[1] During the Russo-Turkish War (which saw Russians taking Plovdiv on 16 January 1878), Mehmet's family emigrated to Anatolia, and settled in Bahçeli village of Biga, Çanakkale in the Ottoman Empire.

[5] At 14:45 local time on March 4, 1915, a fleet consisting of five dreadnoughts and seven torpedo boats of the Allies of World War I bombarded Seddülbahir.

They landed sixty troops in three boats at Seddülbahir from a battleship under the shield of machine gun fire to capture the Ottoman fortifications in order to secure the passage of their naval forces through the Dardanelles.

The formation was part of the 10th Company, 3rd Battalion, 27th Regiment of the 9th Division commanded by Colonel Halil Sami Bey, who was responsible for the defense of the area.

During the three-hour-long fierce battle, the Ottomans continuously changed their positions in the fort, giving an impression of being stronger in numbers than they actually were.

Finally, the invading Allied troops retreated to their battleships following a bayonet charge launched by the Turks.

[1][7] Later, he lived a modest life in Bahçeli village of Biga in Çanakkale Province; refusing financial assistance as he had fought for his country and not for money.