TNT Matchbox Diary: A Turkish POW in Russian Prison Camp (1915-1918)/Part VII

16 June 1915

We remained here. Again I received newspapers from my father.

17 June 1915

It was near mid-day when we departed the southern area of the 

Vilhas Plateau and returned to the southeastern flank of Karapınar (our

former location) and pitched tents. İt was raining.

18-21 June 1915 (no entries)

22 June 1915

We remained here…everything is as it was…

23 June 1915

Battle with the enemy begins but the enemy eluded us. We left the 

southeastern flank of Karapınar and moved forward. After Simserkis 

village we went into a stream. Shrapnel was exploding right over our 

heads here. We passed by a village along the stream, probably 

Mınamur, and advanced from here. Shrapnel again exploded over us

in the rear of the rocky hills. Thankfully, no one was hurt. We waited 

here for a while. At about nine o’clock, Turkish time, cannon and rifle 

fire ceased and we started to move forward from the open area in front

of Kuzele Mountain which was susceptible to enemy fire. We came to

the side of Karadağ (altitude 2900 meters). It rained toward evening. 

We spent the night on the southern flank of Karadağ.

24 June 1915

Fighting continued. We seized Karadağ’s highest point (2900 meters). 

I received 10 mecidiye (2 liras) and sugar inside a five-kilogram box 

from my father.

25 June 1915

The battle continued. Toward evening it diminished and stopped.

26 June 1915

We moved the headquarters to a safer place, better protected from 

enemy fire, some 300-400 meters ahead in back of a ridge, to the 

northeast…living in tents.

Fuad Bey and his cohorts engaged the Russians near 
Narman.  Afterwards they moved south to Hasankale 
(Pasinler).

27 June-16 July  1915 (no entries)

17 July 1915

We’ve been on the Karadağ ridges…sometimes the Russians all leave

the trenches. There is talking from both sides and the Russians say 

peace – then why are they fighting, what are they screaming about? 

Very odd things…we understand that they have finally launched an 

attack from Van. Our division has moved toward there, as well.

Our regiment stayed a bit longer in the 10^th Army Corps stable. The 

intense rain has soaked the tents really badly. I got a pair of boots. I 

met Lieutenant Celal (Reserve ___) of the 2^nd Battalion, 6^th Company.

He had previously been in my father’s battalion.

I also made friends with Akif Usta (2^nd Battalion rifleman), as well as 

with the regimental müftü. I met quite a lot of people. Salih was getting 

angry. Once again, newspapers and letters came. While here I also wrote

a rough draft of a petition to Enver Paşa but the regimental commander

didn’t want it so I gave it up. Life in the countryside is quite nice if one

can secure food. But I’m suffering from the lack of a true friend. No 

one helps one another. I’m all alone…alone.

18 July 1915

We received an order to join our division so at three o’clock ____we

departed Karadağ and reached Simserkis sometime long after midnight.

We rested quite a while.

19 July 1915

We passed Kürdemiri and Kayataşı and late in the afternoon we came 

to Başkale, where we rested. At midnight we moved on from here until

morning.

20 July 1915

We walked non-stop. Passing Uzun Dazlak Plateau, we reached Yeniköy

a bit after noon. My shabby boots really hurt my feet. We stayed and 

rested here.

Fuad Bey marched southeast toward Karaçoban from 
Hasankale (Pasinler) and then southeast toward
Malazgirt (see map below.)

21 July 1915

We moved from Yeniköy in the morning. Passing Sürbahan, at midday 

we reached Hasankale, where we rested. We purchased some things. I 

bought a donkey here for 17 kuruş. We left here toward evening and 

quite a bit later we passed a village at the edge of the plain. At midnight

we rested in the area of Ağzehir.

22 July 1915

At mid-day we departed Ağzehir and reached Mescidli at sunset. We

rested in a flat area and left here at midnight.

23 July 1915

We’re continuing to move. We passed a number of villages and came 

to Kanık village late in the afternoon, where we rested. Everything is 

horrible. Again, at midnight we left here and at dawn we rested a bit 

near a bridge.

24 July 1915

Movement continues. We left a village and at mid-day we came to 

Kozlu village, where we rested for four hours. There were some trees 

and greenery here. Since I didn’t see any greenery or trees while living 

in and travelling through the mountains I feel like this place is heaven.

I got a sunburn under the heat of the sun and had a nice rest in the 

shade of a tree for a bit. In the late afternoon we left here and at night, 

in pouring rain, we reached Dedeviran, where we rested. A little

before dawn we left here.

25 July 1915

While it was still morning we came to Karaçoban town. After two 

hours of rest, we walked on, passing Hisisçayı, Kumkaragöz and more 

streams and villages until morning.

26 July 1915

Just as the sun was rising we reached Döğük village. This last march

had taken 22 hours without a break  but for a change we rested here 

until mid-day. We then moved on, crossing the Murad River, and on a 

ridge one or two kilometers on the left we rested and spent the night.

27 July 1915

Late in the morning we moved across the ridges to the left of Döğük

and Merd, passing a number of villages. Toward evening we stopped 

in the area of Kızkapan village and spent the night.

28 July 1915

Late in the morning we left here. Passing a few villages, we crossed

the Murad with great difficulty at night and came to the area of 

Kargalıklar. I had a fight with Abdülhak. The calamities and miseries

are having a bad effect on me. Anyway, we spent the night here.

29 July 1915

In the morning we departed Kargalıklar but stopped soon afterwards. 

We fought with the enemy near Esmer village, which we took and we 

spent the night there.

30 July 1915

We went to a forward outpost a bit beyond Esmer in the morning. 

Toward evening we moved further ahead and after sunset we went 

behind the western ridges of Tutak (Antap).  We set up encampment 

here.

31 July 1915 (no entry)

The march continued southeast from Karaçoban and then
north of  Malazgirt along the Murat River.

//END of Part VII//