Page "Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener" Paragraph 51

Later in 1915 Asquith sent Kitchener on a tour of inspection of Gallipoli and the Near East, in the hope that he could be persuaded to remain in the region as Commander-in-Chief.

Asquith, who told Robertson that Kitchener was “ an impossible colleague ” and “ his veracity left much to be desired ”, acted in charge of the War Office, but Kitchener took his seals of office with him so he could not be sacked in his absence.

Douglas Haig – at that time involved in intrigues to have Robertson appointed Chief of the Imperial General Staff – recommended that Kitchener be appointed Viceroy of India (“ where trouble was brewing ”) but not to the Middle East, where his strong personality would have led to that sideshow receiving too much attention and resources.

Kitchener visited Rome and Athens, but Murray warned that he would likely demand the diversion of British troops to fight the Turks in the Sinai.