Gördesli Makbule Hanım was born in 1902 in the Gördes district of Manisa. Her childhood coincided with the final years of the Ottoman Empire. During the First World War, she lost her father, and during the Yemen War, her elder brother was martyred. Through these losses, Makbule Hanım became acquainted at an early age with the devastating effects of war. After these tragedies, she was raised by her mother and, from a young age, learned to use weapons and ride horses—roles outside traditional expectations for women. Because of these skills, she became known in her community as "Soldier Makbule."

Gördesli Makbule Hanım

Marriage and Participation in the National Struggle

Makbule Hanım married Usturumcalı Halil Efe, one of the leading figures of the National Struggle period. Their marriage coincided with a time when the country was under occupation and the struggle for liberation was underway. Upon discovering that her husband Halil Efe had begun secretly preparing for the National Struggle against the occupying forces, Makbule Hanım refused to remain at home.

Driven by a strong desire to actively defend her homeland, she secretly followed Halil Efe when he left their home. Despite his persistent pleas, she refused to return and clearly declared her intention to join the struggle. In the presence of Kaymakam İbrahim Ethem Bey, commander of the Demirci Akıncılar Organization, she tearfully expressed her determination not to be deprived of participation in this spiritually significant cause. Moved by Makbule Hanım’s resolve and patriotism, İbrahim Ethem Bey granted her permission to join the Akıncılar detachment. Thus, Makbule Hanım became a full-fledged member of the detachment, equipped with her horse and rifle.

Struggles and Martyrdom

Makbule Hanım participated in numerous key battles alongside the Akıncılar in the mountains of Demirci, Gördes, Simav, and Sındırgı. She fought wearing black trousers, a jacket, a long coat, boots, and a black head covering that concealed her face except for her eyes. Armed with a short Japanese flintlock pistol and a captured Turkish horse, she served as the detachment’s rear guard. Her exceptional bravery in battle drew attention, and she became known for riding better than many male fighters and for being the first to fire her weapon in moments of danger. She played a heroic role in the victory of the "Güvemdere Battle," inspiring demoralized troops to renew their offensive against the enemy.

On 17 March 1922, at the age of just twenty, she was martyred during a clash with enemy forces at the Kocayayla position. To prevent her body from falling into enemy hands, she was secretly buried. Her husband, Halil Efe, commander of the 12th Detachment, was also martyred approximately two months after Makbule Hanım’s death, during an offensive against enemy forces.

Monument to Gördesli Makbule Hanım (Anadolu Agency)

Seventy-eight years after her martyrdom, her grave was discovered through the efforts of Zekeriya Özdemir, then a lecturer at Balıkesir University, at the Dereçatı location above the Harlak Stream in the Sındırgı district.

Kaymakam İbrahim Ethem Bey, a hero of the War of Independence, wrote in his memoirs with deep respect of Makbule Hanım’s martyrdom and her love for the homeland. He emphasized that she was a source of pride for the Turkish nation and Turkish women.

The memory of Makbule Hanım, known by names such as "The Girl of Gördes," "Gördesli Makbule," and "Makbule Efe," is kept alive in her hometown of Gördes. Her name has been given to town squares, schools, and streets, and the site of her grave has been transformed into a martyr’s memorial. Commemorative events are organized through the collaboration of Gördes Municipality and Sındırgı Municipality, ensuring that Makbule Hanım’s heroism is passed on to future generations. She holds a place in history as one of the symbolic figures representing the active and self-sacrificing role undertaken by women during the Turkish War of Independence.