Dear Turkish Canadian Society members and Friends,

Tonight is August 29, 1922. Kept as a secret and known only by very few people, it is the 4th day of the “Grand Charge” of the Turkish Armies to repel foreign military occupants in the Western Anatolia. 27th August saw the liberation of Afyon, 28th was a great chase following the retreating Greek Army, leaving behind the Sincanli Plains. Today is the first we heard about what is happening. Retreating armies are completely surrounded leaving a very narrow escape passage to Dumlupinar, closest defense stronghold.

Turkish Commander, General Mustafa Kemal is informed of the shortage of artillery rounds and is asked whether artillery groups should conserve rounds instead of spending all on the battlefield. Kemal: Conserving (rounds) will represent DEFEAT. Artillery will fire to the last round, troops will force a bayonet charge, the resupply will be done from the remains of the retreating enemy.

At around the same days, at a place on the other side of the Earth called Vancouver, people oblivious to this struggle, are trying to get used to the change of driving from right hand side to the left. People are listening to the new radio stations’ test broadcasts and discussing whether women should be allowed to the court juries in BC. 1200 UBC students are furious: they would like to move into their unfinished new campus at Point Grey at once. They march a riot into downtown Vancouver, and end it with a photo shoot by coming together to create large UBC letters with their bodies. (1922)

Tomorrow, August 30, 1922, surrounded occupation troops in ten thousands will have to face a fierce attack to their undefendable positions leaving thousands of casualties. We will celebrate this date as the “Victory Day” and will pass this victory to the next generations.

We are ever grateful to General Mustafa Kemal, his troop commanders, and all his “Mehmets” troops.

Burc Dizdar

Turkish Canadian Society, President 2009