Among the Ottomans : Diaries From Turkey in World War I

During World War One, the Ottoman Empire, one of the largest and longest-lasting empires in history, faced severe challenges to its structure and existence, which eventually resulted in its dissolution. "Among The Ottomans" introduces two unique diary accounts written by two generations of the same family in the declining years of the Ottoman Empire. Written in the heart of the crumbling Ottoman Empire, Marie Lyster's World War One diaries describe the political and social climate of Constantinople as Allied troops swept through Turkey, wreaking havoc on the country's infrastructure and forcing residents, regardless of their national affiliations, to endure the hardships of war. Just 200 miles away in the Dardanelles, her son Henry was fighting with the Allies against the Turks. Following the Allied retreat in 1915, he was posted to Salonika in northern Greece, where he worked with the 'Comitajis' as they fought the Bulgarians. Later, as the Military Governor of Eastern Thrace, he witnessed the rise of Turkish Nationalism and the struggle for control of the fragmented pieces of the fallen empire. Published for the first time, these two diaries provide an unprecedented account of the Great War's impact across generations and geographical borders and a unique insight into the final years of the Ottoman Empire. -- Publisher description During World War One, the Ottoman Empire, one of the largest and longest-lasting empires in history, faced severe challenges to its structure and existence, which eventually resulted in its dissolution. Among The Ottomans introduces two unique diary accounts written by two generations of the same family in the declining years of the Ottoman Empire.Written in the heart of the crumbling Ottoman Empire, Marie Lyster’s World War One diaries describe the political and social climate of Constantinople as Allied troops swept through Turkey, wreaking havoc on the country’s infrastructure and forcing residents, regardless of their national affiliations, to endure the hardships of war. Just 200 miles away in the Dardanelles, her son Henry fought alongside the Greek Comitajis, as they clashed with the Bulgarians. Later, as the Military Governor of Eastern Thrace, he witnessed the rise of Turkish Nationalism and the struggle for control of the fragmented pieces of the fallen empire. Published for the first time, these two diaries provide an unprecedented account of the Great War’s impact across generations and geographical borders and a unique insight into the final years of the Ottoman Empire. During World War One, the Ottoman Empire, one of the largest and longest-lasting empires in history, faced severe challenges to its structure and existence, which eventually resulted in its dissolution. Among The Ottomans introduces two unique diary accounts written by two generations of the same family in the declining years of the Ottoman Empire. Written in the heart of the crumbling Ottoman Empire, Marie Lysters World War One diaries describe the political and social climate of Constantinople as Allied troops swept through Turkey, wreaking havoc on the countrys infrastructure and forcing residents, regardless of their national affiliations, to endure the hardships of war. Just 200 miles away in the Dardanelles, her son Henry fought alongside the Greek Comitajis, as they clashed with the Bulgarians. Later, as the Military Governor of Eastern Thrace, he witnessed the rise of Turkish Nationalism and the struggle for control of the fragmented pieces of the fallen empire. Published for the first time, these two diaries provide an unprecedented account of the Great Wars impact across generations and geographical borders and a unique insight into the final years of the Ottoman Empire. Contents......Page 6 Acknowledgements......Page 8 List of Illustrations - between pages 84-85......Page 10 Preface......Page 12 The Lyster Family in Turkey......Page 14 The Imperial Ottoman Bank......Page 20 Turkey Enters the War......Page 24 Greece invades Asia Minor......Page 28 Chronology......Page 34 Part One: The Diaries of Mrs Marie Lyster (1865-1965)......Page 40 Vol.1 - 22nd February 1916......Page 42 1917......Page 56 Vol.2 - 23rd August 1917......Page 72 1918......Page 83 Vol. 3 1st May 1918......Page 100 Afterword to Mrs Marie Lyster's Diary......Page 120 Maps......Page 122 Part Two: The Diaries of Captain Henry Newbolt Lyster (1888-1980)......Page 130 Early Life up to Initial Military Training......Page 132 Posting to the Dardanelles......Page 142 With the Greek Irregulars......Page 148 Posting to Adrinople/Edirne......Page 170 Posting to Izmit......Page 180 The 'Kemalists' take over......Page 190 General Musings on the Political situation......Page 198 Afterword to Henry Newbolt Lyster's Diaries......Page 202 Index to Diaries of Marie Lyster......Page 204 Index to Diaries of Henry Lyster......Page 206 "This title includes a new Foreword by WM. Roger Louis. On 26 July 1956, the British Empire received a blow from which it would never recover. On this day, Egypt's President Gamal Abdul Nasser nationalized the Suez Canal Company, one of the gems of Britain's imperial portfolio. It was to be a fateful day for Britain as a world power. Britain, France and Israel subsequently colluded in attacking Egypt, ostensibly - in the case of Britain and France - to protect the Suez Canal but in reality in an attempt to depose Nasser. The US opposition to this scheme forced an ignominious withdrawal, leaving Nasser triumphant and marking a decisive end to Britain's imperial era. In this, the seminal work on the Suez Crisis, Keith Kyle draws on a wealth of documentary evidence to tell this fascinating political, military and diplomatic story. Including new introductory material, this revised edition of a classic work will be essential reading for anyone interested in the history of the twentieth century, military history and the end of empire."--Bloomsbury publishing. During World War one, the Ottoman Empire, one of the largest and longest-lasting empires in history, faced severe challenges to its structure and existence, which eventually resulted in its dissolution. This title describes the political and social climate of Constantinople as Allied troops swept through Turkey