Yörük Ali Efe
Yörük Ali Efe (1895 - 1951) was a Zeybek warrior in the late periods of Ottoman Empire and later an officer in Turkish Army during the Turkish Independence War. He was an important leader of Kuva-i Milliye in Ege. After the declaration of republic he resigned from his office and worked as a farmer and industrialist. He was one of the last Zeybeks in Turkish history.
Early Ages
Ali was born in Kavaklı (a village near Sultanhisar , Aydın) in 1895. His father Abdi (son of İbrahim) was belonging to Sarıtekeli tribe and mother Fatma to Atmaca tribe which both were Yörük tribes. His father died when he was a baby. As a child he had been influenced by Atçalı Kel Mehmet Efe and had always wanted to become a Zeybek. In 1916 he recruited for the Ottoman Army and participated in Caucasus Campaign. Due to the clumsy commanders and the following Sarıkamış Tragedy, he escaped from army and returned to his village.
On The Mountains
Yörük Ali join the Zeybek group under command of Alanyalı Molla ahmet Efe and started to live on Aydın Mountains. His courage, intellegence and talent gave him the popularity among group members. When Alanyalı died in Kavaklıdere Ambush near Karacasu, he took the command of his group and became an "Efe".
Fighting For Independence
On 16 May 1919, Greek Army started to invade Ege, begining from Izmir. Yoruk Ali organized confrences with the cooperation of other Efes in the region such as "Kıllıoğlu Hüseyin Efe" and grouped most of zeybeks under his command. On 16 June1919 he made a surprise attack on a Greek garison deployed at Malgaç. The garrison was completely destroyed and great amount of ammunation and supplies was captured. This was the first victory of Turkish side in Greco-Turkish War (1919-1922).
Following the decision made by community parlement in Aydın, Yoruk Ali and the zeybeks under his command attacked Aydın to retake the town. On 30 June, his militias entered the city. But the reinforced Greek Army reinvaded the city on 4 June. Yoruk Ali continued the guerilla war against Greek Army for until he joined the organized Turkish Army.
On November,1920 Yoruk Ali Efe commisioned by TBMM (National Assembly of Turkey) to form a divison under his command and given the rank colonel. His group gladly join the Turkish Army under the name of Milli Aydın Alayı. He served as a colonel in Turkish Army through out the Turkish Independence War.
After The War
He resigned from his office soon after the declaration of republic and lived for 6 years in Izmir. In 1928 he moved to Yenipazar, where he lived until the end of his life. In 1951 he lost his legs in a tragic accident in Izmir which he had fell under a tram. He went to Bursa in 1953 for medical treatment and died there.
Legacy
He was one of the last Zeybeks and remain as a notable Efe. Also his contributions to Independence of Turks and establishment of Turkish Republic are remarkable. He has been remembered with his helpful personality. After his death, his home at Yenipazar is converted to Yoruk Ali Efe Museum on 8 June2001. His grave is also in the garden of that museum.
Quotes
"Some people believes that Independence has been achieved by me or with some others. This is wrong. What is the importance of one man or five men in such a big campaign. Any patriot who loved his motherland on those days had thought like us, heard like as and then been with us. There is a fault to take the Lion's Share in national resistance.How can one hand give a noise?"
Efe Of The Efes
He is a hero in modern Turkish History and given the name "Efelerin Efesi" (Efe of the Efes) (since Efe has the meaning leader). There is a türkü written to his honour with the same name. The lyrics of that türkü are following:
Şu Dalama'dan geçtin mi,
Soğuk da sular içtin mi
Efelerin içinde
Yörük Ali'yi seçtin mi?
Hey gidinin efesi efesi
Efelerin efesi
Şu Dalama'nın çeşmesi
Ne hoş olur içmesi
Yörük Ali'yi sorarsan
Efelerin seçmesi
Hey gidinin efesi efesi
Efelerin efesi
Cepkenimin kolları
Parıldıyor pulları
Yörük de Ali geliyor
Açıl Aydın yolları
Hey gidinin efesi efesi
Efelerin efesi
References
- Burhan, Sabahattin (1999). Ege'nin Kurtuluş Destanı Yörük Ali Efe Cilt: 1. Nesil Yayınları. ISBN:9754081751