31st Regt at KumKale 1915

[stevebecker]

Tosun,

Mates I notice I nice write up on the 6th Company 2Bn 31st Regt in the fighting at KumKale against the French.

But the Offical History does not say who commanded that company that held the French

"A company from the 31st Regiment (the 6th Company) was assigned to Kumkale.
This company had three platoons. One of these platoons was pushed forward to the south
to the surroundings of the Orhaniye ridges–Yenişehir. A section of the platoon was kept
rounded up at Yenişehir and the rest was on duty scattered around as surveillance patrols. A
platoon from the company was assigned to coastal surveillance and security duty at the
wooden wharf (inclusive) at Kumkale Point and the reedy area in between. The majority of
the platoon was positioned at the historical fortress and right in front of its walls. The last
platoon, in the hands of the company, was divided in two and half the platoon was pushed
to the opening of the Menderes rivulet and the other half of the platoon was brought to the
Kumkale southern exit as company reserve. There was no heavy weaponry in the company.
However, a platoon from the 31st Regiment made up with two heavy machine guns was
positioned to the east of the Menderes, close to the windmill that was a further distance
from the ridges facing Kumkale."

"The Company Commander was positioned inside the cemetery with a two
platoon strong force including its half a platoon positioned at the opening of the Menderes
and was trying to block the south exit of the Kumkale village with constant infantry fire. The
company took large losses. One of the platoon commanders was wounded and the other
platoon commander was killed. In spite of that the company commander was still leading
his company. The morale of the soldiers was high and the action was occurring in an orderly
fashion."

Do we know who commanded the 6th Company or any other units of the 2Bn 31st Regt at this battle?

Maj Ismail Hakki Bey (Koray) CO 31st Regt 1915 shown at Kum Kale
Capt Sabri Tewfick Efendi 31st Regt - 1Bn - possibly OC of Bn 1915?
Maj Sevket Bey 31st Regt - 3Bn - 1917 - possibly OC Bn at Kumkale?

But no details on the 2nd Bn who held that French at Kumkale?
Or who commanded the other Bn's that day?

The only officer mentioned in this battle was the commander of the 39th Regt

Hüseyin Nurettin (Özsu)

All other names are lost to History?

Cheers

S.B

[Tosun Saral]

Commander of 6th Company is Inf. 2nd Lt Şevki Efendi. platoon commander killed was Reserve Lt.Burhanettin Efendi.
Source: Cav. Col. Şerif Güralp "Çanakkale Cephesi'nden Filistin'e" (From Gallipoli to Palestina ) Col Güralp says that Şevki Efendi was his class mate WIA at Kumkale and Burhanettin Efendi wasa joyful handsone, a goodlooking, fine gentlemen.

[stevebecker]

Tosun,

Mate your going well.

Many of these brave men are now forgotten to history.

Why the Offical history didn't include more names is a strange one?

Cheers

S.B

[Tosun Saral]

Ottoman Turks were very good archivers.Today various searchers came to Turkey to find out their history. During the unfortunate defeat at Palastine the archive of 4th army or Yildirim was lost,burned ect.Some are in British and Anzac hands. In 1928 Turkey accepted new turkish ABC . Between 1919- 50 no one cared history. After 1950s the old veterans who could write and read old ottoman died one by one. In 1958 my late father Majorgeneral Ahmet Hulki Saral was made Director of Military History Department (ATASE). He begged vice Co Staff of Turkish GeneralStaff General Cevdet Sunay ( later president of Turkey) to gather all those old veterans still living at ATASE and begın to translate the old documents into new turkish letters. All tose well known military history books was written during my fathers service. Nowadays there are too many historians working on turkish battles and wars. But unfortunately only in turkish. Iknow that there is more towork on. chhers.