The Dardenelles campaign took place in March 1915. The British and French believed that if they took control of the Dardanelles, a highly strategic waterway which separates Europe and Asia, they would be able to take Constantinople (the Ottoman capital, now Istanbul) and stop Turkey's further participation in the war. The Allies had hoped that control of these waters would also open a supply route across the Black Sea to Russia and bring Greece, Bulgaria and Romania into the war on the side of the British and French.

This shrapnel ball  was retrieved from the deck of HMS Cornwallis after the conflict. Both battleships survived although ultimately the French and British sustained heavy losses and were forced to retreat