Ottoman Military Document Cavalry Regiment Saddle Supply Debt WW1

Ottoman Military Document - Cavalry Regiment (20th Regiment), Saddle Supply Debt, c. WWI

Description:
An original Ottoman military financial document relating to the 20th Cavalry Regiment (Süvari Yirminci Alay), concerning payment for manufactured saddles (eyerler). The document records an outstanding debt of 712 kuruş, owed for these supplies.

Although the text does not provide a precise date, paleographic and contextual evidence suggests it belongs to the First World War period (c. 1914–1918), when the Ottoman army was engaged in extensive cavalry operations across multiple fronts.

At the bottom of the sheet appear the seals and signatures of four Ottoman military personnel, confirming the authenticity and administrative approval of the document.

Historical Context:
Cavalry units remained vital to the Ottoman army during WWI, particularly in the Middle Eastern and Caucasus theaters, where mobility was essential. Documents such as this highlight the logistical challenges of equipping mounted troops and the reliance on contracted or in-house saddle production.

It also reflects the financial recording practices of the Ottoman military bureaucracy in its late period, where debts, even relatively small amounts, were carefully noted, verified, and sealed.

Key Features:

• Type: Military financial/administrative document

• Unit: 20th Cavalry Regiment (Süvari Yirminci Alay)

• Subject: Debt of 712 kuruş for manufactured saddles (eyerler)

• Date: Undated, likely WWI period (c. 1914–1918)

• Authentication: Four military seals and signatures

• Language: Ottoman Turkish

• Historical Significance: Rare glimpse into Ottoman cavalry logistics, supply procurement, and bureaucratic practices during the empire’s final wartime years