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