Chapter 25 – Ali

Ali is based on a photo of a Turkish boy soldier included by Tim Travers in Gallipoli 1915 on p. 107. This lad is wearing shoes that are “not regulation issue”. Same photo in Gallipoli, the Fatal Shore by Harvey Broadbent – source Turkish Staff Archives.

Edward Erickson records in Gallipoli – The Ottoman Campaign (pp 30-31), a history of the 27th Regiment as part of the 9th Divisions involvement in preparations for defence of the Gallipoli peninsula and the mobilisation of the 5th Army. This regiment was initially sent to the Saros Bay beaches to defend against a possible Greek amphibious threat, then moved back to ‘the Maidos area’ where preparation included ‘special training with a mountain howitzer battalion and a howitzer battery.’ Map 1.2 on p. 10 shows the 2nd Battalion of the 27th Regiment (‘2/27’) encamped at Kocadere (Karuja Dere) near Maidos (Ecabat) on 18 February 1915.

The structure of the 4th Company, of the 2nd Battalion, of the 27th Regiment is described by Haluk Oral in Gallipoli 1915 - Through Turkish Eyes , p. 47. Oral states that “…each company was organised into three platoons, and each platoon was made up of nine squads of nine rifles each…”

Edward Erickson in Gallipoli – The Ottoman Campaign , p. 193, states that Ottoman infantry underwent training in rifle marksmanship, however, he footnotes a Turkish reference document stating that “Ottoman soldiers fired only about 20–30 rifle bullets in training.”

Edward Erickson in Gallipoli – The Ottoman Campaign , p. 191 outlines an Ottoman soldier’s daily food rations as “…in the amount of, or equivalent to, 900g bread, 250g meat, 150g bulgar (cracked wheat), 20g olive oil, and 20g salt.” An example of food provided to wounded soldiers later in the campaign is provided on p. 196: “…a large hot meal that consisted of chicken soup, bread, meat and beans, pilav (rice) and baklava, after which, pistachio nuts were given out as treats.”

Charles Bean records advice from Turkish officer Major Zeki, during an interview in 1919, in Gallipoli Mission (p. 189), that his battalion had a Hoja—the chaplain, and that “It being the 1st battalion of the [57th] regiment, he ranked as Mufti—the 2nd and 3rd would have an Imam.”

Kevin Fewster, et al, in Gallipoli – The Turkish Story , (p. 96), include photo ‘AWM A02598’ showing Ottoman soldiers in a trench. The caption states: “…The bearded, gowned man on the right is an imam (regimental chaplain).”

The Italian invasion of Ottoman territory in Tripolitania (modern day Lybia) in 1911 is described by Andrew Mango in Atatürk , pp. 66, 101-106.

Les Carlyon states in Gallipoli (p. 48), “In November the Turks announced a Jihad against the infidels, although the German Protestants were obviously exempted.”

Zafer Toprak states in his foreward to Haluk Oral’s Gallipoli Through Turkish Eyes (p. XVI), that “Sultan Mehmed Reşad, in his capacity of caliph, declared a holy war, and on November 23, 1914, the Sheikhulislam issued a fatwa in which he made an appeal to the Muslims of Crimea, Turkestan, India, Afghanistan and Africa to wage war on England, France and Russia.”

During the First Balkan war, in early 1913, the Bulgarians attacked the Gallipoli peninsula from the north. A brief account is given by Edward Erickson in Gallipoli – The Ottoman Campaign , pp. 5-6

Koran references included in Imam’s address:

“Those who are slain…has made know to them.” From surah: ‘Muhammad’, 47:4-6 Penguin Classics translation by N. J. Dawood 2014.

“As for the unbelievers…ever straying from the right path.” From surah: ‘The Cow’ 2:6-15, Penguin Classics translation by N. J. Dawood 2014

Words from the Jihad quote in the Imam’s address are taken from Secrets of the Bosphorus , by Henry Morgenthau (pp. 106-108).

Edward Erickson in Gallipoli – The Ottoman Campaign , p. 31 states: “Beginning on 1 November 1914, the [27th] regiment participated in special training with a mountain howitzer battalion and a howitzer battery in the reserve area. As winter progressed, Şefik’s [27 Regiment commander] frequent orders to his regiments included specific instructions that insured that the infantry-artillery team jointly coordinated their training.” Erickson continues to describe these operations in the Maidos area into February 1915.