My grandfather died before I was born so this story has come to me from my father. When the Ottomans joined the war my grandfather was sent to Palestine and the front against the British in Egypt. During the fighting, I don't know at which battle - whether for the Suez Canal or for Gaza, my grandfather was taken prisoner. The Ottoman prisoners were put on trains towards Egypt for internment there. But the British had taken more prisoners than they cared to care for so they conveniently forgot to lock the waggon doors. Scores of Ottoman soldiers jumped the train! The story is that my grandfather then never rejoined the ranks but found his way back home to Istanbul on his own. If this is true it must be at the very end of the war when the Ottoman Empire were in its death throes. || A photograph from 1937 which shows my grandfather and grandmother on their wedding day. || || Nessim Haskiya, Rakel Haskiya || Photograph || My grandfather's wedding photo

Copy of a picture,the only picture of my grandfather.

My Grandfather Joseph Pettit's personal belongings from World War One: A Chinese stool (we think gifted from a Chinese member of the Labour Corps he was assigned to) His Soldier's Pay Book for Use in Active Service A Picture Postcard of Joseph (standing on the left hand side) with 2 unidentified army/ navy personnel. A 1914 Cigerette Box dated Christmas 1914 gifted by the Royal family A small safe A silver plated cigarette case A pistol (decommissioned and quite rusty) A certificate for signalling training undertaken in 1916 His discharge certificate His War badge award document and his 3 World War One Medals and his Certificate from the War Office relating to his Mention in Dispatch by General Sir Douglas Haig. His certificate of Discharge issued on behalf of King George His Soldiers Pay Book for use in Active Service. His Army Uniform Buttons denoting rank of Company Serjeant Major