Albayrak Ridge Memorial

Albayrak Sırtı Şehitliği is a military cemetery located along the southern boundary of the Arıburnu Front and immediately behind the Turkish frontline. It was established to honor the memory of soldiers who lost their lives in the fierce battles that took place from April 25, 1915, at the outset of the Land Battles, until the evacuation of the front on December 20, 1915. The Turkish offensives on April 27, May 1, and May 19, during which some of the bloodiest clashes of the Arıburnu region occurred, are the key military events that define the historical significance of this cemetery.^【1】

^{Dönemin Kültür ve Turizm Bakanı Mehmet Nuri Ersoy} (Anadolu Ajansı)

The Albayrak Sırtı position was strategically defended throughout the Çanakkale Battles. The remains of soldiers from the 27th Regiment, 33rd Regiment, 48th Regiment, 72nd Regiment, and 77th Regiment, who served on the Arıburnu Front and were confirmed to have fallen in this area, are interred in the cemetery.^【2】

According to records, a total of 968 martyrs lie at Albayrak Sırtı Şehitliği.^【3】

The cemetery’s current form was achieved through restoration efforts conducted under a cooperation protocol signed between the Çanakkale Wars and Gelibolu Historical Area Directorate and Gaziantep Şahinbey Municipality. The restoration process was carried out in the following stages based on scientific data:

• Mapping: The locations of the martyr cemeteries were identified based on the 1:5000 scale “Çanakkale Fortifications Map” prepared by the Map Commander Şevki Paşa of the period.
• Identification: Data from the historical map were cross-referenced with modern satellite imagery to verify the coordinates of the site.
• Verification: Ground-penetrating radar surveys were conducted in the identified areas to clarify the boundaries of buried remains and burial zones.^【4】

The following details characterize the monument and gravestone designs:

• Monument Design: The monument at the cemetery features the crescent and star representing the Turkish flag, along with the name “Eş-Şehid,” one of the 99 names of Allah, meaning “the All-Seeing, the Witness to All Things.”
• Gravestones: Instead of the conventional orderly arrangement commonly found worldwide, a unique layout has been adopted. This arrangement reflects the soldiers’ burial at the exact locations where they fell during battle, in accordance with tradition, without being shrouded and while still wearing their uniforms.^【5】