Portsmouth | Graves of Turkish Sailors - 1850-1851

One corner of the Haslar Cemetery, a foreign field, is forever Turkish with graves of 26 Turkish Sailors. The people of Portsmouth have referred to their Gosport neighbor across the harbour as ‘Turktown’ which was possibly due to the fact that 26 sailors all died in 1850 or 1851. The true story is that in 1850, two frigates [1] of the Turkish or Ottoman navy paid a courtesy visit to Portsmouth, where animosity towards the Turks was deeply ingrained in the psyche of Portsmouth people – an attitude which probably went back as far as the crusades. During their visit, which lasted several months, the crew went ashore in Gosport and were warmly welcomed by the local community. The men in the graves came from the two ships and almost certainly died of cholera contracted on board. They were treated at Haslar hospital [2] but died and were buried in the hospital grounds before being moved to the naval cemetery.



Portsmouth City seal, logo, emblem, UK. Historians believe that the historical seal was based on the Arms of William de Longchamp. The emblem has a hybrid of significant images including an azure shield with a gold star and crescent which has been used for over 700 years. During 1970 Portsmouth council changed the coats of arms slightly to include maritime images as Portsmouth is famous for its harbour and water sports.


Another interesting fact has to do with “HMS Sultan” giving her name to a place and the Naval Academy was launced as.  HMS (Her Majesty' s Ship: Majestelerinin gemisi) Triumph”  but was renamed ho honor  H.M. Abdülaziz, the Ottoman Sultan who visited England in 1870.



Mavi Boncuk |


Graves of Turkish Sailors - 1850-1851


[1] In November 1850, two ships of the Turkish Navy, the Mirat-i Zafer and Sirag-i Bahri anchored off the Hardway - Gosport. The visit lasted several months and during this time most of the embers of the crew contracted Cholera and were admitted to Haslar Hospital for treatment, from those who were admitted most of them dies and other sailors died because of training accidents. In total 26 died and were laid to rest in the grounds of Haslar. At the turn of the 19th Century the bodies were exhumed and transferred to Clayhall Cemetery where they now lie in peace.


"They set sail for eternity and met their creator, and here they are laid to eternal rest."


[2] The Royal Hospital Haslar opened in October 1753 and from the date all those who died either at Haslar, or aboard ships in Portsmouth Harbour or at Spithead were interred in the grounds of the hospital.

In April 1859 the Haslar Cemetery closed and the Clayhall Cemetery was opened for the interment of Naval Personnel. Enclosed Turks' Burial Ground was set aside for re-burial of Turkish sailors from grounds of Royal Hospital Haslar. (W.1934) this foreign field, is forever Turkish with graves of 26 Turkish Sailors.

Most headstones date from 1851 such as
Sirag-i Bahri Commander Süvari Mehmet Kaptan March 20  Mirat-ı Zafer Bölük Emini Süleyman April 27 Nisan Three stones date from 1850 . All others date between January and march, 185 showing the fast and deadly spread of the Cholera.


Head stones were later renewed save three original ones. Dedicated to all intered  “kullu nefsun zâikatul mevt... asakir-i İslam' dan merhumin' in ruhları için el Fatiha” 


Former Gosport mayor Peter Edgar, who lived all his life in the town, said: ‘I still hear Portsmouth people referring to Gosport as Turktown.  ‘It’s not meant in any offensive way and just shows that we have been happy to accept people of all nationalities for many years.


See also: The Illustrated London News, Dec. 14 1850, pg. 455. / The Illustrated London News, May 3 1851, pg. 345.


Contact: zeynep.aygen@port.ac.uk