THE VILLAGE OF BUCA IN THE FIRST WORLD WAR - Atalarımızın Toprakları

- Prelude -

This article was written to give information about what happened in Buca during the First World War. Most of the information obtained is obtained through the diaries and memories written by European families. These memoirs written by Levantines, the general name given to European families, give a little idea about how daily life went on in Buca during the war. During this period, very few Muslims lived in Buca. It is known that during these periods, the Muslim population in Buca consisted mostly of soldiers. Therefore, important information about daily life in Buca comes from Europeans.

- Great War and the Levantines -

The First World War was called the "great war" not only by the Turks but also by the Europeans. So much so that Europeans thought that such a great war, never seen before in world history, would never happen again. There is no doubt that the European families living in Izmir at that time were not happy with the war. It is understood that most of the families are people loyal to their country. The children of many of them fought in the armies of the Allied Powers against the Allied Powers, including the Ottoman Empire. Nevertheless, thanks to the privileges granted by the capitulations, many European families had acquired great wealth in these lands, and the arrival of the war undoubtedly dealt them a heavy blow.

It can be seen that after the First World War, Levantine life was never the same again. The war had already dealt a great blow to their business, and then, with the Kemalist regime that came in the 1920s, many of the Levantines' properties were nationalized, and then the Levantines began to slowly leave Turkey. This also applies to Buca families. Long-established Buca families such as Rees and Forbes did not stay in Buca permanently after the war.

- Events in Buca -

In her memoirs, Grace Williamson explains that she went from Alexandria to Izmir on October 27, 1914. The Williamson family had a house in Buca (note 1) but mostly stayed in Alexandria. At that time, Alexandria was a valuable port city, just like Izmir, and was a stopping point for many ships before passing through the Suez Canal. When they came to Buca, there was excitement in the British families in Buca. War had broken out between Türkiye and Russia, and many were thinking long and hard about what to do in case of rebellion.

''The next morning, as always, we went to the city by train at 8 o'clock. There was great excitement in everyone. By mid-day, our consul Heathcote Smith's passport was taken back and the flag at our consulate was lowered. Here the cold grip of the war was upon us. What would happen to us now? Turks are always Turks. This won't be the first time Christians have suffered at their hands. There was great excitement on the train in the middle of the day. The two Turkish boats I saw in the harbor on my way from Egypt were sunk by the British. Izmir Port was closed. "The crew of two British merchant ships were captured and taken to the government office," he says, describing the times when the war first started and continues:

"In the evening, Francis Holton, assistant to the railway manager, came and said that a steamboat would be waiting in Urla at 6 o'clock in the evening the next day and that those who wanted to go could go, and that they had received permission from the governor to leave safely." The next day, many foreign families quickly packed their belongings. leaves and the next day at 10 am the vehicles start leaving to transport the belongings. What is understood from this is that most of the families in Buca left the village at the beginning of the First World War.

The next day there was a big mess at the train station in Buca. Many families from Buca had bought as many belongings as they could and were waiting for the train to leave. There was a rumor among them that the train to depart would be the last train to depart from Buca.

On November 8, the Williamson family's house in Buca was seized by the Turks. The officers in the house spoke French and seemed to be knowledgeable people. The Williamson family hoped that their home would not suffer too much damage. At the same time, they showed the soldiers the list of their belongings and asked them to have their belongings complete when they returned. The soldiers did not allow them to take much belongings and they wanted the house full. He says that the houses of the Moratini, Russel and Heathcote families near their homes were also taken by the soldiers, and then he adds: "Actually, almost all the houses in Buca were taken." When he says "all houses" here, he probably means that most of the houses belonging to Europeans were confiscated. . After all, the Italians, French and British were now on the opposing side of the Ottoman Empire, and seizing their homes did not seem to be such a problem. Of course, the state did not have any problems with the Greek population, and it appears that the Greeks of Buca continued to live in their homes in Buca until 1922. He writes that when he went home again the next day, there were Turkish officers in their house and a "fat Turk" was sitting in his mother's corner, and he continues:

''When me and Jackie went to Buca, we found the place very changed. There were soldiers everywhere and they were hanging red-white flags on the houses they took. Pertef Pasha took up residence in Tommy Rees' garden. You would never know Buca. "How many things have changed in such a long time."

Williamson, who wrote that there was martial law in Buca on November 10, says that it is forbidden to go out after 6 o'clock. However, the Turks were good to them and there was silence in the streets. He also says that the Gordon family, the owner of the Bliss Mansion at that time, also left Buca during this period and that they were the only Buca family that was able to leave Turkey via Urla. However, the next day, Mrs. Gordon returned because there was no ship. She had no place to stay in Buca because she rented her house. Thereupon, the Williamsons also helped him. He was planning to leave again in a day or two, and there were rumors that the Turks would take the British to a prison camp. On November 13, arrangements were made again for two members of the Williamson family, two members of the Pengelley family, and Mrs. Gordon to leave Buca. However, this time the Turks did not allow people who wanted to leave Buca to take their belongings. Even the small bag Williamson was carrying was not allowed. On the same day, all British families in Buca were told to go to visit Pertev Pasha, who was staying in Rees Mansion. The next day, one of the railway managers, Herbert Barfield, was not allowed to leave Buca. He was going to work for the Turks who seized the railways. On November 19, we see that the Barff family came to visit them and told the Williamsons that the belongings in their house were wanted. Their small home was also taken away from them. Also, the streets in Buca were very dirty. Families in Buca later had the opportunity to leave Buca, albeit slowly, and those who wanted to leave did so. Eric de Jongh was staying at home, he would keep an eye on his belongings. The Pengelley family was also thinking of leaving soon.

What is understood from Grace Williamson's memoirs is that British families at that time had a hard time mentally, if not physically, due to the war. Many of their homes and belongings were confiscated. After a while, even traveling became difficult. There is not much information about what happened to non-British families.

Let's look at the other remarkable notes he wrote about Buca. The Greek School in Buca was turned into a hospital and Mr. Manikopulo was appointed as its head. In addition, his wife, Mrs. Manikopulo, was working in the women's committee to meet hospital needs. The beds brought to the hospital were collected from homes and the Turks did not know exactly how to set up an order. Those in the women's committee even explained that the area should be wiped clean. The Forbes family's houses were not taken, but their motorbikes, horses and carriages were confiscated. On 29 November, many British railway workers were taken to Manisa as prisoners of war. Those who remained could not go anywhere because they were led by soldiers.

Grace Williamson writes that there were very few English people left in Buca as of 30 November 1914. Let's look at what happens next chronologically and read it as Williamson wrote it:

December 29, 1914: A Turkish pasha confiscated the house that the Pengelleys left when they left Buca (note 2).

January 12, 1915: The governor treats the local people well and is obviously trying to ingratiate himself.

January 13: The town is quiet and there is no news. A gentleman invaded Becky's house. He asked for the keys and they had to give them. They had no other choice. French houses (houses) and all schools, except American ones, were also confiscated. All the Capuchins and nuns were sent away and their places taken away. All able-bodied men were conscripted into service, and women and children were left to starve. How long will this last?

March 4: A bright and beautiful day for the funeral of Mr. Manikopulo. The whole village accompanied him and he was buried in the Aya Yani Church on the hill. It was one of the biggest funerals Buca had ever seen. He was very loved by everyone. There are rumors that the British passed Çanakkale. But we don't believe it yet. They also say that General Weber was killed in a battle in Bandırma.

March 5: Bombardment started at the port in Izmir! I listen to the sound of explosions with excitement. At 2pm we heard the first shot. Then again and again. We decided to go to the cordon with Mrs. Birge and watch the bombardment (in Karşıyaka). It was very exciting. There were many men on the promenade, but very few women. People from Paradiso (now Şirinyer) came to Buca. The sounds were very bad from there, but Buca is no different. The women of Buca are screaming in great fear.

6 March: A massive bombardment resumed at 8 am. The whole house shook and the windows rattled. Alithea and I went back to the esplanade and again many people were watching the shelling. After two hours of continuous shooting, the ships left. The Turks say they scared the ships this time. Is it possible that the ships are really gone? 14.20: Bombardment started again. There were only two ships in sight. The Turks responded harshly and the ships left again 40 minutes later. What could this mean? After the ships left, all the British and French were arrested and taken prisoner. The ones in Izmir and Karşıyaka, the ones in Konak, the ones in Bornova and the ones in Buca. Everyone disappeared. Even the elderly.

March 8: We burst into tears when we heard that poor old Mr. Barff had been taken away from his wife, Julie. He is very old and we hope they will let him come home soon. All British people over the age of 60 have been allowed to return home, but they will not be able to go far from home.

March 10: Nothing different. People continue to flee to the mountains (due to bombardment). From our windows overlooking the station square, we see Turks coming with wheelbarrows.

March 11: Mrs. Guiffray is distraught (from the bombardment). He was going to Aliotti's house in Buca. No one has any idea what he plans to do after getting there.

April 28: We attended a party with British families held at the horse racing area in Paradiso, to which we were invited by Pertev Pasha. Turkish officers treated us well. Of course, there were many German officers, but they did not give us a good look. Apparently they didn't like the way the British treated them (in the war).

April 30: I spent two days in Buca. The Rees' house and mansion were packed. The victory of the Turks against the British was celebrated. It seems that they drove their land forces into the sea, killing thousands and sinking a few ships. When you look at what he said, you would think that the British were completely defeated and the entire navy was sunk. We can't get any news, but probably what the Turks say is a complete lie. The officers held banquets in their homes and truly believed that they had won a victory. Crazy! I went to bring some photos from our house in Buca and what a relief! Our house was in ruins and the garden had dried up. Lambs were grazing on it. The kitchen was unrecognizable compared to before.

May 28: The price of medicines has quadrupled and some medicines are unavailable. Some people came and checked our church, thinking maybe they had hidden it somewhere.

August 26: At 6 o'clock in the morning, a plane visited us again. First, a gunshot was heard. I jumped out of my bed and ran to the window. He was flying in the sky. The Turks fired and drove him away. At least we are witnessing this excitement. We have not received any letters or news for a long time. We have never been this closed off to the outside world.

September 3: On the first of September, there were demonstrations in Buca because it was the sultan's birthday. They lit five torches in front of Becky's old house and the soldiers danced with the drum. The Perkins' daughters, Ida Peacock and Louisa Langdon, went to attend a European-style party in Tommy Rees's garden. The military band was playing but it was very plain. Nobody was laughing. They were very serious and completely Turkish. You know what I mean.

October 2: A large Ottoman contingent left Izmir today. Pertev Pasha and his staff also left. Buca has been evacuated and we will be able to settle back into our homes as of Monday. Our houses had been in the hands of the soldiers for ten months. My mother and Lilla came home. They tell us that Izmir will not be touched and that we are safe. I noticed that black and white flags began to be taken down from churches, hospitals and schools. This means we will no longer be exposed to air attacks.

October 6: We had only three days to save our belongings in our house in Buca. When the soldiers left, the smell coming from the house was indescribable. The smell inside was enough to kill someone. My room was used as a warehouse and even a Turkish grocery store would look cleaner next to it. We couldn't even enter some places. They were in such a bad situation.

October 8: We are still cleaning out our belongings. We burn what cannot be cleaned. My mother came to Buca for the first time in months. Mr. Barff invited him to tea. He took a wheelbarrow there. He had had a good day but was so tired he said he would never leave the house again.

October 22: Another Turkish unit arrived and settled in the houses again. Buca fell into the hands of the soldiers again. They come from the war in Çanakkale and are mostly here to lick their wounds.

November 7: The girls at the hospital in Buca are very busy. They are dressing the wounds of the soldiers coming from Çanakkale.

17 November: Tommy Rees' house was converted into a girls' school. All the furniture was sold or taken away by someone.

January 8, 1916: We hear that Francis Barker is making money at Mityline. The Reesler also made a great fortune. Their house was turned into a girls' school. The small house was converted into a mansion. The other two houses, the houses of Gordon and Willie Rees, were turned into hospitals. Now Türkiye is for Turks. The railway is in very bad condition. I wish Barfield had seen a version of him. They had a very bad accident on the railway line. And they burn almost all the boilers. They use lignite coal and it smells very bad. Most of the guards and employees are young Turks.

February 6: Rumors are circulating everywhere that the Turks are expecting an attack towards here. Many soldiers came here and Pertev Pasha also came to Buca again. The rest will continue to arrive throughout the week. Buca was occupied again. They repossessed Becky's house. Pertev Pasha will live in Forbes House. Rees House was converted into a girls' school. You cannot recognize Buca. The Willie Rees and Gordon houses were turned into a hospital. They took every house they could. Cash became very important during this time of scarcity. Greeks and many young people organize theater plays to help the poor. Sounds like a great success to me. Ida Peacock will dance, and the others will sing and play games.

February 9: Yesterday a plane passed over us and we heard bombing sounds. All the villages in the hills are in ruins. Nothing can be done.

February 10: No bombardment today. We were also disappointed that it only lasted four hours yesterday. There was great excitement in Buca yesterday. Everyone went up to the "Hill" and covered the hill in black. From there the ships were visible and they were at least 18 miles away.

February 11: Some wounded were brought into town today. They prepared many beds in the hospital in Buca, but they only bring patients in to make room for the injured in the hospitals in the city. Now these poor fellows are suffering and how needlessly people are dying. Evelyn says the dying were brought to Buca and their lives ended a few hours after they arrived.

May 25: Turks are very angry about the bombardments and killing of their people by the Allied Powers. They took the British and the French again and gathered them in the mansion. You can imagine how we felt that day.

They started collecting yesterday afternoon and continued all night.

September 4: Austrians have now started to stay in Buca. They settled in all the houses. They send all the Turks they can find to clean. A Turkish gendarmerie settled in an Austrian's house without permission. Then they grabbed him and threw him into the street. How the people of Buca who witnessed this liked it.

March 30, 2017: A great tragedy occurred today. Two British planes arrived around 11.30. We were watching them in the sky. They started fighting with a German machine gun, which we did not know where it came from. Both of our planes were shot down. You can imagine what we felt. Our hearts almost stopped. After seeing this bad memory, I didn't want to see a plane again. The large bomb-dropping plane was partially hit and landed in Perokako's vineyard in Little Paradiso. The other crashed quickly. The people inside are probably dead. He fell in Karataş. Those aboard the Paradiso were uninjured. One of them had a sprained ankle. The other was in good condition, but both of those in Karataş were dead. I went to Buca in the afternoon and saw someone with a sprained ankle. He was taken to Willie Rees' house, which had been converted into a hospital. He was only nineteen years old and a handsome young man. I felt very sorry for him. He was sullen and couldn't even talk about his murdered friends. How bad is this war? They later picked up the poor wounded man and took him to the German Hospital.

December 18: At least some news from the outside world. Charlie Giraud was sent by the government on a mission to the British, and when he returned, he brought news to everyone about his relatives. At least Lilla found out that Ruth was getting married. She didn't even know his name until now. We also learned that Donald Pengelley died at the front. Yesterday being Sunday, Mr. Ashe held a service at the church for Donald, J. Holton and W. Shotton. How touching. All the Forbes' young men and Holton's friends were there. We sat on Pengelley's old bench. How much has changed in a short time. I wonder how poor Becky feels?

May 12, 1920: I am adding this section to say goodbye to the old diary. Things went differently than we expected and the British gave Izmir to the Greeks. It's a pill too big to swallow. The Turks are very angry and say they will never submit to the Greeks. When the Greeks landed a year ago, they committed terrible massacres against the Turks. Alithea and I witnessed four of them killed. They first shot them and then threw them into the sea. Even though they were dead, they were still shooting from behind. These first massacres we saw were not good at all. Now we hate the Greeks and will not help them at all. Murders were committed all over the city. Kavas in all factories were killed. If Zoe Rees and Alithea had not intervened and taken him away, poor old cavas Emin would have been killed too. Barbarians! Things have calmed down for now, but we don't know how much more power the Greeks will be able to hold. Even the people of Izmir are fed up and don't want them to be here. We are waiting for the peace to be signed with the Turks and what will happen next. On September 8, our elderly mother was buried next to her father. He left without seeing his sons, but Rowley and his daughters were with him. God bless his soul. Bye.

Williamson's diary ends here. Grace Williamson's accounts are perhaps the best source about daily life in Buca. Although there was no conflict in Buca, it is understood that during the First World War, Buca felt the heat of the war closely and was frequently exposed to air attacks due to its location close to Izmir. Arthur Lawrence, son of Caleb Lawrence, a professor at the American School in Paradiso, also wrote in his diary that British warplanes taking off from a temporary military airport in Lesbos targeted the railway line in Paradiso several times. According to Lawrence, however, they missed the target every time. Some of the bombs dropped hit very close to the American School.

It seems that Levantine families in Buca also sent their children to war during the First World War. At least twelve of them die in battle, and three are from the village of Buca: Rowland Donald Pengelley, John A. Holton, and Alfred E. Holton.

One of the known stories about Buca is that the Rees Mansion was confiscated during the war years. In many sources, exaggerated comments are made, such as that Rees Mansion was converted into a girls' school or that it was taken to protect against bombardment, rather than being confiscated by a Turkish pasha. In the book titled "Rees Mansion & From the Levantine Mansion to the Faculty of Education", it is written that "Governor Rahmi Bey seized the mansion to protect the schools against an attack from the sea". There is no accuracy in this information. Rees Mansion was confiscated by Pertev Pasha in 1915 before it was converted into a girls' school. It is clear from Williamson's memoirs that many houses in Buca were confiscated at that time. Rees Mansion was apparently turned into a military headquarters during the war years, and in the following years it was turned into a school, probably to protect against air raids. The Rees family settled on the island of Lesbos during the war years. It is known that the Rees family, who took their family and settled here as a precaution at the beginning of the war, served in the British navy in Çanakkale during the war years. If this situation was known to the Turks, and it seems to be known, it can be estimated that this situation caused the seizure of the Rees Mansion.

Rees Köşkü, Birinci Dünya Savaşı sırasında Buca'daki Türk birliklerinin karargahına çevrilmişti. (Fotoğraf: Anonim)Rees Mansion was converted into the headquarters of the Turkish troops in Buca during the First World War. There is also some information about the situation in Buca when the war started in the book titled "Merchant Adventurers in the Levant". In the first year of the war, the young people of the Rees family lived in their large house in Buca. Although it was clear at that time which side the Ottoman Empire would side with, the Allied Powers did not declare war until September 1, when Turkey closed the strait to them. In a short time, the Levantines in Izmir decided to form a volunteer unit to send to the Allied Powers. At a meeting held at the British Consulate on September 25, 1914, it was decided to send this unit to England. Tommy Rees donated his own ship to these volunteers, and many European families contributed financially to this union. Tommy Rees took his family and moved to the island of Lesbos as a precaution. In a letter he wrote to his office in London in December 1914, he wrote that they had moved to Athens and that it was better that way.

For those who stayed in Turkey, conditions were not that bad at first. Even though war was officially declared, the Turkish authorities did not have a bad attitude towards the British families. Many British families moved from Buca to Izmir, including the Gordons who lived in the Bliss' old house in Buca, but they did not go abroad from there until November 1915. After the British bombardment of Izmir, they detained the British for a while, but Governor Rahmi Bey ignored the orders from Istanbul and did not take any action that would put the Levantine families in a bad situation. In 1914, the Rees' house was confiscated by Pertev Pasha for a while, but in the book titled "Merchant Adventurers in the Levant" it is explained that the pasha took good care of the property. It also says that although the Rees family were clearly on the opposing side, their property was not expropriated until March 1916.

Finally, let's look at the information provided by the book titled "Anglican Church Life in Smyrna and its neighborhood 1636-1952" about the war years in Buca. Thanks to Governor Rahmi Bey's good attitude towards the British, Europeans were treated better than their citizens in other regions. They could travel up to five miles. Priests had the right to go to the countryside with permission.

Still, it is mentioned that there were some "unpleasant events". At the beginning of the war, the British bombed Izmir. Thereupon, Turkish officials thought that if the British were kept in the bombed areas, this would prevent future air attacks. European families living in Izmir were forced to sleep in areas that were targeted by air attacks. During the day, they were free and allowed to go about their business. The house where Ms. Ashe's brother-in-law was sleeping had been hit by bombs shortly after she left in the morning, and she had escaped cheaply.

On March 6, 1915, all British people were taken to the police station. No explanation was given. The English club near the station was chosen as a sleeping place, and the families staying there were asked to provide beds, quilts and food. Mrs. Ashe asked for her husband's release because the British community in Buca needed his wife. Soon everyone over the age of sixty was allowed to return home. Ms. Ashe was fifty-seven years old and therefore was not included in this leave. In the following hours, their request for release after three days of detention was accepted. Over the next two weeks, the British were released one by one.

It is mentioned that the Ashe family in Buca did a lot in terms of aid during the war. Those who came to their mill were never turned away, even though food was scarce. In addition to hunger, there were also people fleeing the city because of the bombs, even deserters from the Turkish Army.

Air raids continued throughout the war and on one occasion two British aircraft were shot down by the famous German pilot Buddecke. The crew died and the Turkish soldiers treated the dead shamefully. This situation ended with the intervention of the Germans and a funeral was held. Ceremony St. It was performed by Mr. Brett in St. John's Church, the coffin was carried by Turkish sailors, and the victorious Buddecke sent a wreath with the inscription "To my brave opponent".

In the summer of 1917, the British bombed Kadifekale. Thereupon, three hundred British settlers were sent to Kadifekale as prisoners, but they were released when the bombing did not stop.

In the next year of the war, when prices increased and famine occurred, more British were brought to Izmir. According to the Berne Convention, they were to be exchanged and repatriated. Most of them were prisoners in poor condition captured at Kut in 1916. British and Indian prisoners stayed in Paradise (Şirinyer). Alexander Machlachlan, the Scottish-Canadian principal of the American College, assigned the college buildings and campus to them, and they were also visited by Mr. Ashe.

Esir alınmış olan İngiliz askerler Amerikan Koleji'nde.
British soldier John Still, who was captured in Gallipoli in 1915 and first held captive in Afyonkarahisar and brought to Paradiso with other soldiers in 1918, also wrote in his book "A Prisoner in Turkey", published in 1919, that he was in Paradiso during the war. It talks about what happened. About 300 soldiers from Afyonkarahisar, along with some Indian soldiers who joined them from another camp, were put on a train and brought to Izmir. The Governor of the period, Rahmi Bey, summoned the president of the American College, Alexander Machlachlan, and gave him a telegram stating that the British prisoners of war would arrive at the college after a while and that the necessary preparations should be made for their accommodation. The governor remains silent. Machlachlan, on the other hand, seized an opportunity to both receive news from the outside world and contribute to the war. He proposes to the governor to bring the prisoners of war to the college. He explains that the college and its other buildings would be more suitable for holding prisoners of war. Governor Rahmi Bey asks, "Do you think the American College in Paradiso is the most suitable place to hold British prisoners of war?" After receiving the necessary guarantees, the Governor is convinced. The prisoners in Izmir are brought to Paradiso and encounter a sight they could not have imagined. A green campus and lots of buildings, from dorms to gyms and even a theatre. The British and the college administration in Izmir bring them food. At the same time, clothes are sewn for them at the college and they are provided with baths. On October 30, an armistice was signed and the order was given to release the captives. The college doors are opened and the captives are released. According to Still, the prisoners have the freedom to move around as they wish, even in Izmir. Some of the captives were taken to houses in Izmir. Some of them settle in hotels. Some continue to stay in college for a while longer.

Hint savaş esirleri Amerikan Koleji'nde, 1918 yılı
(Fotoğraf: IC Newsletter Summer 2018)Some notes written in Emily Jane Holton's diary about the autumn of 1918, when the war ended, are remarkable. He wrote that on October 13, 1918, some British prisoner of war officers were allowed to go from Paradiso to Buca and that they visited British families in Buca in groups of four, accompanied by interpreters. He also states that when the news of the end of the war reached Buca on November 6, Greek villagers took to the streets with Greek flags and marched all night long, cheering and shouting "freedom". Bells were rung at intervals in churches. In addition, rituals were held and a procession was held in which images of saints were carried. Again, according to Holton, a crowd had gathered at the station and Greek flags were hung on the houses. Among the Turks, silence prevailed. Visits from Levantine families are also frequently mentioned in Holton's diary. This means that life returned to normal in Buca in the last months of 1918.

- Conclusion -

Although there are sources claiming that Buca was quiet during the First World War and it is understood that peace was preserved within the village, it is understood that this tranquility was a tranquility brought about by the state of emergency. Buca was literally turned into a headquarters during the First World War. Of course, this was also influenced by the idea that the enemy forces would not bomb Buca due to its location close to Izmir and being connected by railway, as well as the fact that it was a settlement with large mansions and probably the predominantly Christian population in the village.

It is understood that Buca was the target of air attacks in the First World War. Although it is obvious that these attacks were not effective, it is understood that the Turks' thoughts that Buca would not be subjected to air attacks were wrong. Of course, the existence of a British community in Buca was known to the Allied Powers, and it can be said that this situation prevented Buca from being damaged further, at least to some extent. Because, Grace Williamson wrote in her memoirs that the settlements on the hills were in ruins.

Not much information is given about the Greek community in Buca. However, it can be assumed that the local people remained in their homes throughout the war. Considering that Doctor Manikopulo and his family worked to care for the wounded in a clinic in Buca, it is understood that the Greeks of Buca helped the Turkish Army at that time, and it is debatable whether this was done willingly or by force. It is written in Grace Williamson's memoirs that at that time, all physically healthy men in Buca were forced to work. No detailed information is given about what kind of work they are employed in.

It is clearly seen that Buca's European community largely left Buca during the war. However, it seems that these wealthy families did not have much financial trouble, and the Barker and Rees families even gained a large fortune while in Greece. Especially difficult times await European families staying in Buca. Their homes were confiscated, their belongings were taken from them many times and they were used for army needs. Some families were used as human shields against air attacks more than once, thus trying to prevent the British from bombing critical locations for their own citizens. In addition, although the business of Levantine families was disrupted during the war, it is understood that they emphasized their European identity and many families sided with their own country during the war. At least three of the European families in Buca probably lost their lives fighting against the Germans in Europe. Two children of the Rees family fought against the Turks in Çanakkale. This situation probably contributed to the seizure of the Rees Mansion. Despite all these developments, many European families returned to Turkey after the war and did not encounter any ill-treatment. Even the mansion was returned to the Rees family. The real departure of Levantine families from Turkey will be after the War of Independence, not after the First World War.

Note 1: The Williamson family home could not be located.

Note 2: The house where the Pengelley family lived in the 1930s is Gavrili Mansion. The house they lived in during the war is unknown.

- Sources -

levantineheritage.com/note23.htm

levantineheritage.com/testi52.htm

levantineheritage.com/testi42.htm

A Prisoner in Turkey, John Still, 1920

Anglican Church Life in Smyrna and its neighbourhood 1636-1952, Donald Simpson, 1952

Merchant Adventurers in the Levant: Two Families of Privateers, Consuls and Traders 1700-1956, Tom Rees, 2003

A Potpourri of Sidelights and Shadows from Turkey, Alexander Maclachlan, 1938

Dust and Ashes, Patrick Ashe, 1995