The enlistment record book of Koca Seyit (Seyit Onbaşı), who lifted a 276-kilogram cannonball and sank an enemy battleship, along with a photo of him in local attire from his youth, has come to light for the first time through the archival work conducted by the Gallipoli Historical Site Directorate of the Çanakkale Wars.
Ismail Kaşdemir, the President of the Gallipoli Historical Site of the Çanakkale Wars, stated that they reached records belonging to Seyit Onbaşı during a comprehensive archival search, saying: "Seyit Onbaşı is one of the heroes of the Çanakkale War, one of the self-sacrificing individuals. As the Gallipoli Historical Site Directorate, our studies and research related to the Çanakkale War are ongoing. We are in the midst of an intense archival search."
Donated to the Museum
Kaşdemir stated that the found document and photo belong to the period when Seyit Onbaşı was enlisted, and continued:
"As soon as Seyit Onbaşı was enlisted in the Turkish Army, we reached the archival record that the state had kept with his information and photo, and we have now delivered it as a gift to the museum in his village."
The President of the Historical Site, Kaşdemir, emphasized that the purpose of the ongoing work is to keep the memories of the heroes alive, stating: "As the Historical Site Directorate, we are working to ensure that the memories of the heroes of the Çanakkale Wars remain alive in the minds. Of course, no matter what we do, we cannot repay their great heroism, we cannot pay our debt, but our work is to express that we have not forgotten them, we will not forget them, and we will never let them be forgotten."
"SEYİT ONBAŞI IS A GREAT HERO"
Kaşdemir noted that Koca Seyit maintains his place in the hearts of the Turkish nation, continuing: "Seyit Onbaşı is a great hero. He has taken his place in the most distinguished spot in the heart of the Turkish nation and will always be in the most beautiful place of that heart throughout history. The Turkish nation will always remember him with good wishes. Today, we have commemorated Seyit Onbaşı, one of the architects who made Çanakkale impassable, with prayers, mercy, and respect at his grave. May his soul rest in peace. Seyit Onbaşı will never leave our hearts, our souls, or our minds."
President of the Historical Site, Ismail Kaşdemir, also noted the process of the document's emergence, stating: "We found this document for the first time while our friends were working. We are publishing this document. We have seen and accessed Seyit Onbaşı's registration, photo, and information from when he volunteered to participate in the Çanakkale War, or rather, the First World War, and we have now donated it to the museum. We are keeping his memory alive. May his soul rest in peace."
The military identification record of Seyit Onbaşı and his youth photo have been specially framed and delivered to Balıkesir Governor İsmail Ustaoğlu for exhibition at the Seyit Onbaşı Museum located in Havran. Balıkesir Governor İsmail Ustaoğlu and Çanakkale Governor Ömer Toraman thanked those who contributed to the work.