T8HANTS Posted 12 February , 2020 Share Posted 12 February , 2020 Many years ago I was given the photo album of a soldier who was part of the British troops sent to Turkey after the war. He was I believe a gunner, but seemed to be in direct daily contact with one of the senior officers, possibly his driver. There are some obvious 'snaps' in the album, but I am not sure if the rest are official photos. The photo below is the front photo in the album,if you would like to see more I will scan them and put them up. He must also have spent time in South Africa as he sported an 'Order of Tin Hats' pin His name was Wilcox. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaeldr Posted 12 February , 2020 Share Posted 12 February , 2020 (edited) There's a good chance that the officer named as Heyward is actually Lt-Col T G G Heywood who was the British Secretary to the Directing Committee of Generals (see booklet The Occupation of Constantinople 1918-1923 [Provisional] p.22) Ismet was the commander of the Turkish forces on their western front against the Greeks. Earlier, in 1914, he had been Director of Operations on the staff of the C-in-C (Enver). Eventually he became MK's “brilliant staff officer and number two” (Rifki quoted by Mango). On 11th October 1922 he signed, on behalf of Turkey, The Mudania Convention; the other parties at the conference were the Directing Committee of Generals (Harington, Charpy & Mombelli), plus the Greeks who did not sign. (Is Harington one of the officers in the photograph?) On the rest of the group I'm afraid I'm guessing: Münir Bey could possibly be the Maj Mehmet Münir that commanded the 72nd Regt. at Sari Bair, Gallipoli, in August 1915 (perhaps one of our Turkish pals can comment on this) A F G Leveson-Gower was a British diplomat (but he died in 1922?) so perhaps a younger member of the family??? I certainly think it would be interesting to see the rest of the album if you can manage to scan it all regards Michael Edited 12 February , 2020 by michaeldr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T8HANTS Posted 12 February , 2020 Author Share Posted 12 February , 2020 I am a little busy this morning, but I will put some more up as I get a chance. The album is getting a little frail. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaeldr Posted 12 February , 2020 Share Posted 12 February , 2020 In your own good time and don't jeopardise the photographs just for me best regards Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T8HANTS Posted 12 February , 2020 Author Share Posted 12 February , 2020 I had hoped that this photo would show the historic moment that golf was introduced into Turkey, but a diligent 30 second search of the interwebnet states that the Constantinople club was established in 1895. So a photo of senior British officers relaxing and I presume, not an official photograph. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaeldr Posted 12 February , 2020 Share Posted 12 February , 2020 How good a swing you can get while wearing a buttoned-up suit jacket? I haven't got Tim Harington's autobiography but apparently he mentions all the various sports available in Istanbul at this time, including the golf. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
themonsstar Posted 12 February , 2020 Share Posted 12 February , 2020 Thank you for posting part of the album Hants. It's one of my enjoyments looking at albums from the 1st WW period as it all adds to the time and research which we are looking at. Roy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keithmroberts Posted 12 February , 2020 Share Posted 12 February , 2020 Some really interestin g photographs, I look forward to seeing some more when you have time. Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie962 Posted 12 February , 2020 Share Posted 12 February , 2020 thanks for posting these unusual photos. Charlie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KizmeRD Posted 12 February , 2020 Share Posted 12 February , 2020 I'm also enjoying the photos, thanks for posting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emrezmen Posted 12 February , 2020 Share Posted 12 February , 2020 (edited) 5 hours ago, T8HANTS said: Many years ago I was given the photo album of a soldier who was part of the British troops sent to Turkey after the war. He was I believe a gunner, but seemed to be in direct daily contact with one of the senior officers, possibly his driver. There are some obvious 'snaps' in the album, but I am not sure if the rest are official photos. The photo below is the front photo in the album,if you would like to see more I will scan them and put them up. He must also have spent time in South Africa as he sported an 'Order of Tin Hats' pin His name was Wilcox. Great photos, thank you for sharing. There are some names in old Turkish on the photo but I'm not sure whose names they are. I believe these photos were taken during one of the "tea parties" immediately before Allied evacuation of Istanbul. 3 hours ago, michaeldr said: Ismet was the commander of the Turkish forces on their western front against the Greeks. Earlier, in 1914, he had been Director of Operations on the staff of the C-in-C (Enver). Eventually he became MK's “brilliant staff officer and number two” (Rifki quoted by Mango). On 11th October 1922 he signed, on behalf of Turkey, The Mudania Convention; the other parties at the conference were the Directing Committee of Generals (Harington, Charpy & Mombelli), plus the Greeks who did not sign. (Is Harington on of the officers in the photograph?) He also commanded the Ottoman garrison at Beersheba on 31 Oct 1917. 3 hours ago, michaeldr said: On the rest of the group I'm afraid I'm guessing: Münir Bey could possibly be the Maj Mehmet Münir that commanded the 72nd Regt. at Sari Bair, Gallipoli, in August 1915 (perhaps one of our Turkish pals can comment on this) Mehmet Münir but not the same person. Mehmet Münir Ertegün (1883 - 1944), a prominent diplomat in early years of Turkish Republic. Edited 12 February , 2020 by emrezmen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaeldr Posted 12 February , 2020 Share Posted 12 February , 2020 Emrezmen, Many thanks for the additional information on Ismet and for identifying the correct Münir regards Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T8HANTS Posted 12 February , 2020 Author Share Posted 12 February , 2020 A more sombre photograph and apparently issued as a postcard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eceabat Posted 12 February , 2020 Share Posted 12 February , 2020 Just a note on your golfing photo, there is/was a golf course at Maslak, a premier 18 hole course that is/was owned by the military with very limited access. In Ottoman times Maslak would have been well out of the inner city but now is at the heart of one of Istanbul's main business districts. When I lived in Istanbul and worked out past Maslak for a television network I used to go past the golf course, which is behind high walls and fences, almost every day. It is an oasis of green in a concrete land. There were some reports a few years back that the course was going to be taken over by the government and the land rezoned for development, maybe some of our Istanbul-based pals could confirm. Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaeldr Posted 12 February , 2020 Share Posted 12 February , 2020 Regarding the photograph in post No.13 Edmonds' official history of this time does not appear to mention any executions, however it does give the proclamation by Lt-Gen Maitland Wilson of 16th July 1920 which states: “Owing to the presence of Turkish armed forces, hostile to the allies, in the area west of the Bosphorus, and to the presence of armed bands of brigands who take the opportunity to attack the peaceful inhabitants of the country, it is notified that henceforward: Any person found in possession of firearms or bombs, or with firearms or bombs in his house, will be tried by an Allied Military Court, and will on conviction be condemned to death or other such penalty as may be decided by the court. The owner, or occupier, of any house from which fire is directed upon Allied troops will be required to identify the individual, or individuals, guilty of firing, or, in default, will be tried by an Allied Military Court for giving assistance to the enemies of the Allied Forces.” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T8HANTS Posted 13 February , 2020 Author Share Posted 13 February , 2020 (edited) Another shot taken by the set of stairs, the sign on the wall seen in the other photo reads "A H Q, British Army of Cxxxx, Officers Entrance, (unreadable)" Edited 13 February , 2020 by T8HANTS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaeldr Posted 13 February , 2020 Share Posted 13 February , 2020 22 hours ago, michaeldr said: On 11th October 1922 .....The Mudania Convention; the other parties at the conference were the Directing Committee of Generals (Harington, Charpy & Mombelli), plus the Greeks who did not sign. The presence of all three members (Harington, Charpy & Mombelli) of the Directing Committee of Generals, plus General Ismet Pasha, tends to suggest the location in this case was probably the Mudania Conference. This conference produced the armistdice with Turkey and allowed the next year's negotiations in Switzerland to gain the final, workable, settlement known as the Treaty of Lausanne (July 24, 1923) see also https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/72740886 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T8HANTS Posted 13 February , 2020 Author Share Posted 13 February , 2020 I had though these lads were Gnr Wilcox's battery chums, but the cap badge isn't right for gunners, as it is a large flaming grenade. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaeldr Posted 13 February , 2020 Share Posted 13 February , 2020 (edited) The address given for the Directing Committee of Generals was: General Headquarters, The Allied Forces of Occupation, Nishantash I would guess that the final line refers to Nişantaşı, an area of Istanbul on the European side of the Bosphorus The OoB for 1921 (After reduction on arrival of General Sir Charles Harington) gives under Troops - 28th Division Previously, the OoB for September 1920, gives under Troops - 28th Division & 242nd Brigade Edited 13 February , 2020 by michaeldr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toby Brayley Posted 13 February , 2020 Share Posted 13 February , 2020 (edited) 16 hours ago, T8HANTS said: A more sombre photograph and apparently issued as a postcard. A macabre but interesting image, for us here at The Military Police Museum. We have 1000s of images of the Military Police during the Great War and the immediate aftermath but this is the only time we have ever seen an image of Military Police present at an execution. We are also putting together a display about the Allied Police Commission in Constantinople and the wider occupation from 1918 to 1923. If possible would you be willing to send us a copy? Its a superb image (If one can call it that). Apologies for crashing you wonderful thread! A Joint Vehicle Patrol Allied Police Edited 13 February , 2020 by Toby Brayley Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Open Bolt Posted 13 February , 2020 Share Posted 13 February , 2020 Here's a stab in the dark https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Askeri_muze_Istanbul.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T8HANTS Posted 13 February , 2020 Author Share Posted 13 February , 2020 We have seen the great men arriving, these two pictures show them leaving. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaeldr Posted 13 February , 2020 Share Posted 13 February , 2020 And we now have a date: 24th July 1923 Edmonds' history notes that evacuation of Allied garrisons was begun the very next day and completed by 3pm on 2nd October when the last transport left Constantinople The three members of The Directing Committee of Generals are named fully as President & British Member: Lieutenant-General Sir Charles H. Harington KCB, DSO Italian Member: Général de Division E Mombelli KCMG French Member: Major-General C. Charpy CB and as mentioned earlier, the Secretary was Lieutenant-Colonel T G G Heywood OBE ............................................................................................................................................ 4 hours ago, Open Bolt said: a stab in the dark https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Askeri_muze_Istanbul.jpg OB - that looks like a good match ............................................................................................................................................ Toby - thanks for those additional photographs from the RMPM ............................................................................................................................................. Hants - A great collection and thread from a neglected subject; thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T8HANTS Posted 13 February , 2020 Author Share Posted 13 February , 2020 I should have found this one earlier, but it does give the location. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T8HANTS Posted 13 February , 2020 Author Share Posted 13 February , 2020 Photos of the Italian troops Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now