Mesudiye Village biography
Three-Front Veteran (1896 Rumelia – 14 Feb 1967 Mesudiye)
Veteran of three WWI fronts (Yemen, Iraq, Afyon), seven years a British prisoner of war, and the subject of one of Mesudiye's most-told oral histories — his unrecognised return from captivity.
Born in Rumelia in 1896, Galip Ay migrated to Mesudiye with his family in 1907 at age 11. By WWI he served on the Yemen and Iraq fronts.
Captured by British forces in Iraq, he spent seven years in captivity. By the time he returned, his family had presumed him dead — his wife Müzeyyen was being courted for remarriage.
The village preserves the story of his unrecognised return: His father Mutallip travelled to Karaman to inquire at the Askerlik Şubesi. Staying at the Mustafa Usta Hanı, he sat down beside a long-haired bearded stranger — his son Galip, returned but unrecognisable. Galip recognised his father but did not reveal himself, asking the old man where he was travelling. Mutallip explained that his son Galip had left for the front seven years earlier, that no word had come, and that suitors were now calling on Galip's wife Müzeyyen. Hearing that, Galip could keep silent no longer and declared himself: "Baba ben oğlun Galip" ("Father, I am your son Galip").
Galip later rejoined the Turkish War of Independence at the Afyon front, riding his own horse and cart.
1896, Rumeli – 14 February 1967, Mesudiye
Son of Mutallip — brother of İbrahim Ay
Yemen Front
Iraq Front
Afyon Front
7 Years of Captivity
A village gazi (war veteran) who fought on three separate fronts, fell prisoner to the British and joined the War of Independence with his horse.
Galip Ay came into the world in 1896 in Rumeli — in the Ottoman Empire's Balkan lands. His father was Mutallip; his brother İbrahim Ay too would fight on a different front. Galip grew up as a member of the Ay family, deeply rooted in Mesudiye. While he was still a young lad, the empire's years of collapse had begun.
When the First World War broke out, Galip was called to arms. He was sent to the most distant and most gruelling fronts of the Ottoman army: first to the scorching deserts of Yemen, then to the marshes of Iraq. On both fronts British forces stood against him. On the Iraq front his luck turned — he fell prisoner to the British.
The captivity lasted a full 7 years. In Mesudiye, meanwhile, days were turning into months and months into years. No news at all was reaching his family. People began to think that Galip had died. Matchmakers were coming to his wife Müzeyyen; the village now counted him a şehit (fallen soldier).
His father Mutallip now had to find a definite answer. At the time of the ikindi (afternoon) prayer he performed his prayer, made his horse cart ready and set out for Karaman — he would ask the Askerlik Şubesi (military recruiting office) about his son's fate. Finding the office closed, he decided to spend the night at the Mustafa Usta Hanı (inn). While he was deep in conversation with the innkeeper, his eye fell on a long-haired, bearded stranger sitting on the divan in the corner. He sat down beside him and asked after his well-being — but did not recognise him. The years of captivity had made his son unrecognisable.
Galip, on the other hand, had recognised his father at once. But he did not reveal himself; he waited, wondering whether his father would be able to recognise him. Grandfather Mutallip told the stranger his trouble: “I had a son named Galip. He went to the front 7 years ago. I can get no news of him. Matchmakers are coming to his wife Müzeyyen…”
“Father, I am your son Galip.”
Father and son embraced one another with longing. Tears were flowing from the eyes of both — they were tears of joy. That night they stayed at the han (inn) and for hours made up for the years of separation. The next morning they set out for the village; Galip was urging the horses on — he longed to be reunited with his Müzeyyen as soon as possible.
But Galip's war was not yet over. A man who had endured years of captivity, who had been reunited with his family and who had earned his rest — did not rest. The War of Independence had begun and the homeland was calling once more. Galip set out for the Afyon front with his own horse and cart. In three separate wars, in three separate lands, he fought with the same stubbornness.
When the wars came to an end, he returned to Mesudiye. He spent the rest of his life in his village, among his family. He died on 14 February 1967 — as a gazi of three fronts, seven years a prisoner, and in the end a village hero who died in peace.
Birth: 1896, Rumeli
Death: 14 February 1967, Mesudiye
Father: Mutallip (father of İbrahim Ay)
Fronts: Yemen, Iraq, Afyon
Length of captivity: 7 years (British captivity)
War of Independence: He took part with his horse and cart