A Feat Witnessed by Few, Told by Many
In March 1915, amid the thunder of World War I, a coal-heaver named Seyit Ali Çabuk performed an act that would be recorded in military reports and photographs. During the naval assault on the Dardanelles, the Allied fleet attacked the Ottoman fortress at Rumeli Mecidiye. An explosion disabled the shell crane of a key artillery piece. With no mechanical aid available and under heavy fire, Çabuk stepped forward.
275 Kilograms, One Man, No Crane
Seyit Ali, reportedly weighing just over 90 kilograms, lifted a 275-kilogram shell onto his back and carried it to the loading platform. He repeated the feat two more times. His third shell was fired by the artillery crew and struck the HMS Ocean. The British battleship was damaged and later sank after hitting a naval mine.
Photo That Followed
After the battle, officers asked him to repeat the act for a photo. Unable to lift the shell again without the adrenaline of combat, he posed using a wooden replica. The image remains widely circulated in Turkish historical records.
A Coal-Heaver Turned Gunner
Seyit Ali Çabuk, originally from Havran, served as a corporal during the battle and was later promoted to corporal again after the war. He died in 1939.
In March 1915, during a naval assault in World War I, a coal-heaver named Seyit Ali Çabuk did something few believed possible.
When a key artillery crane failed under fire, he stepped up in a moment that would be captured in military history and a famous photograph…🧵👇 pic.twitter.com/lPSKgUd1Lf
— Detective Tiger's Stories (@TigerDetective) May 1, 2025