
THE MECIDIYE BATTERY (EUROPE) (NR 13)
the first autherntic hotel on the Gallipoli peninsula
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The batteries
on the European side -the Rumeli Mecidiyesi with four 24 cm guns, the Rumeli
Hamidiyesi with two 35 cm guns, Namazgah with two 24 cm guns were reorganized
as one battery under my command. We were given a projector for night spotting
& observation and we also received light four wheeled (mantel) guns. We
entrenched the 24’s at 32 meters and the 35’s at 40 meters distance from each
other and the guns were placed on wooden platforms of a meter high and a 3 to
4 meter wall in front for shelter at the front.
Captain Mehmet Hilmi Bey in his memoirs "Canakkale was not passed-Captain
Mehmet Himli”,
Istanbul,
Gazanfer Şanlıtop, p. 134.
“battery Commander Hilmi and Second-Lieutenant Fahri”, picture reproduced from “The War Magazine”, (Istanbul - 2004), p. 41
When I was there, however, the place was quiet, for no fighting was going on that day. For my particular benefit the officers put one of their gun crews through a drill, so that I could obtain a perfect picture of the behaviour of the Turks in action. In their mind’s eye these artillerists now saw the English ships advancing within range, all their guns pointed to destroy the followers of the Prophet. The bugleman blew his horn, and the whole company rushed to their appointed places. Some were bringing shells,others were opening the breeches, others were taking the ranges, others were straining at pulleys, and others were putting the charges into place.Everything was eagerness and activity; evidently the Germans had been excellent instructors, but there was more
last updated : 20/02/07
back to silent witnesses
to it than
German military precision,
for the men’s
faces lighted up with all that fanaticism which supplies the morale of the
Turkish soldiers. These gunners momentarily imagined that they
were shooting once more at the infidel English, and the excercise was a
congenial one. Above the shouts of all I could hear the singsongs chant of the
leader, intoning the prayer with which the Moslem has rushed to battle for
thirteen centuries.
"Ambassador Morgenthau’s Story", (Kessinger Publications), p. 139
SILENT WITNESSES
fortresses & batteries
along the Dardanelles