TNT POW Reports: Turks in Greek Hands (1920-1923)/Part XV

//Ed. Note: This grim tale of captivity began after the
Battle of Sakarya, between Eskişehir and Ankara (late
August-early September 1921). The soldier was captured 
near Bursa and ended up on Milos Island, perhaps the 
worst of the worst of Greek POW camps.//

Our Prisoners on Milos Island

Yenice Battalion’s Sixth Detachment Commander Dikici İsmail Usta’s 

Statement:

Together with a few companions, I was taken prisoner during a clash in 

Ağaçhisar on 12 September 1921 with Kütahya Gendarmerie 

Commander Kabakcı Salih Efe, his cohort Topal Saaduddin and their 

helpers.  We were then taken to Tavşanlı village and imprisoned in a 

barbed wire-fenced area.  While our statements were being taken, 3 of 

my companions – Laz İsmail, Sayman Çavuş and Yenişehirli Hüseyin – 

were killed by blows from a barbed wire whip.  

This POW was captured near Orhaneli, center left, taken to 

Tavşanlı and then to Kütahya.

From there we were taken to Kütahya and after staying in a cellar full 

of water for 48 hours, we were transferred to a room soiled with blood.  

This room, which at first glance was understood the be the Moslem 

slaughterhouse, was where an artillery captain and a first lieutenant 

were killed, as were Kütahya merchant Ömer Ağazade Cemil, Hasan 

Dedezade Ahmed Hulusi, the former commander of the Simav 

Detachment and a resident of Turgutlu town, Kütahya farm owner 

Hasan and Ketencizade Bezaz Mustafa.  Subsequently, I was taken to 

Bursa and on 4 September I was boarded onto a ship at Mudanya and 

transported amid all sorts of torture to Salonica.  

The writer was transported from Mudanya, near Bursa, to

Salonica (Thessaloniki), to Athens and finally to Milos Island

In fact, because of the crowding and torture on the ship, 8 poor souls 

died and their bodies were thrown into the sea.   During the time I was 

held in the Beyaz Kale (White Fortress) in Salonica I saw my co-

religionists die from hunger, thirst and torture.  Hacı Süleyman, from 

Bursa’s Arabayatağı quarter, was beaten to death with a club.  As soon 

as the Greeks learned that we had made complaints to the Allied 

representative in Salonica,  the quickly put us on a ship to Piraeus.  

Those who were shut in the holds below decks and desperate because 

of the crowding, stormed the deck.  At the front of the charge were 

Süleyman Çavuş of Kestanealanı village in İnegöl, Tevfik Çavuş of 

Hayriye village and Nuri Bey of Kirazlı village, all of whom were 

bayonetted.  Süleyman Çavuş’s body was thrown into the sea. 

On 1 December 1923, we were transported to Milos Island.  The 

cruelties inflicted on the prisoners was evident from their appearance.  

They were sent to forced labor from morning till evening, despite 

being broken from hunger and thirst.  Thew were made to work like 

animals and there was no respite from beatings and curses.  Fever 

and typhoid were rampant  and many Moslems died from these 

diseases.  The Greek Government saw no need to taken even the 

slightest measure in this regard.

We confirm the aforementioned’s statements.

Chief of the Commission to Verify Atrocities, Major Abidin

Member: First Lieutenant Abdullah

Member: Osman, Administrative Chief of the Police Directorate

//END of PART XV//