Upon the altar of British prestige: a re-evaluation of Dunsterforce’s exploits and legacy

Abstract

Dunsterforce, known alternatively as the Hush Hush Army, set off from Baghdad in January of 1918, with the aim of defending Persia from the Ottoman Army. Though operating at first in Persia, General Dunsterville accepted a request from the Central Caspian Dictatorship of Baku to help defend the city against the attacking Ottoman Army of Islam. Dunsterville was cognizant of Baku’s importance as an oil city and role as a potential gateway to Central Asia and deployed his force to Baku in August 1918, withdrawing in September in defeat. This paper re-evaluates the Dunsterforce expedition, arguing that Dunsterville’s decision to deploy at Baku was militarily sound, but that Dunsterforce’s most significant achievements occurred not in Baku, but in Persia.