My Memories of Gallipoli-Anzac Front during the First World War Sokrat İncesu Arma Publishing, 1964 It was told that a bomb had exploded and two of our soldiers got wounded. The initial thing to do was to evacuate the mosque and then to carry our wounded soldiers to the hospital. I immediately dealt with this situation. Meanwhile, the enemy navy started firing bombs from Saros Cove to Gallipoli; but it did not last long. Our brave unit held back against the shooting and two days later brought thirty three captured English marine to the harbour in a small war ship. As we got to learn, these captured marines were from the submarine that fired dynamite at our ship in the offshore of Marmara. Three days later, according to the order given by the general encampment, we were told to move towards Namazgah (Prayer Terrace) Hill. Namazgah Hill is located between Gallipoli and Bolayir at the back of Saros Cove. We detached our troop on the side of the hill looking to Marmara. Although General Liman von Sanders was in the 5 th army encampment, our troops were located at the centre of the hill where they were watching the position of the enemy navy in the harbour and at some distance from the shore. It was getting dark. In order to check our security, I sent a soldier from our squad to the beach and ordered that: firing is to be launched against the enemy warships and transports that try to get nearer to the beach and information is to be provided about the ongoing situation. One memory that I can not forget is this. Late at night I was walking in order to get to the beach and to observe the situation myself. Since it was dark, it was impossible to see anything around. At one time I felt like that I stepped on something soft. I jumped forward with thrill. I was not interested in what it was since there was not any move. The next day our major called me and said: Tell your soldiers that one of them stepped on General Liman von Sanders while wandering last night. Make sure that they move in great attention. I turned red. Because what I stepped on last night was General Liman von Sanders. After having spent the second night at Namazgah Hill, I was notified in the morning by the battalion commander that I was transferred to the fifth division. I had to leave my battalion that I loved so much in tears. The Flow of Anzac Cove Battles Finally, I got off the ship and started walking towards our unit s location in Akbas. The enemy bullets were coming down a hundred metre away on my right and left side. Despite this I was not scared of anything. I had indefinite courage in myself. At a crossroad, another officer joined me and we were together struggling to arrive in our unit. Offcourse, this was very difficult. A bullet could suddenly shoot us. The officer next to me said: 1
Brother, which village is it over there? I told him that it was Kodja Dere. Wavering for a while he then added: Come. Let s go to that village. We can at least get some breath over there. Not disappointing him we arrived in the village; but the village was also under the threat of enemy bombings. Finally, we lighted a cigarette using the wall of the mosque as a shelter. While we were just breathing the cigarette in, a bullet shot the mosque and all walls fell down on us. With a great effort I rescued myself. Then I looked for my friend under the earth and found him. He was seriously wounded. I put him in a vehicle passing by and sent him to the hospital. I did not have the chance to see him again or to hear from him. Following the path of Kodja Dere village I arrived in the Anzac Cove. The first thing I could recognise was Major Arif Bey, a military officer from the 5. Division. Recognising me in return he asked for my reason to come. I told him that I was transferred under the command of the 5. Division. He looked at the papers I had and said: At the back of that ridge are maintenance tabernacles. Ask the clerk there to provide all you need till your order arrives. I stayed there for four-five days. From the wounded people passing by, we were able to receive the victory news of our forces, which were fighting face to face with the enemy in 5 May 1915. I did not stay long there. According to an order I received the following day, I was re-located under the authority of the 13. Regiment. (Following Page 312) it was a matter of homeland. We were waiting for the enemy watching the famous monasteries of Jerusalem, the town of Eriha, Beytullahim and Bahri Lut. Although we were not expecting an enemy attack against the spurs where we were located, we were not in incaution. A few days later the 60. London Division of Englishmen took position opposite to us. The possibility of a sudden enemy attack was notified by our army corps under the command of Cemal Pasha (from Mersin), which was located in the town of Salt at the back of us. The late Private Fuat (from Kusadasi) was in the left wing of our unit. We had taken the control over the right wing of the regiment. What we heard from the captured soldiers was that the Englishmen, yet, had not have any intention to launch an attack. However, upon a sudden attack during the midnight, we had to leave that hill. In these circumstances, our regiment at the back took a better position and successfully held back against the attacks of the enemy. At the end of an arduous fighting, the English units had to move back to their initial trenches. Out battle plans were being arranged by the German General von Sanders, who was in the Philistine trench. One day a message received turned our regiment extremely happy: Mustafa Kemal was appointed as the Commander of Yildirim Armies. He himself [Mustafa Kemal] came to the town of Nasra where the encampment was located. There was happiness, and a feast atmosphere among the officers and soldiers. Everyone believed that there would now be a progress. Our regiment commander Ahmet Fuat Bey addressed the officers: Dear friends, I know that you are both mentally and materially in suffering. Like you we also eat barley bread mixed with raisin. Our matter is a matter of 2
homeland. We will perform the duties of our regiment with pleasure and obeying the orders of Mustafa Kemal, we will leave these dark days behind as soon as possible. Unfortunately, at a time when Mustafa Kemal had just become the commander of the Yildirim Armies, a severe attack was launched by the English Commander Alenby. And, before Mustafa Kemal set his strategy, the retreat of the Palestinian armies had started. Back to Ancac Cove It was June in year 1915. Our soldiers were unwell and sick because of the smell of dead bodies in the trenches. For this reason, dysentery erupted and rumours were wandering around that our regiment would be retreated. And, our regiment was pulled back being replaced by another regiment. Moving three kilometres backward, we set up a tent in a valley. Our company commander Nuri Bey was appointed to another post. And, I was made the commander of the 8. Company. Meanwhile, I was keeping the company under military training, and especially, I was providing bayonet and target training to the newcoming reinforcement soldiers. Time to time I was trying various things to lift up the spirit of the company. I was telling the soldiers whether they received any letters from their homes or I was telling them that every Turk had to fight like this in order to protect the homeland against the enemy. At the same time, I was telling them about my memories and asking them to tell their own stories so that we could have a cosy atmosphere similar to a family home and so that the soldiers could get rid of their thoughts. One day, I received the order of our regiment commander asking to see me. He was a very fastidious soldier. I went to see him trembling to not to give pave to any wrongdoing. Stand to attention I declared that I was ready to fulfil his orders. After examining me without any move, the regiment commander said: Sokrat Effendi, I am charging you with a new task. Listen. You will take the necessary number of soldiers from your company or from any company of the regiment. Look at the map, we are located at here. Following this path, you will find the Anafarta village. In the west of this village lies a valley up to Saros Cove. This valley is called Aghyl Dere. You will follow this valley up to the sea and come back with a sketch showing all paths heading to this sector and the conditions of the land. According to the order I received I immediately picked a squad from my company and moved. Anafartalar was a village I have not heard of before. In its desolate valleys one could not hear anything except the sounds of insects. Finally, the village appeared. While identifying all crucial spots, I had these thoughts in my mind: What can happen if the enemy launched an expulsion movement in here in order to attack to Anzac Cove at the back? Yes, the enemy can launch troops from the direction of Aghyl Dere under the protection and support firing of its navy forces. But what can happen next? Moving from the sea up to Anafartalar and holding these high hills are not things that every brave person could accomplish. However, because of this idea, I believe, I was given the task of providing information and preparing a plan of the land which would include the measures to be adopted against any possible circumstances. 3
Crawling through Aghyl Dere I had the intention to move up to the sea. One mile away from the beach was an enemy torpedo. It appeared that the land forces were positioned in the left wing. Thinking that I could be seen by the enemy if I had moved with squad, I rather took two of my soldiers. This way I was able to move closer to the enemy. Presumably, the enemy was located a thousand and five hundred metres away. The left wing of the Englishmen was surrounded with barbed wires and there were around five to ten tents close to the sea and other few tents set up. With gladness inside me I said: Oh, I should not miss this opportunity. While I was pulling the squad I had left behind to where I was, I thought of starting firing. But, then, I stopped myself thinking that it would not be a good thing to do. Because I had a more significant task to carry out. The only thing I could not understand was how the enemy had seized the maps and took position in these crucial locations. I would like to provide you the information about this matter that I got to know later: The Dervishes During the Ottoman time and during the months of Ramadan, many dervishes would walk from one village to another with their saddle bags and handbags. They would beg for things like money, food and so forth, and would then take them to their centres. In every place they visited they would pose themselves as saints or dervishes and would pray for the continuance of the Ottoman state, for the happiness and healthiness of the nation and for the life of the sultan. As it is known, these are some beliefs in Islam. But, have a look at what an English officer, who pretended to be a dervish, did (I heard about this story in a conference that one of our commanders gave): - In Ramadan, a dervish came to a small village in the Gallipoli peninsula. He had a long white beard and put a green turban on his head. The villagers met him with great respect and expressed their wishes to him: (Please spend this holy month with us. We can give you a room where you would be comfortable) The spy was not accepting the requests. He replied: I spend all my days praying to God. For this reason, I have to be in elevated positions. I feel myself much more comfortable up in high hills. I can only continue my praying there. The villagers took the dervish to a high hill. They provided all kinds of food and drinks to him. The dervish set up his encampment in this hill and started working on the things he wanted. The hills, valleys, landing marks, paths, wells In the end, he prepared a map as perfect as the one we had. Dear readers, after giving you a brief story of the spy who pretended to be a dervish, we should turn back to our main issue. I left that place with my squad and walked towards the Anafarta village. At one point I heard the voice of the corporal in my squad: 4
My commander, there is someone ahead. When I looked at that side, I saw an old villager sitting on a stone on the slope of a hill. Getting next to him I greeted him. - Hello father. - Hello my sons. - Why are you sitting here alone? The old man pointed distant with his eyes: - I am keeping an eye on the village. - What is the matter with the village that you are waiting for it? - Son, what could have happened more. The blasphemous enemy bombs these areas. Because of that the villagers left the village. The men and women joined the trench. Those who can not hold a rifle or can not carry bullet spread around. From now on, I will sit here and wait so that the village does not get any damages. - Father, is this place Aghyl Dere? - Yes, son, Aghyl Dere. - Do you think that the enemy can land troops in this place? - What are you saying son? Do you think that the enemy can move up to here? We would throw the stones of these hills over the enemy but would not let them in here. - Oh father. You are even braver than us. - Son, we would push the enemy back even with a battalion of soldiers of the reserve. Don t you see, they could not move beyond the Anzac Cove. Look, they filled those big ships with numerous black and white men. They had earrings on their ears and bracelets on their feet. (The old man was talking about the Senegalese soldiers brought over here by the French.) - Father, do not worry about all these things. We have already accounted for them. - Thanks sons. God bless your holy war in the name of the homeland and nation. - God be with you father. - Be in peace sons. God sharpen your sword. Leaving the old man behind, I came back to the regiment with my squad. I went to see the regiment commander to inform him and to give him the plan I had prepared. Once more he had no smile on his face. He said: - Sokrat Effendi, in case our regiment needs, you will come with me when I head towards this sector. I replied At your command my commander and left. 5