“He carried it like a feather” they say. Before us stands the Seyit Onbaşı Heykeli a bronze and salt statue commemorating a Turkish hero. This isn’t just any statue. It’s a testament to incredible strength and unwavering loyalty during the Gallipoli Campaign.
Seyit Ali Çabuk or Seyit Onbaşı as he’s better known was an Ottoman Army gunner. He served in the Mecidiye Coastal Battery defending the Dardanelles. During the fierce Allied naval assault on March 18 1915 a shell crane was damaged. Many gunners were injured. But the gun itself remained functional.
Legend speaks of Seyit single-handedly carrying three massive artillery shells each weighing approximately 275 kilos. He did this to the 240/35 mm gun. This allowed the gun to continue firing on the Allied fleet. One shot struck the British ship HMS Ocean severely damaging it. The wounded Ocean drifted into a minefield laid by the Turkish minesweeper Nusret. It capsized shortly thereafter.
Seyit’s bravery became a symbol of Turkish resistance. His actions were vital to repelling the naval assault. After the battle he was promoted to corporal. A photograph was commissioned. It was intended to show Seyit carrying a shell. He couldn’t lift it. Despite his incredible earlier feat. He famously said “If war breaks out again I’ll lift it again.” The photo was taken with a wooden shell instead.
After the war Seyit worked as a forester and a coal miner. He died of pneumonia in 1939. The statue we see today wasn’t erected until 1992. It stands near Kilitbahir Castle on the Gallipoli Peninsula. It’s a fitting tribute to a man whose actions forever changed the course of the Gallipoli Campaign. A true hero. Remember Seyit Onbaşı. His strength and sacrifice are remembered for generations. His name echoes across the ages.