''Mehmetçik'' ()(, "little" denoting diminutive endearment rather than actual age) is a term generally used to affectionately refer to soldiers of the

Turkish Army The Turkish Land Forces () is the main branch of the Turkish Armed Forces responsible for Army, land-based military operations. The army was formed on November 8, 1920, after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. Significant campaigns since the ...

. It is similar to the colloquialisms ''

Tommy Atkins Tommy Atkins (often just Tommy) is slang for a common soldier in the British Army.Doughboy "Doughboy" was a popular nickname for the American infantryman during World War I. Though the origins of the term are not certain, the nickname was still in use as of the early 1940s, when it was gradually replaced by " G.I." as the following ge ...

'', and '' Digger'' used for soldiers of the

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. * British national identity, the characteristics of British people and culture ...

U.S. The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 contiguous ...

, and Australian armies.Phil Taylor, Pam Cupper, ''Gallipoli, A Battlefield Guide'', Kangaroo Press, 1989, It is believed that the term is based on Ottoman Army Sergeant

Bigalı Mehmet Çavuş Bigalı Mehmet Çavuş (1878–3 February 1964), (literally Sergeant Mehmet of Biga) was an Ottoman Army sergeant, who fought during the Gallipoli Campaign of World War I. He is remembered as a hero, and is considered to be the eponym of the co ...

(1878–1964), who fought during the Gallipoli Campaign of

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mehmetcik Ottoman Empire in World War I Military of the Ottoman Empire Turkish Land Forces Placeholder names

See also

References