57th Infantry Regiment (Ottoman Empire)

The 57th Infantry Regiment (Turkish: 57 nci Piyade Alayı or Elli Yedinci Piyade Alayı) or simply 57th Regiment (Turkish: 57 nci Alay or Elli Yedinci Alay) was a regiment of the Ottoman Army during World War I.

57th Infantry Regiment
Country	Ottoman Empire
Branch	Ottoman Army
Part of	19th Infantry Division
Engagements	World War I Gallipoli Campaign Landing at Anzac Cove
Commanders
Notable commanders	Kaymakam Hüseyin Avni

Established on February 1, 1915, in Tekirdağ (Rodosto) and received its regimental colours (sancak) on February 22, 1915.[1] The regiment's command was given to Yarbay Hüseyin Avni Bey (Arıburnu) on February 23, and the regiment went to Çanakkale and arrived at Eceabat (Maydos) on February 25. After relocating the Bigali Village on March 26, 1915, they trained until April 24.

On April 25 Australian and New Zealand forces carried out the landing at Anzac Cove. The 57th, being nearest, counterattacked, slowed the invasion, and lost about half of its personnel. The 57th Infantry Regiment Memorial commemorates their sacrifice.

Gallipoli

Mustafa Kemal issued his order, "I am not ordering you to attack, I order you to die! In the time which passes until we die, other troops and commanders can take our place!".[2] and later noted the 57th Regiment was "a famous regiment this, because it was completely wiped out".[3]

Upon landing at Anzac Cove the attackers encountered small groups of Turks who, after doing what they could, withdrew back over the ridges. The Turkish company defending the coast immediately reported the situation to 27th regimental Command to the West of Eceabat. The main Ottoman forces in the area had been held in reserve to see just where the British Empire troops were going to land on the peninsula. By 6.30 am a report had reached the commander of the 19th Division of the Ottoman Army, Yarbay Mustafa Kemal, that an enemy force had scaled the heights at Ari Burnu. Mustafa Kemal's troops were at Bigalı, a small village off to the east beyond the main range, and he ordered his whole division to prepare to march to the coast. He himself set off riding at the head of the 57th Regiment. By about 9.30 am Mustafa Kemal stood at Chunuk Bair with some other officers. He could see the British warships and transports off Anzac Cove and also, coming rapidly up the hill towards him, a group of Ottoman soldiers who had been tasked with defending Hill 261 (Battleship Hill). They were out of ammunition and retreating. Mustafa Kemal stopped them, and asked them to take out their bayonets and lie down. This made the Anzacs climbing up the hill hesitate and lie down also. Although Mustafa Kemal had sent reports to the army and the Corps Command at Gallipoli, he received no reply. Using his initiative he attacked the Anzacs with mostly 57th Regiment. Later, 27th Regiment reinforced the attack and the Ottoman forces managed to retake the hill. 57th Regiment lost 25 officers and 1817 privates and NCOs out of its initial strength of 49 officers and 3638 privates and NCOs.[4]

Galicia

After the successful completion of the Gallipoli Campaign, a new 15th Army was formed, which included the 57th Regiment. On January 14, 1916, they were ordered to move towards Uzunkopru. Along the way, on April 25, 1916, their flag was given a special decoration by Sultan recognizing its outstanding performance in the Gallipoli front. On July 22, 1916, they boarded a train which took them through Karaağaç, Filibe, Sofia and Niš, arriving at Belgrade. After some rest, 54 officers and 2741 soldiers made their way to Zemlin in Austria-Hungarian Empire. They were quartered in private residences in the area mostly[5]. On August 21, 1916, Russians began their Brusilov Offensive along the Galicia front. 57th positions were attacked on September 11. Both sides suffered heavy casualties. Fighting continued through September and early October. Almost a year after they arrived, on June 11, 1917, the 57th Regiment was ordered back home. Their losses at the Galicia front were 685 dead and 975 missing. [6]

Palestine

Flag

A long-standing urban legend in Turkey claims that the flag of the 57th regiment was captured by Australian forces, who found it hanging on a tree branch above the dead body of the last surviving member of the regiment, and that it is now on display at the Melbourne Museum. The Museum and the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne both field many calls from the Turkish community about the flag around ANZAC Day each year, but assure all enquirers that they have never had the flag.

A rumour that started in the 1990s stated that the standard was held by the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. The Memorial does hold 3 Turkish infantry standards, all captured in Sinai/Palestine between 1916-1918 for the 46th Regiment, the 80th Regiment and an unnamed regiment but does not and never has held the 57th Infantry Regiment's standard. Nor are they aware that it was ever brought to Australia and does not know its current location.

References

1. Edward J. Erickson, Ottoman Army Effectiveness in World War I: A comparative study, Routledge, 2007, ISBN 978-0-415-77099-6, p. 26.
2. Edward J. Erickson, Ordered to Die: A History of the Ottoman Army in the First World War, Contributions in Military Studies, Number 201, Greenwood Press, 2001, ISBN 978-0-313-31516-9, p. 83.
3. Michael Hickey, Gallipoli, John Murray, 1995, ISBN 978-0-7195-6142-9, p. 119.
4. https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/turkiye/canakkalenin-kahraman-birligi-57-alay/1125142
5. Nurhan Aydin, Tuba Gecenner, "Canakkale Cephesinde 57. Alay"
6. BİLGİN, İsmail, Çanakkale Destanı "Gerçek Efsanelerin Öyküsü", Timaş Yayınları, İstanbul 2006

• Bean, C.E.W. (1941). The Story of ANZAC from the outbreak of war to the end of the first phase of the Gallipoli Campaign, May 4, 1915. Official History of Australia in the War of 1914–1918. Sydney: Angus & Robinson.