Chapter 73 – Ishmail

Some descriptions of trench life and thoughts of a Turkish soldier are based on entries in the diary of Ottoman Lieutenant Mehmet Fasih (acting commander of 7th Company, 47th Regiment, 16th division – p. 145) as translated in Lone Pine (Bloody Ridge) Diary . Some details include:

p. 119 – The graphic description of a soldier whose head is blown apart by a bullet, leaving the skull empty is taken directly from this eye witness account.  The damage is so extreme, that Fasih concludes that the enemy must be using explosive dumdum bullets.

P. 123 – After learning that a dead comrade left behind a 6-month-old baby girl he despairs and wonders whether he himself will ever have a child to call him “Daddy”. Fasih begs God to allow him to live to see that day.

P. 197 – Turkish proverbs/sayings are described: “While horses kick out, donkeys allow themselves to be crushed”; and to be “crushed between two millstones.”

Haluk Oral includes a discussion on the “Deprivation” that the Turkish soldiers endured in Gallipoli 1915 – Through Turkish Eyes (pp. 209-214). Oral includes a famous Australian photo (AWM reference PS1515; or A02025) shows victorious ANZACs in captured Lone Pine trench with dead ANZACs and Turks lying on the ground above, along the edge of the trench. The dead ANZAC has a white arm band. A dead Turk’s foot poking through his split boot that is “in tatters”. Oral describes the condition of the Turkish equipment and uniforms: “The equipment of the units was diminishing from one week to the next. A short while later, the uniforms of the gallant and brave soldiers, who were not insistent as far as their rights and assignations were concerned, turned into rages, their leather straps into mere strings, the boots one their feet became nothing but sheepskin and rags tied around the feet.” (p. 210).

Oral also includes a copy and translation of the following memorandum from a Turkish artillery officer written a few days before the Turkish attack of 19 May 1915 (p. 214):

“To the command of the Left Flank

Bloody Ridge [Lone Pine]

14/15 . 5 . 1915

Sir;

With the aim of covering the cannon (to prevent earth from falling on the cannon as a result of the trembling caused by the firing operation) I had a couple of bodies disinterred so as to recover their overcoats, but there were no overcoats. Sir, if you have them I would pray that you send us five empty sacks with the person who brought you this note.

Lieutenant of the Schneider Mountain Battery

Ahmet Kemal”

A map included by Harvey Broadbent in Gallipoli – The Turkish Defence , p. 223 shows the 57th Regiment to be at the southern flank of the 19th Division in July/August 1915. On p. 238 this southern flank extends to Kirmizisirt (Red Ridge, Steele’s Post-Johnstone’s Jolly) on the second ridge at around this time.

Edward Erickson describes in Gallipoli, The Ottoman Campaign (p. 134) how on 17 July 1915, Enver, The Minister for War, sent a telegram to Field Marshal Liman von Sanders at Gallipoli “asserting that he knew conclusively from intelligence sources that the British were about to execute an amphibious landing at Saros Bay.” A reference is provided to Turkish archives in the end note. Another message from Enver on 18 July is described, stating that the landing would be at Bolayir (Bulair). Erickson also describes the British attack on the southern front at Cape Helles on 12 and 13 July on p. 131-134.

Harvey Broadbent describes in Gallipoli – The Turkish Defence (p. 224) how, despite the relative lull in the fighting by early July 1915, The Turks were aware of the need for vigilance due to signs appearing of a likely Allied offensive, and that one precaution was the postponement of Ramadan which was due to begin on 13 July.

A description of the uniform and kit of an Ottoman private is provided by Mesut Uyar in The Ottoman Defence Against the ANZAC Landing – 25 April 1915 (p. 162-163).  This includes a detailed sketch, front and back, showing items such as pockets, belt and ammunition pouches.