Blenheim's ceremonial voyages and Gallipoli support role

The cruiser repatriated Prince Henry of Battenberg and Canadian prime ministers Sir John Thompson and Charles Tupper after their deaths. Thompson died while serving as Canada's fourth prime minister, while Tupper was the sixth and one of the country's founding fathers. Such ceremonial transport called for a vessel whose size and standing matched the status of the person being carried home. The role gave a large former first-class cruiser continuing value before air transport offered a rapid alternative. During the First World War, Blenheim supported the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force at Gallipoli as a destroyer depot ship. Her stores, maintenance capacity, and accommodation kept destroyers supported while dock space or another depot vessel covered temporary absences.