Among the Ottomans

Diaries from Turkey in World War I

Ian Lyster

• Publisher: I.B. Tauris
• Year: 2010
• Print ISBN: 9781848855212
• eBook ISBN: 9780857731777
• Edition: 1
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: Military Biographies
• Index: History

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.

 

Part One:
THE DIARIES OF
MRS MARIE LYSTER

(1865–1965)

Volume 1, February 1916

(Editor’s note: all my own additions are in square brackets) - thus [ ].

22nd February 1916

I have made up my mind to write a few lines every day, so far I was afraid of doing so for fear of the authorities coming to search, but so far nothing of the¡ kind having taken place I shall note down what goes with us and hope it will not get me into trouble.

Simon [the kapici or concierge/janitor] now often has to pay as much as 18 piastres a day for bread. Soldiers sell their bread at 6 pts the loaf and very many people have to pay this exorbitant price so as to feed their families. So far we have not paid for bread at fancy prices.

I have obtained a vesika [residential permit] from our police station for mother who is old and infirm. The servant heard of this in the morning, and I was hastening to find out if it was true. I happened to meet M. Lactec [?] who came with me, but I could have managed alone. I am getting a regular business woman! Poor me! I wish I had my poor hubby to do all my business for me. I wonder how this vesika works.

Another vital question besides the bread is getting change; yesterday all my fortune was 1½ paras [40 paras = 1 piastre], so I went out and borrowed 2 pts from the xxxx so as to give it to the servant to take with her. It seems however that Lt¼ notes (paper) have been issued so that it might be easier to change. I went out at about 9 to find a way of getting change. I tried four different shops but had to go to Harty [*see page here] where things are a bit dearer. I felt quite miserable at having to pay 23½ for 4 okes [an oke was an Ottoman measure of weight – about 3 lbs,] of potatoes, 1 oke of canary seed, 4 galetas [a sort of hard biscuit] and 3 eggs. I would have paid about 8 pts for that in ordinary times – at those prices, we will have to be very hungry before we eat them.

On my return I looked after the canaries and worked in Mama’s room till lunch time after which I went to see about the bread – it seems that bread ran out at 9 this morning, so my walk proved to be useless apart from the fact that I now know what time to send Efstaffia [the maid] out tomorrow.

Friday: I did not write yesterday. Tomorrow I will go out at seven, leaving Mama in bed. Yesterday, I went for a walk down Tophane and up past the German Embassy; it took me about 1½ hours. It was lovely weather. It being early I hardly met any women, and of course no ladies. With a companion, one like me enjoys their society, but not one’s walk.

My mother and I have little to say to each other, except to wonder what our dear ones are doing. Nina [a Mme. Primi] comes to see us often; she is very hard up poor thing and has great trouble with all the economies we have to make. Mr Jalls [? a neighbour] had promised to help her, but he left last week – it seems that his trip to Italy will be very difficult and even dangerous. The Allies, even if expelled have very little means of getting away, so we are really shut in.

28th. Efstaffia [the maid] went to see her mother and was present when a soldier offered his bread ration for 8 pts. Men and women were disputing who would have it. I went to the bank to get a paper pound changed into piastres. I owed the washerwoman 30 pts. I gave the same sum to the servant; I will keep the other money to pay the porter’s salary – money flies. I am wondering if the bank will continue to pay Alfred now he has been absent from his post a year. It would come very hard if this happened. I wish we could have news; it is a month since the last, and Henry’s [her eldest son – my father] letter is dated 21st December.

I am getting disheartened at hearing of the German victories in France. Mr Appell [? – a German who was taking English lessons from her]; came, he was in full uniform, he has been in the army since 1914, first in Russia, then in Serbia and also at the Dardanelles; he said that the British left many good things behind there, and that their papers (British ones) as well as the French ones speak of food riots in Germany on account of the shortages; that this is not true. No one in Germany is hungry. He was very circumspect when asked how many soldiers were with him. He has been promoted to 1st lieutenant, and has a gold Austrian medal and a Turkish ribbon. With all this news, I feel very sad – when will this wretched war end?

29th. Sylvia Macarthy [an old friend who gave English lessons], came in the morning and brought a loaf which she could spare; she also taught me how to crochet. She gave me a pattern and wrote down the stitches so that I managed it after a little fumbling. I had wanted to learn this as it is a useful and amusing way to work. [I remember her still crocheting in her 90s].

March 1st. After lunch today I went to the bank to get my Lts.15 [presumably an allowance or salary from her husband]. It seems that the directors have made an arrangement with some big grocer who is to supply their clerks with goods at wholesale prices. However cheaply things are sold, they are still frightfully dear. I do not understand why I do not get news. I keep telling them that they could write to Virginie [?] and I could get their news this way [?]. Henry might also write pc’s from Salonika as other boys do.

March 5th. Yesterday I went down to the bank to see about provisions. I waited for nearly 2 hours. A Turkish lady came in also to have a letter written, and she smoked all the time leaving her cigarette ends to burn out in the ash-tray. I could stand it no more and left, and on the way out met Mr. Castopoulos [?] who was very nice and arranged things for me. He said that if he had known the trouble he would have with this business, he would never have started it. It seems he gets more complaints than thanks. Tomorrow will be dear Henry’s birthday. Where is he? What is he doing? – this war seems endless. It seems that Sweden has now turned against us, and here it is hoped that Roumania will follow suit. Another ship has gone down with troops; this is worse than dying on the battlefield. God spare my poor Henry; if I knew his address and regiment I might write to him. He is 28 now and Freddy will be 19 – both have been good boys and I pray that God will keep them honest and pious men who will marry Christian wives who will be helpmates to them and good mothers for their children. I think they both love and respect me which is a very pleasant feeling.

12th March. There are [sic] no news to buoy us up – on the contrary, it seems that a fort near Verdun has fallen. Some people persist in being pessimistic. Our butcher, amongst others, says that we will have peace by May. When I repeat this to Mama, she laughs. They know no less than others do; nobody has any news and we all repeat what rumours get about. Few of us rely on what the papers say, even the foreign ones do not give the truth.

March 18th. A few days ago a whole lot of people were arrested as they managed to get their letters to Italy through some clerks of the Greek Embassy who travelled with the Greek diplomatic service bag. They are all in prison pending their trial and should it be proved that they talked politics in their correspondence, it will go badly with them. I pity their families, but why do they want to talk of things which they know nothing about?

March 26th. I was summoned to the A.C. [? Austrian Consulate] to receive a communication. I dressed in my best as one has to impress the small fry in the office or they look down on one and make one wait. I was very disappointed as it was a sort of circular letter from Alexandria [?] wanting news of myself and mother. I told them to reply that we were well.

April 2nd. I have not written for a week, but do so little that I find it needless to write. One day is exactly like another.

30th April. I had letters of the 21st which had left my dear ones on the 10th, so were of recent date. The life Henry [her eldest son, my father] is leading is just the one I would wish for him, except for the risk which is great and constant. [He was working with the Greek Irregulars in Intelligence – see his own diaries, here.] hereHe will not become rich this way, but being in the bank [Ottoman Bank, like his father,] would not make him rich either. He is not made for business.

May 17th. There is no doubt that Mama has not the strength she had a year ago on the 15th May when she had her accident. [This is the only reference to my belief that the old lady had had a fall which prevented her travelling away from Turkey; but this would still have been in 1915, some nine months after the declarations of war in August 1914].

20th. [My grandmother dismisses her servant Efstaffia; reasons too complicated to explain].

June 2nd. Yesterday was the 29th anniversary of our wedding. I feel certain dear Alfred thought of me. Whatever happens in this dreadful war, we will not see another one. There are great tales of peace – God speed them. What a blank is the future. Will Alfred return to his post – will Henry be spared, and will Freddy [her younger son, my uncle] abandon his new career – What will Tizza [her daughter Edythe] do? God will ordain for the best. I feel confident for He has visibly helped us in all our difficulties.

June 5th. I am expecting a new servant; I have been some days without and the house feels it in the way of sweeping and cleaning, but my pocket feels it as well.

June 10th. What trouble for dear England! A naval battle at Skaggerak with the loss of so many ships and men. And yesterday the loss of the Hampshire with Lord Kitchener on board with all his staff. It is very depressing – God give rest to all those poor sailors. I dread lest Arthur’s boys should be amongst the numbers. [This must be a reference to her brother-in-law, Arthur Edward Lyster, then of Great Baddow, Essex, who had three sons and a daughter. The eldest was then Lt. RN. Arthur Lumley St. George Lyster who did survive the war and during WWII rose to the rank of Rear Admiral, Aircraft Carriers. The fact that she refers to him as ‘Arthur’, suggests that she did know him, or of his then position.] With the announcement of the naval battle, all the flags were hoisted and their victory proclaimed in the papers and at the German club – I felt wretched. What an end to such an eventful life. There was a rumour that he [Lord Kitchener] had been saved, but I fear unkindly that it was not true. I am under the impression that it was on the Hampshire that Tizza dined with some officers and some other girls. How she enjoyed her evening, and how happy I was to let her go. All in England must feel the loss.

June 12th. I have taken on an old woman [Catrina] who was in great want and looking for a situation to keep herself alive. She is honest, clean, looks decent and is only paid 60 pts.

There was a fire near Taksim [a central square in the European quarter], and not being insured I got nervous for the next occasion and I have sent word to the firm to send someone to insure us for Lts. 900, but only for 6 months otherwise I shall be hard up.

June 21st. What heat! It has been stifling here. We have been told that all foreigners had to appear with their papers and two photos to be registered. I had not taken my American passport as it had been previously registered and I thought that it would not be required, so being asked for it, I had to come home and go out again On seeing Mrs A.J. Lyster he declared that the passport was not mine because I told him that my name was Marie; with difficulty I got him to understand that it was mine.

July 5th. The heat is still terrific – those poor fellows fighting. I wonder if my dear ones get cards. Very likely their papers are full of our having cholera here. I hope it does not make them anxious for it is not so – it is the normal summer cholerine [?]. We have been told that unless we are vaccinated, we would not have our bread permits renewed. I am trying to get Mama exemption as I do not think she is fit enough to be experimented on. I decided to ask a Greek military doctor who called on the others in the apartment block, to get exemption for Mama and advice for me, as the man issuing the bread permits was still making difficulties. He said that Mama was certainly exempt, had a wonderful heart for her age, but mine was not very satisfactory. I had the serum which operation did not hurt at all, but there was no mention of vaccination papers – those who have them have not been asked for them, and we now get our bread regularly.

July 20th. I was going to spend my last pound on quite a lot of things I required, and was wondering what I could do to tide over the ten days till the end of the month. In had made my mind to sell some stationery which was left in the desk we had bought. I had written to Alfred asking for a little more to make up for the pound that I had spent on the insurance – who knows if he will get it either through Lausanne or Bucharest, and if so when he will act, then I noticed some playing cards in Alfred’s drawer and of which I had heard there was a dearth, and behind them was a small sealed box which I did not hesitate to open. What a blessing and what a relief! It contained two Turkish and one English pound. I felt inclined to kiss them like a long-lost friend. I know that Alfred had put them aside as specimens of gold struck during the sultan’s visit to Brousa [Brusa] and Adrinople [Edirne]; the English pound was of 1824. God is very good to me, I am never grateful enough. I gave a silver 9pts piece which I also found in the box to St. Anthony [patron saint of lost items!]. What a pleasure and luxury to be able to give! I must now see what I can get for my gold for it is at a premium. I shall keep the English gold for I hope that I will not need it this month.

July 28th. I went to the American Embassy and sent a message to Alfred saying that we were well; also one to Henry; it will have to go through Berne. I mentioned in Alfred’s message that Mother was ageing. In my correspondence I cannot say this as it might be taken to apply to our country.

Charcoal has gone up; Harty [*] will not accept new orders, but promised to see what he could do for us. I have only one tin of petroleum [?kerosene/paraffin] from the old stock, I dare not think of the winter with no fuel for heating. Many people have bought wood at 115 the cheki [an Arabic/Ottoman measure of weight/cubic capacity, approximating to a cart-full]. There may be one cheki left in the cellar; I put off going to see for fear there may be less. We burnt very little last year, so there may be more. Sunday will be the anniversary of the declaration of war. Our good father the Pope has ordered that all children the world through should take holy communion. I think this is a splendid idea, as God in his goodness will surely listen to those little ones, so may of whom have fathers at the war.

August 2nd. The latest scare is that the belligerents [presumably meaning local Axis families] of Candilli [a village on the Asiatic side of the Bosphorus], have been given 48 hours to leave. One old lady there has not left her house for fifty years. It will come hard on them to leave; all they have is their small house and the few things it contains. The Prinkipo [the largest of the 4 inhabited islands in the Sea of Marmara, close to the city – now called Buyukada] people have also had notice to leave, but somehow or other a good few are still there; only those who believed in the order hurried away, the rest lingered and hope to stay on.

August 6th. Dear Tizza’s birthday! God bless her. It was a Sunday when she was born just as the angelus was ringing at midday. [The angelus is a Roman Catholic call to prayer by means of a bell rung three times a day; 6 in the morning; at mid-day and at 6 pm.] She was smaller than Henry and particularily poor Leslie [a son who was stillborn], so that I was disappointed, but I was told it was so with girls. Dear Dr. Patterson was so kind; Alfred had hoped for a girl and so we telegraphed ‘Edith and Marie send love’ [not ‘Edythe’ here.] Our cradle being at Phillippopolis, and the bassinette which we had left here and on which we counted for...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Author biography
• Title page
• Copyright page
• Contents
• Acknowledgements
• List of Illustrations
• Preface
• The Lyster family in Turkey
• The Imperial Ottoman Bank
• Turkey Enters the War
• Greece Invades Asia Minor
• Chronology
• Part One: The Diaries of Mrs Marie Lyster (1865-1965)
• Vol. 1 — 22nd February 1916
• Vol. 2 — 23rd August 1917
• Vol. 3 — 1st May 1918
• Afterword to Mrs Marie Lyster’s Diaries
• Maps
• Part Two: The Diaries of Captain Henry Newbolt Lyster (1888-1980)
• Early life up to initial Military training
• Posting to the Dardanelles
• With the Greek Irregulars
• Posting to Adrinople/Edirne
• Posting to Izmit
• The ‘Kemalists’ take over
• General musings on the Political situation
• Afterword to Henry Newbolt Lyster’s Diaries