Buyukanafarta Village
Buyukanafarta Village is 14 km away from the town center.
Its population is around 410 people in 110 houses. Its means of living are agriculture and
livestock production. Cotton and tomatoes are its important products. Women use their coat
like clothes (ferace in Turkish) that hey weave from cotton and dye with madder. The literacy
is high. It's traditional village. There is the ruin of an old Turkish Bath in Buyukanafarta
Village. The fountain at the exit of Eceabat was built in 1195. Kucuk Kemikli Burnu in
Buyukanafarta is one of the oldest residential areas.
Mustafa Kemal's headquarters was here during Anafartalar War.
This is the reason why Buyukanafarta Village is the reason why Buyukanafarta Village is full
of memories of Canakkale War along with its history and culture.
According to the plans of Allied Armies Commander in Chief Hamilton,
Anzac Regiment who was going to land on Ariburnu was first going to take Conk Hill-Kocacimentepe
line under control. This target was going to obtained the first day and after that 29th Division
units was going come from south, Anzacs was going to attact the fortified gunners at the shore by
moving to Eceabat and Kilitbahir from west. Another purpose for landing Ariburnu was to prevent
the Turkish forces on the North in Seddulbahir to help the Turkish units. If this plan went right,
the aim was get into Istanbul.
On the morning of April 25,1915 at 5:00 a.m., 1500 soldiers of first
attack wave from 1st Brigade from Anzac army, landed on Kabatepe region than Ariburnu region due to
an unknown reason that caused them to slide towards north. Even though the Turkish team observing
the shore at that point resisted, Anzacs still managed to move forward to a certain extemd. On the
other hand, army substitute in Bigali, 19th division, was doing maneuvers towards Conk Hills at
the night of April 24-25. at the dawn , Mustafa Kemal understood that enemies landed as 19th
Division could hear the gunnery sounds and he reported the situation to the Commender of the Army,
but he did not receive back an answer. The situation was very critical. He gathered the idea that
if the enemy got the Conk Hill-Kocacimen line, the situation would became irreversible. Even through
he did not receive a command from the main army, he took all the responsibility and moved 57th Regiment
towards Kocacimentepe with only one battery. When he climbed up Conk Hill to follow the situation,
he saw that some of the units were drawing off and enemy units were following the withdrawing units.
Later on, with the permission of Corps Commander Esat Pasa, Mustafa Kemal
got back his units under his commanded the 57th Regiment that was about to attack the enemy: "I am not commanding
you to attack; I am commanding you to die. Through the time passing until we die, other forces and commanders
will take our place."
In the morning August 8, 1915, enemies land and sea gunners started a bombardment.
The situation was also critical in Anafartalar Plains. At the same time, there had been a change in Turkish
command stair and Colonel Fevzi was replaced with Colonel Mustafa Kemal as the Group Commander. This great
combat called First Anafartalar War started in the morning of August 9 and 60 thousand soldiers fought
that day under the burning sun until they lost their breath. At 4.30 a.m. on the morning of August 10,
Turkish soldiers that attacked the enemy lines without even a single fire shot got back Conk Hill.
Enemy was drawn back to the slopes. Anafartalar Group Commander Mustafa Kemal we saved from death by
chance. When he was following the attack in Conk Hill, a piece of a gunnery missile hit the right part
of his chest, but his pocket watch saved him from taking the hit.
Enemies wanted to try their change once more on August 21. on a very hot day,
with the support of air bombardments, 9th British corps and Anzac corps attacked together. This combat as
being called Second Anafartalar war is the last attack from the enemies. After this, they made plans for
evacuation and there were no enemies left in Anafarta and Ariburnu lines in the morning of December 20.
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