I was a Turkish Signal Oficer

[Tosun Saral]

Signal Soldier Ahmet Necati from Eskisheir telephone operator of a division at Romanian front.
source: Harb Mecmuası (War Magazine) pix.:323

[Tosun Saral]

After graduating from University I served 2 years in Turkish army as Signal Lt. I served at Army Signal Training Division, 1st Wire Regiment, 1st Wire Battalion, 1st Wire Company. As I was made officer I feld my self as Napoleon or Enver Pasha the commander in chief of Ottoman Turkish Armies during WW1. But I was just a Lt.

Our 1st Wire Company was a contraction Company. We teached the soldiers how to erect and construct telephone and telegram poles. Our men were mainly mountain Kurds or Turks who were not able to read and write. But they were strong men. The Kurds spoke little Turkish.

One day while teaching map reading and compass on field I noticed a group of officers were approaching to us. I immediately understood that the AC commander was coming. I run to the group and saluted
-"Signal Lt. Ismail Tosun Saral with 2 NCOs and 40 men is ready to your inspection Sir"
The general shaked my hand and asked the men
"Merhaba Asker" (Hello Soldiers)
The men shouted in chorous:
"Sağol" (Long Live Sir)
The general:
"How are you?
-"We wish you a long life Sir"
Then The General wanted to ask a question to one of the men. A drop of cold sweat falled slowly from my neck to my back. The General asked a men on the line to explain what he learned. The man made a few steps forwards and shouted
-"Signal Soldier Sehmuz Yilmaz son of Ali Yilmaz from Hakkari" Hakkari is a mountanious province in East Turkey near to Iraq and Iran. He took the compass and began to explain like a staff officer. I was very surprized.
The General was very happy. He ordered his adjutant to give him 15.- Turkish Lira as premium which was a lot of money at that time.
And to me? He ordered a decoration to me. It was the first and last decoration that I got in the army.

Before leaving he asked me
"What was your name son?"
-"Signal Lt. Ismail Tosun Saral Sir"
"Do you have any relation with Ahmet Hulki Saral Pasha?"
-"yes Sir, He is my father" I replied

He turned to his staff and said:
"A best son of a best man"

That night as I told the story to my father. He said a very long "Goooood" and continued" He was a company commander in my 42nd Regiment"

I never wanted that my duty in the army ends after 2 years. I always wanted that the time stops.

Now I am a 67 years old retired Bank Manager. Every time I see a soldier passing near by me I stop and look after him in great admiration. Because he is a Turkish Soldier. A son of ours. A precious son of our Fatherland.

[Tosun Saral]

Signal Lt.İsmal Tosun Saral at signal barracks. (the one with happily smiling face, Tosun lover of all living and non living things)
Army serial number: 103-1941-183

[Tosun Saral]

Signal Officer Cadets of 9th Signal Team of the 103th Signal Company in 1970

[Tosun Saral]

Heliograph signallers of the Turkish Army at Macedonia before or during Balkan War. The soldiers with white caps are moslem Albanian soldiers of the army. Those kind of heliographs were also used during WW1 at various fronts.

http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgur ... n%26sa%3DN

[Tosun Saral]

In Memoriam
sorrow sorrow sorrow
Our Kamarad Ömer Başıbüyük has passed away on Jan. 27th 2009. He was from the township of Corum at Middle Anatolia for that reason he was nicknamed as "Corumlu"

Signal Lt. Ömer "Corumlu" Başıbüyük was a journalist at civilian life. He worked long years for TRT Turkish Radio and TV Corporation. He was happily merried to Öznur Başıbüyük.
My he rest in light.

He is the one second row, under lamb with white underwears

[Tosun Saral]

A pidgeon signal team in 1942
source: unyezile.com/comlekci.htm

[Tosun Saral]

A Turkish signal NCO operating a field telephone in 1940.

[Tosun Saral]

Turkish Heliograph at Huj during WW1.

[Tosun Saral]

Today I joined reunion of Signal Officers according to the invitation of Major General Avseverer commander of Signal Corps of Turkish army. It was nice to meet old commanders again.

[Tosun Saral]

The area once we excercised infantry training is now a kindergarten for visiting signal -children. Once the area was a steppe, hot in sommers, cold in winters and windy. We used to call this place "Steppe of Hell".

With my commanding Lt. Nihat Bey (Ret.Lt.Col. Seçkiner)

[mehmetserim]

I was either .

[Tosun Saral]

Tertip

[mehmetserim]

i dedicate this video for Mr. Tosun Saral . with all my best wishes and respects http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-NYmekQCyw

[Tosun Saral]

Doğan Özgüden politician and journalist was also a signal officer in 1957.