The Deep Respect to Mehmetçik Monument is a memorial statue located on the Kabatepe–Conkbayırı road in the Gallipoli Peninsula, one of the regions where the Çanakkale Wars took place. Said to represent an event highlighting the human dimension of the war, the monument draws attention with a scene in which a Turkish soldier helps a wounded ANZAC officer. The monument holds historical value for symbolizing not only the military aspect of the war but also the human contact experienced at the front.

^{Promotional Video ( Çanakkale Tarihi Alan Başkanlığı)}

Location of the Monument

The Deep Respect to Mehmetçik Monument is located about one kilometer from Kabatepe, in a place known as Albayrak Ridge, along the Kabatepe–Conkbayırı road. The region was one of the key lines that witnessed heavy fighting during the Çanakkale Wars. The monument is situated in an easily accessible location and lies along a route that attracts both local and foreign visitors.

History and Construction Process

Different sources provide varying information on who built the monument and when. Some sources state that it was commissioned by the Ministry of Culture, General Directorate of Fine Arts in 1992, while others mention that the statue was created by sculptor Prof. Dr. Tankut Öktem in 1997.

The theme of the monument is based on an event said to have occurred during the war. The aim was to highlight not only the conflict aspect of the war but also the acts of humanity between opposing sides. It is known that the statue was brought to its current location in 1995 and presented to visitors along with landscaping work.

Sculpture Composition

The monument is in the form of a composition. It depicts a Turkish soldier carrying a wounded ANZAC officer in his arms. The soldier’s uniform indicates that he belongs to the Turkish army, while the wounded figure is understood to be an officer from the ANZAC forces. This figurative expression represents the assistance scene that is said to have taken place during the war.

The statue’s design is the result of detailed work in both anatomy and staging. The posture of the figures, their facial expressions, and the carrying movement are realistically portrayed. This allows visitors to mentally visualize the historical event.

^{Statue Showing a Turkish Soldier Carrying a Wounded ANZAC Officer (Çanakkale Tarihi Alan Başkanlığı)}

Inscription of the Monument and Words of Lord Casey

On the front of the monument, there is an inscription featuring words attributed to Lord Casey, who served in the area during the Çanakkale War and later became Governor-General of Australia. The inscription reads:

"We left the Gallipoli Peninsula, having fought against the Turks and lost thousands of our people, with great admiration and respect for the heroic Turkish nation and its unique love for the homeland. All Australians love Mehmetçik as if he were their own son. His bravery, love for the homeland and humanity, his overwhelming grandeur and courage in the trenches, and the patriotism that impressed all ANZACs are great virtues that humanity will take as an example. With my gratitude and respect to Mehmetçik. — Governor-General of Australia, Lord Casey, 1967."^【1】 

These words are interpreted as a gesture of respect from Australia towards the Turkish soldier in the war.

The Alleged Event

The event forming the theme of the monument is said to have taken place in the Kanlısırt area during the war. According to the account, during intense fighting, a wounded officer fell in front of the ANZAC trenches. A Turkish soldier came out of his own trenches to help him, ensured that the fire ceased, carried the wounded man to the ANZAC trenches, and then returned to his own trench. The fire resumed afterward.

Although this story is found in various sources, there is no direct document showing that it was narrated by Lord Casey. While its accuracy cannot be definitively proven, similar acts of humanity are recorded in other wartime memories.

Battle Conditions and Research Findings

Documents from the time of the war indicate that the British gave the ANZAC troops false and hostile information about the Turks, claiming that Turks were not human but humanoid beings and should not be taken prisoner. ANZAC diaries note that the first captured Turkish soldiers were examined by doctors to determine whether they were truly human.

There are also important details about trench warfare beyond general information. Defense mechanisms such as rifles with mirror mechanisms and mining tunnels illustrate the forms of combat at the front. These methods, used to intervene in the opposing front without leaving the trenches, reveal the harshness of the war.

Visitor Information

Today, the monument is one of the stopover points for those visiting the Gallipoli Historical Area. It can be reached by private vehicles via the Kabatepe–Conkbayırı road. The area serves as an open-air museum where visitors can directly observe the geography where the war took place.

Directional signs and informative panels are placed around the monument, and visitors are provided with details about its story. The site is open to visitors throughout the day and entrance is free.

The Deep Respect to Mehmetçik Monument is a symbolic work that sheds light not only on the military but also on the humanitarian aspects of the Çanakkale Wars. The central event it portrays appears to reflect not just a singular incident, but the likelihood that many similar acts occurred during the war. In light of contemporary memories and documents, it demonstrates the presence of human values even in a wartime environment.