[KOREAN WAR / PHOTOGRAPHY] Fine archive of a Turkish commander including a historically interesting photographic account of Korea and Korean War, with 82 b/w photographs

HAKKI BEY.

[South Korea], [1950-1961].

Gelatine silvers. Various sizes (mostly 9 x 12 cm). Many prints have captions in Turkish on verso.

Rare and fine archive including 82 gelatine silver prints of a Turkish commander who participated in the Korean War (1950-1953). They also include some post-war photographs to 1961 when some Turkish soldiers from the Brigade served.  

The photographs mostly document the Korean social life and American forces with the Turkish Brigade’s activities during and after the Korean War (1950-1953). Charles Erwin Wilson (1890-1961) giving a speech among the American, Korean and Turkish flags, Turkish soldiers slaughtering a camel in front of the American flag in Eid al-Adha, South Korean military band coming to greet Turkish and American soldiers in Busan, a Korean peasant woman, Turkish band playing the Harbiye March during Republic Day celebrations in 1953, the Port of Busan, the building of the Chosen Palace Hotel, Sakshi House in Ceylon with a local young man, Korean cinemas and theatres, topography, aviators posing in front of airplanes, Turkish, American, and Korean soldiers, military ceremonies, Korean women and children, streets in Seoul, old Korean architectural buildings, day and night entertainment of soldiers, etc. Also, some photos are taken during a journey by a ship on the Indian Ocean.

The Turkish Brigade (code name North Star; Turkish: Simal Yildizi or Kutup Yildizi) was an infantry brigade of the Turkish Army that served under the United Nations Command during the Korean War (1950–1953).

Turkey was one of 22 countries to contribute manpower to U.N. forces, and one of sixteen to provide military personnel. The first 5,000 troops of the Turkish Brigade arrived on 19 October 1950, shortly after the outbreak of hostilities in June, and remained in varying strengths until the summer of 1954. Attached to the U.S. 25th Infantry Division, the Turkish Brigade was the only U.N. unit of its size permanently attached to a U.S. division throughout the Korean War. The

Turkish Brigade took part in several actions, most notably in the Battle of Kunuri, where their fierce resistance was decisive in delaying the enemy's advance. During the service of the 3rd Brigade in 1953, the Korean Armistice was signed, however, some commanders and bases of the Brigade served until the late 50s.