WW1 Ottomans vrs British Tanks

ukturkcollector said:
Found these images online of WW1 Ottoman Imperial Army staff officers inspecting a destroyed British tank. The Turkish write-up for these reads as:

"Encouraged by his first victory of the Ottoman forces had decided to stay in Gaza-Beerşeba line. Therefore, while the British were preparing to attack in Gaza for the second time in the defensive line was stronger than before. Battle of Britain, and in January 1916 resulted in defeats since the invasion of Egypt and Palestine, General Archibald Murray who led the reception of his Egyptian Expedition Force kumadanlığı. Sir Edmund Allenby was appointed instead. Ottoman fronts in this war for the first time the "tank" weapon was used. Three of the eight British structure of the Mark I tank was destroyed by Ottoman artillery."

P1050250_Issed-Djamel-Kress_1qaa1.jpg


LiveImages_FotoHaber_Aksaraydabombabulundu_D151316181.jpg
Click to expand...
Nutty was destroyed by Austria-Hungarian Artillary.
First pic: left to right: Hergott Pasha CoS of Cemal Pasha, Kress pasha (middle) and Ahmet Cemal Pasha commander of 4th Army at Palestine.
2nd Pic: Enver pasha entring i,nside the tank

Reserve Lt. Falih Rifki (Atay)(writer, novalist, publisher, Journalist, stateman) was privat secratery of Cemal Pasha. he wrote his memories in his famous book: Zeytindağı (Ölberg, Olivehill) Zeytindağı is a place in Jerusalem where there was a German Hospital which became HQ of Cemal Pasha during War. p.158

"Have you ever seen a dead tank? How sad is the cadaver of things that are produced to kill.. One of them is fallen infront of our trenches. It made a barrier with its huge, empty and broken body. During the night our soldiers guarded infront of this tank to prevent a sudden umbush. One night a guard noticed an English soldier aproaching slowly. He waited inside the tank. If he would fire and kill him all the fire of the enemy would fire on him. If he would kill him with his bayonet he would lost the 5 gold Turkish Liras awarded for every alive English. So he decided a third possibility to catch him alive. he slowly wore off his socks which he didnt washed since many months and hit strongly on the head of English from behind. Immediately he put the sock in his mouth to stop him shouting. The poor English fainted. After a while as he come to himself he claimed that the Turk used poison which was againts all human behaviour"

Here is the account from the E Co. HBMGC war diary: "19.4.17 52nd Division, 155 Brigade, Order No. 42
"On the night of the 18th-19th four Tanks moved from Wadi Nukhabiranti, Sq. R36, into position behind El Sireh Ridge. At 0600 on the morning of the 19th they moved into position at R of Kurd Hill. (Kurt Tepesi)
"At 07:30 Tank HMLS "OTAZEL" (2 Lt. Blakeway) moved forward in front of the infantry, objective being Outpost Hill. After proceeding a short distance this Tank got ditched in a wadi owing to the ground giving way & had to be dug out.
"At 0730 Tank HMLS "WAR-BABY" (2 Lt. Braime) preceded the infantry, its objective being Green Hill. On proceeding a short distance, an officer of the infantry requested Lt. Braime to got to "Outpost Hill" instead, owing to HMLS OTAZEL being out of action; this Lt. Braime did. and took the hill inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy. Owing to the heavy shelling on the Hill, the infantry were unable to reach this point. After destroying the wire defences he returned to the infantry & informed them there was no-one on the Hill. They replied they could not hold the position owing to shell fire. He then proceeded over the Hill again towards enemy machine gun positions, where his track broke, and the Tank was hit by a shell, thus being disabled. 2 Lt. Braime led his men from the Tank, making a dash through the enemy machine gun fire and eventually succeeded in getting all his men back to safety - the initiative and pluck shown by this young officer in attacking these positions, with no support, was very highly commendable. His actions undoubtedly saved a great many casualties amongst the infantry.

HMLS (His Majesty's Land Ship) Kia Ora, prior to the Second Battle of Gaza (19 April 1917). This tank from E Battalion, armed with Vickers machine guns, was commanded by 2nd Lieutenant (2Lt) Roy Ansted Winder, formerly of the Middlesex Regiment and later a Captain in the Tank Corps. During the Second Battle of Gaza this tank supported the British 155 Brigade and 2Lt Winder
Xxxxxxxx

52nd Div had HMLS Otazel, Kia-ora, Pincher and War Baby.

53rd Div had Tiger and Ole-Luk-Oie.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top