Chapter 49 – Hamid

Harvey Broadbent describes the Turkish perspective in Gallipoli – The Turkish Defence . Broadbent’s work includes translations to English from Turkish accounts and archives. Following are some details from Broadbent’s work that have been incorporated into this chapter:

P. 119-120 – A description of the Turkish sharpshooters or ‘snipers’ who positioned themselves in advanced positions in the early days after the ANZAC landing and played an important part in restricting enemy advances.

P. 120-121 – A quote from Izzettin Bay (Chief of Staff for Mustafa Kemal’s 19th Division) describing the courage of the men of the 57th Regiment, including the following: “They were filled with a yearning for martyrdom. They believed they would go to heaven.”

P. 86 – “Whole companies of the Ottoman 57th were wiped out this day” [25 April 1915].

P. 97 – Captain Zeki Bey, commander of the 1st Battalion of the 57th Regiment, was wounded and retired from the battlefield on 25 April 1915 (just before 1:45pm).

P. 101-105 – The 1st and 3rd Battalions of the 57th Regiment launched a major attack at Baby 700 at 3:30pm on 25 April 1915, calling the name of Allah. Turkish losses were considerable. By 5:00pm Baby 700 had changed hands five times, but the Turks held it at the end of the day and for the remainder of the campaign. Half of the original officers and troops of the 57th Regiment were lost on this day. The whole area from Battleship Hill to The Nek was packed with slain bodies.

P. 104 – The dense scrub allowed the enemy to approach as close as 20 steps away.

P. 157 – there was no major ANZAC assault on 26 April, after General Hamilton’s famous order to “dig, dig, dig.”

P. 161-162 – An Ottoman attack was launched by the 19th Division (including the 57th Regiment) at 9:00pm on 27 April. Mustafa Kemal organised the attack, knowing that the enemy entrenchments were not yet well established. The attack failed and no gains were made, but “huge numbers of troops were lost.” “Ottoman difficulties were increased by naval shell fire enabled by searchlights.”

To “lie under the cypress pines”, is a Turkish expression, meaning to be dead and buried. Many Turkish and Greek cemeteries are planted with cypress pines.

“There is no God but God, and Muhammad is his prophet.” This confession of faith is the first of five pillars of Islam. Devout Muslims repeat this statement several times each day.

Islamic doctrine has long taught that martyrs who give their life fighting for God will be forgiven of their sins and granted admission into heaven. The exchange is considered to be a trade or bargain. This doctrine stated in the following sura’s of the Quran: 61:10-12, 4:74, and 9:111.

Quran 9:111 – “God has purchased from the believers their lives and their properties in exchange for Paradise. They fight in God’s way, and they kill and get killed. It is a promise binding on Him in the Torah, and the Gospel, and the Quran. And who is more true to his promise than God? So rejoice in making such an exchange—that is the supreme triumph.” (Clear Quran English Translation).

Heaven is described in the Quran as a paradise when the faithful men will be sexually satisfied by beautiful virgins. Refer Quran suras: 44:51-56; 52:17-29; 55:46-78.

Quran 55:46,56-57 – “But for him who feared the standing of his Lord are two gardens… In them are maidens restraining their glances, untouched before by any man or jinn. So which of your Lord’s marvels will you deny?” (Clear Quran English Translation).