Turkish other ranks belt buckle : Cape Helles, Gallipoli

Place Middle East: Ottoman Empire, Turkey, Dardanelles, Gallipoli, Cape Helles Area, Cape Helles
Accession Number RELAWM00361
Collection type Heraldry
Object type Heraldry
Physical description Brass, Leather, White metal
Maker Unknown
Date made c 1915
Conflict First World War, 1914-1918
Description

Turkish army rectangular brass other ranks' belt buckle with attached brass circular badge. The badge has the remains of a white metal coating and shows, in relief on a pebbled background, a crescent moon, the upward facing horns of which enclose a five pointed star. The crescent contains the Arabic script for 'Asakr-I Shahaneh' meaning 'Imperial Army'. On the reverse is a post with two tines and a Type II 'C' loop catch. Two solder points are located in the middle of the buckle, to which the badge is attached.

A section of the original leather belt is attached to the two tines. One end of the belt has stitching holes along each edge, while the other end has five pairs of holes that match up to the tines and would have allowed for tightening or loosening the belt.

History / Summary

This Turkish belt buckle was found at Helles in January 1919 by Lieutenant William Hopkin James, who was working on Gallipoli, leading a small party from the Australian War Records Section, taking photographs and collecting items for the national collection.