Sarkis Torossian

Sarkis Torossian ( Turkish Sarkis Torosyan; * 1891 in Everek in Kayseri, Ottoman Empire, † October 17, 1954 in the Bronx, New York City ) was a highly decorated commander of Ottoman Armenian origin.

Even at an early age, a native of the present province of Kayseri Sarkis Torossian wanted to be a soldier, but forbade the Ottoman Turkish law all non-Muslims to military service, as well as weapons possession - to the Young Turk Revolution, 1908.

In the battle of Gallipoli in 1915, the trained pharmacist was commander of an Ottoman coastal battery. Cevat Pasha praised Torossian's actions and stated that the military effort to destroy British ships most effectively took place under Torossian command. For his services in the battle Torossian was awarded with medals of Enver Pasha ( Ottoman Empire harp madalyası ). The name and the success of Sarkis Torossian in the Battle of Gallipoli, however, concealed in the official Turkish historiography because of his Armenian origin.

By his own account, he deserted after the murder of his family in the genocide of the Armenians and served the British in 1918 in Palestine.

Writings

From Dardanelles to Palestine. A true story of five battle fronts of Turkey and her allies and a harem romance. Meador, Boston, 1947.

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