Kılıçbayırı Martyrdom Site

Kılıçbayırı Şehitliği is a burial ground established in memory of soldiers who lost their lives during the battles on the Arıburnu Front, located within the boundaries of Kocadere village in the Eceabat district of Çanakkale Province. This site is also recorded in military registers and inventories under the name Kılıçdere 2 Şehitliği.^【1】

The cemetery is situated on a strategic point along the Arıburnu Front line within the Historical Gallipoli Peninsula. It lies on the elevated ridge extending from Bomba Sırtı toward Conkbayırı, immediately behind the Turkish defensive line. The boundaries of the site are fixed according to data from the 1:5000 scale Şevki Paşa Map (Çanakkale Fortification Map).^【2】

The region was one of the most intensely contested areas during the Çanakkale Land Battles, from the beginning of the conflict on 25 April 1915 until the evacuation on 20 December 1915.

The Ottoman Army launched attacks from this position on 27 April, 1 May, and 19 May 1915 with the aim of driving the Allied forces away from the area and into the sea. The remains of soldiers who died while serving on this front during the Land Battles are interred at this cemetery.^【3】

A total of 1,131 martyrs are recorded at Kılıçbayırı Şehitliği.^【4】 The main military units identified as having served in this area and lost soldiers here are:

• 10th Regiment
• 18th Regiment
• 64th Regiment
• 78th Regiment.

To prevent duplicate records, soldiers whose names are listed in the 57th Infantry Regiment Cemetery are not included in this cemetery’s register.^【5】

The cemetery site was restored through joint efforts by the Çanakkale Wars and Gallipoli Historical Area Directorate and Gaziantep Şahinbey Municipality. The restoration process followed scientific methods, including the following steps:

• Map and Satellite Overlay: Locations marked on the historical map prepared by Şevki Paşa were aligned with modern satellite imagery.
• Ground-Penetrating Radar Survey: Subsurface scanning was conducted at determined coordinates to clarify burial boundaries and findings.
• Design Competition: The site was included in the “Gallipoli Historical Area and New Cemetery Designs” competition and reorganized according to modern architectural principles.

The restored cemetery was officially opened to visitors on 24 September 2022 during a formal ceremony.^【6】

The design of the cemetery is based on the monument model defined in the “Cemetery Regulations.” Key elements of the design include:

• Monument and Symbolism: The monument features the crescent and star motif and the name “Eş-Şehid,” one of the 99 names of Allah, meaning “Witness to All Things.”
• Grave Marker Arrangement: Instead of the conventional orderly layout commonly used worldwide, a symbolic arrangement was chosen to represent how the soldiers were buried on the battlefield in their uniforms, without shrouds.
• Vegetation Planning: Cypress trees, symbolizing unity, were used in the landscaping of the surrounding area.^【7】